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that Jesus was not the Messiah and that His followers were 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 persecuting 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When the glory was withdrawn； and Saul arose from the ground； he found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
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him had been entrusted 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 what further
judgment might be in store for him； he sought out the home of the disciple
Judas； where； in solitude； he had ample opportunity for reflection and
prayer。
For three days Saul was 〃without sight； and neither did eat nor drink。〃
These days of soul agony were to him as years。 Again and again he recalled；
with anguish of spirit； the part he had taken in the martyrdom of Stephen。
With horror he thought of his guilt in allowing himself to be controlled by
the malice and prejudice of the priests and rulers； even when the face of
Stephen had been lighted up with the radiance of heaven。 In sadness and
brokenness of spirit he recounted the many times he had closed his eyes and
ears against the most striking evidences and had relentlessly urged on the
persecution of the believers in Jesus of Nazareth。
These days of close self…examination and of heart humiliation were spent in
lonely seclusion。 The believers； having been given warning of the purpose of
Saul in coming to Damascus； feared that he might be acting a part； in order
the more readily to deceive them； and they held themselves
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aloof； refusing him their sympathy。 He had no desire to appeal to the
unconverted Jews； with whom he had planned to unite in persecuting the
believers； for he knew that they would not even listen to his story。 Thus he
seemed to be shut away from all human sympathy。 His only hope of help was in
a merciful God； and to Him he appealed in brokenness of heart。
During the long hours when Saul was shut in with God alone； he recalled many
of the passages of Scripture referring to the first advent of Christ。
Carefully he traced down the prophecies； with a memory sharpened by the
conviction that had taken possession of his mind。 As he reflected on the
meaning of these prophecies he was astonished at his former blindness of
understanding and at the blindness of the Jews in general； which had led to
the rejection of Jesus as the promised Messiah。 To his enlightened vision
all now seemed plain。 He knew that his former prejudice and unbelief had
clouded his spiritual perception and had prevented him from discerning in
Jesus of Nazareth the Messiah of prophecy。
As Saul yielded himself fully to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit； he
saw the mistakes of his life and recognized the far…reaching claims of the
law of God。 He who had been a proud Pharisee； confident that he was
justified by his good works； now bowed before God with the humility and
simplicity of a little child； confessing his own unworthiness and pleading
the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour。 Saul longed to come into full
harmony and communion with the Father and the Son； and in the intensity of
his
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desire for pardon and acceptance he offered up fervent supplications to the
throne of grace。
The prayers of the penitent Pharisee were not in vain。 The inmost thoughts
and emotions of his heart were transformed by divine grave； and his nobler
faculties were brought into harmony with the eternal purposes of God。 Christ
and His righteousness became to Saul more than the whole world。
The conversion of Saul is a striking evidence of the miraculous power of the
Holy Spirit to convict men of sin。 He had verily believed that Jesus of
Nazareth had disregarded the law of God and had taught His disciples that it
was of no effect。 But after his conversion； Saul recognized Jesus as the one
who had come into the world for the express purpose of vindicating His
Father's law。 He was convinced that Jesus was the originator of the entire
Jewish system of sacrifices。 He saw that at the crucifixion type had met
antitype； that Jesus had fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies concerning
the Redeemer of Israel。
In the record of the conversion of Saul important principles are given us；
which we should ever bear in mind。 Saul was brought directly into the
presence of Christ。 He was one whom Christ intended for a most important
work； one who was to be a 〃chosen vessel〃 unto Him； yet the Lord did not at
once tell him of the work that had been assigned him。 He arrested him in his
course and convicted him of sin； but when Saul asked； 〃What wilt Thou have
me to do？〃 the Saviour placed the inquiring Jew in connection with His
church； there to obtain a knowledge of God's will concerning him。
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The marvelous light that illumined the darkness of Saul was the work of the
Lord； but there was also a work that was to be done for him by the
disciples。 Christ had performed the work of revelation and conviction； and
now the penitent was in a condition to learn from those whom God had
ordained to teach His truth。
While Saul in solitude at the house of Judas continued in prayer and
supplication； the Lord appeared in vision to 〃a certain disciple at
Damascus； named Ananias；〃 telling him that Saul of Tarsus was praying and in
need of help。 〃Arise； and go into the street which is called Straight；〃 the
heavenly messenger said； 〃and inquire in the house of Judas for one called
Saul； of Tarsus： for； behold； he prayeth； and hath seen in a vision a man
named Ananias coming in； and putting his hand on him； that he might receive
his sight。〃
Ananias could scarcely credit the words of the angel； for the reports of
Saul's bitter persecution of the saints at Jerusalem had spread far and
wide。 He presumed to expostulate： 〃Lord； I have heard by many of this man；
how much evil he hath done to Thy saints at Jerusalem： and here he hath
authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on Thy name。〃 But the
command was imperative： 〃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。〃
Obedient to the direction of the angel； Ananias sought out the man who had
but recently breathed out threatenings against all who believed on the name
of Jesus； and putting his hands on the head of the penitent sufferer； he
said； 〃Brother Saul； the Lord； even Jesus； that appeared unto thee
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in the way as thou camest； hath sent me； that thou mightest receive thy
sight； and be filled with the Holy Ghost。
〃And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales： and he
received sight forthwith； and arose； and was baptized。〃
Thus Jesus gave sanction to the authority of His organized church and placed
Saul in connection with His appointed agencies on earth。 Christ had now a
church as His representative on earth； and to it belonged the work of
directing the repentant sinner in the way of life。
Many have an idea that they are responsible to Christ alone for their light
and experience； independent of His recognized followers on earth。 Jesus is
the friend of sinners； and His heart is touched with their woe。 He has all
power； both in heaven and on earth； but He respects the means that He has
ordained for the enlightenment and salvation of men； He directs sinners to
the church； which He has made a channel of light to the world。
When； in the midst of his blind error and prej