Paul on the Road to Damascus
Saul was a zealous persecutor of the early followers of Jesus, determined to hunt them down and arrest them wherever he found them. Armed with letters of authority, he set out for Damascus to find and imprison any believers he could locate there. But as he approached the city, a brilliant light from heaven suddenly flashed around him, and he fell to the ground.
A voice called out, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" Saul asked who was speaking, and the voice replied, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." When Saul opened his eyes, he discovered he was blind -- the men traveling with him led him by the hand into Damascus, where he neither ate nor drank for three days.
Meanwhile, God spoke to a disciple named Ananias in a vision, instructing him to go find Saul and lay hands on him to restore his sight. Ananias was afraid, knowing Saul's reputation, but he obeyed. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me so you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Instantly, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again.
Saul was baptized at once, and after regaining his strength, he began doing the very thing no one expected: preaching in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. The man who once hunted Christians had become one of the faith's most passionate voices.
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See the full scripture text this story is based on.
- 9:1And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
- 9:2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
- 9:3And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
- 9:4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
- 9:5And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
- 9:6And he trembling and astonished said, 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.
- 9:7And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
- 9:8And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
- 9:9And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
- 9:10And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
- 9:11And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
- 9:12And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
- 9:13Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
- 9:14And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
- 9:15But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
- 9:16For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
- 9:17And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
- 9:18And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
- 9:19And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
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