Saul began his journey to Damascus believing he was serving God. He was sincere, religious, educated, and zealous. He was also completely wrong about Jesus Christ.
Acts 9:1–2
“Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them in shackles to Jerusalem.”
Acts 9:1–2
Saul was not merely arguing against Christians. He was threatening them, arresting them, and helping put them to death. Acts 8:1 says he was in hearty agreement with the killing of Stephen.
The word “still” connects this passage with what Saul had already been doing. He had not calmed down after Stephen’s death. His hatred toward the followers of Jesus continued to grow.
Saul asked the high priest for written authority to enter the synagogues in Damascus. If he found anyone belonging to “the Way,” he intended to bring them back to Jerusalem in shackles. “The Way” was an early name for those who followed Jesus Christ. Saul was willing to arrest both men and women.
Saul believed he was defending God, but he was actually fighting against God’s Son. Sincerity does not make error true. Religious zeal does not make a person right with God.
Acts 9:3
“Now as he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.”
Acts 9:3
Saul was nearly at Damascus when his journey was interrupted. He had his plans, his authority, and his destination, but Christ stopped him before he could carry out his purpose.
The light did not come from a lamp, fire, or the sun. Luke says it was a light from heaven. Saul later testified that it was brighter than the sun and shone around him and those traveling with him.
Saul had been looking for the followers of Jesus. He did not expect the risen Jesus to confront him.
Acts 9:4
“And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’”
Acts 9:4
The light brought Saul to the ground. The man who had been traveling with official authority was suddenly helpless before the authority of Jesus Christ.
Jesus asked, “Why are you persecuting Me?” Saul had been persecuting Christians, but Jesus took that persecution personally. What Saul did to Christ’s people, he did against Christ Himself.
Jesus is not separated from the suffering of those who belong to Him. He sees what is done to His people, and He does not forget their suffering.
Acts 9:5
“And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.’”
Acts 9:5
Saul knew that someone greater than himself was speaking, but he did not yet understand who it was. He asked, “Who are You, Lord?”
The answer destroyed everything Saul had believed about Jesus.
Jesus was alive. The testimony of His resurrection was true. The followers Saul had condemned were following the promised Messiah and risen Lord.
Saul had believed he was opposing a false religion. Jesus told him that he was persecuting the Son of God.
No person can be right with God while rejecting Jesus Christ. Saul knew the Scriptures, followed religious traditions, and was zealous for what he believed. None of that could make him right while he opposed Christ.
Acts 9:6
“But get up and enter the city, and it will be told to you what you must do.”
Acts 9:6
Jesus did not explain everything to Saul at once. He gave him one command: get up and enter the city.
Saul had planned to enter Damascus as a powerful man carrying orders from the high priest. He would now enter as a humbled man waiting for instructions from Jesus.
The words “what you must do” show that Saul was no longer in control. He had come to Damascus to command others, but he was now under the command of Christ.
Following Jesus begins with surrender. We do not come to Christ to make Him part of our plans. We come to submit ourselves to His authority.
Acts 9:7
“The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.”
Acts 9:7
Saul was not traveling alone. The other men knew that something unusual had happened. They heard the sound of the voice and saw the light, but they did not see the One speaking to Saul.
When Saul later described the event, he said the men saw the light but did not understand the voice of the One speaking to him. They witnessed the event, but the message was directed to Saul.
Their presence also shows that Saul’s encounter was not something he quietly invented later. Other people were present and knew that something powerful had stopped him on the road.
Acts 9:8
“Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.”
Acts 9:8
Saul opened his eyes, but he could not see. The man who had intended to enter Damascus and arrest others had to be led into the city by the hand.
Everything had changed. His letters could not help him. His education could not help him. His religious position could not help him. He was completely dependent upon others to lead him.
The passage does not tell us that Saul’s blindness was a symbol, so we should not claim that it was. What Scripture clearly tells us is that Christ stopped Saul, humbled him, and took control of the journey.
Acts 9:9
“And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”
Acts 9:9
For three days Saul could not see, and he ate and drank nothing. The man who had entered the road filled with threats now sat in darkness and silence.
Luke does not tell us everything Saul thought during those three days. We do not need to guess. We know that his understanding of Jesus had been shattered. The One he had rejected was alive, and the people he had persecuted belonged to Him.
Saul’s story did not end in verse 9. Jesus would send Ananias to him. Saul would regain his sight, be baptized, and begin proclaiming that Jesus is the Son of God.
But Acts 9:1–9 brings us to the moment when Christ stopped him.
Saul shows us that religious sincerity is not enough. A person can believe strongly and still believe something false. He can know Scripture and still fail to recognize Jesus Christ. He can believe he is serving God while resisting the truth God has revealed.
The answer is not greater confidence in ourselves. The answer is to listen to Christ, accept what God has said, and surrender to His authority.
Saul started toward Damascus determined to stop the followers of Jesus.
Before he reached the city, Jesus stopped him.