Conversion of Saul
15
When the effulgent glory was withdrawn, and Saul arose from
the earth, he found himself totally deprived of sight. The brightness
of Christ’s glory had been too intense for his mortal sight, and when
it was removed, the blackness of night settled upon his vision. He
believed that his blindness was the punishment of God for his cruel
persecution of the followers of Jesus. He groped about in terrible
darkness, and his companions, in fear and amazement, led him by the
hand into Damascus.
How different from what he had anticipated was his entrance into
that city! In proud satisfaction he had neared Damascus, expecting
on his arrival to be greeted with ostentation and applause because
of the honor conferred upon him by the high priest, and the great
zeal and penetration he had manifested in searching out the believers,
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to carry them as captives to Jerusalem, there to be condemned, and
punished without mercy. He had determined that his journey should
be crowned with success; and his courageous and persevering spirit
quailed at no difficulties or dangers in the pursuance of his object.
He had determined that no Christian should escape his vigilance; he
would inquire of men, women, and children concerning their faith, and
that of those with whom they were connected; he would enter houses,
with power to seize their inmates, and to send them as prisoners to
Jerusalem.
But how changed was the scene from that which he had anticipated!
Instead of wielding power and receiving honor, he was himself virtually
a prisoner, being deprived of sight, and dependent upon the guidance
of his companions. Helpless, and tortured by remorse, he felt himself
to be under sentence of death, and knew not what further disposition
the Lord would make of him.
He was taken to the house of the disciple Judas, and there he
remained, in solitude, studying upon the strange revelation that had
broken up all his plans, and changed the entire current of his life.
He passed three days in perfect blindness, occupying that terrible
time with reflection, repentance, and earnest prayer, neither eating nor
drinking during that entire period. With bitterness he remembered
Stephen, and the evidence he had given of being sustained by a power
higher than that of earth. He thought with horror of his own guilt in
allowing himself to be controlled by the malice and prejudice of the
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priests and rulers, closing his eyes and ears against the most striking