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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
He answers the question of Paul in these words: Arise, and go into
the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” Jesus could not
only have healed Paul of his blindness, but He could have forgiven
his sins and told him his duty by marking out his future course. From
Christ all power and mercies were to flow; but He did not give Paul
an experience, in his conversion to truth, independent of His church
recently organized upon the earth.
The marvelous light given Paul upon that occasion astonished and
confounded him. He was wholly subdued. This part of the work man
could not do for Paul, but there was a work still to be accomplished
which the servants of Christ could do. Jesus directs him to His agents
in the church for a further knowledge of duty. Thus He gives authority
and sanction to His organized church. Christ had done the work of
revelation and conviction, and now Paul was in a condition to learn of
those whom God had ordained to teach the truth. Christ directs Paul to
His chosen servants, thus placing him in connection with His church.
The very men whom Paul was purposing to destroy were to be his
instructors in the very religion that he had despised and persecuted.
He passed three days without food or sight, making his way to the
men whom, in his blind zeal, he was purposing to destroy. Here Jesus
places Paul in connection with his representatives upon the earth. The
Lord gave Ananias a vision to go up to a certain house in Damascus
and call for Saul of Tarsus; “for, behold, he prayeth.”
After Saul was directed to go to Damascus, he was led by the
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men who accompanied him to help him bring the disciples bound
to Jerusalem to be tried and put to death. Saul tarried with Judas at
Damascus, devoting the time to fasting and prayer. Here the faith of
Saul was tested. Three days he was in darkness of mind in regard
to what was required of him, and three days he was without sight.
He had been directed to go to Damascus, for it should there be told
him what he should do. He is in uncertainty, and he cries earnestly
to God. An angel is sent to Ananias, directing him to go to a certain
house where Saul is praying to be instructed in what he is to do next.
Saul’s pride is gone. A little before he was self-confident, thinking
he was engaged in a good work for which he should receive a reward;
but all is now changed. He is bowed down and humbled to the dust
in penitence and shame, and his supplications are fervent for pardon.
Said the Lord, through His angel, to Ananias: “Behold, he prayeth.”