From Persecutor to Disciple
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whom he had caused to be tormented and afflicted. He had seen some
yield up even their lives with rejoicing for the sake of their faith.
All these things had appealed loudly to Saul and at times had thrust
upon his mind an almost overwhelming conviction that Jesus was the
promised Messiah. At such times he had struggled for entire nights
against this conviction, and always he had ended the matter by avowing
his belief that Jesus was not the Messiah and that His followers were
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deluded fanatics.
Now Christ had spoken to Saul with His own voice, saying, “Saul,
Saul, why persecutest thou Me?” And the question, “Who art Thou,
Lord?” was answered by the same voice, “I am Jesus whom thou
persecutest.” Christ here identifies Himself with His people. In per-
secuting the followers of Jesus, Saul had struck directly against the
Lord of heaven. In falsely accusing and testifying against them, he
had falsely accused and testified against the Saviour of the world.
No doubt entered the mind of Saul that the One who spoke to him
was Jesus of Nazareth, the long-looked-for Messiah, the Consolation
and Redeemer of Israel. “Trembling and astonished,” he inquired,
“Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him,
Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”
When the glory was withdrawn, and Saul arose from the ground, he
found himself totally deprived of sight. The brightness of Christ’s glory
had been too intense for his mortal eyes; and when it was removed,
the blackness of night settled upon his vision. He believed that this
blindness was a punishment from God for his cruel persecution of
the followers of Jesus. In terrible darkness he groped about, and his
companions, in fear and amazement, “led him by the hand, and brought
him into Damascus.”
On the morning of that eventful day, Saul had neared Damascus
with feelings of self-satisfaction because of the confidence that had
been placed in him by the chief priest. To him had been entrusted
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grave responsibilities. He was commissioned to further the interests of
the Jewish religion by checking, if possible, the spread of the new faith
in Damascus. He had determined that his mission should be crowned
with success and had looked forward with eager anticipation to the
experiences that he expected were before him.
But how unlike his anticipations was his entrance into the city!
Stricken with blindness, helpless, tortured by remorse, knowing not