Saul had just been knocked to the ground by the power and light of God. And Paul had studied enough Torah history to know that God does speak to men. Now he also knew his name, Yeshua (Jesus). Once the light was gone he was no longer able to see. So the men who were traveling with him, helped him to get to the city and get a place to stay. There, Saul fasted and prayed for three days, waiting on the Lord, the very Lord he had hated so much and wanted to imprison all those who followed him. During this time he also might have wondered what his punishment would be for hurting so many people. However, while he was waiting, he had a vision of a man coming to him to heal his eyes.
The Lord also spoke to Ananias, a disciple of Christ, and instructed him to go and pray for Saul. Ananias was afraid at first, but the Lord assured him that Saul was a chosen instrument to bear the name of Jesus to the world, also telling him that Saul would suffer for His name.
Finally, Ananias arrived at the place where Saul was staying and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately Saul could see. At one time Saul was blind, both physically and spiritually. But now he saw and knew the truth, the truth that Jesus Christ is Lord.
The Lord also spoke to Ananias, a disciple of Christ, and instructed him to go and pray for Saul. Ananias was afraid at first, but the Lord assured him that Saul was a chosen instrument to bear the name of Jesus to the world, also telling him that Saul would suffer for His name.
Finally, Ananias arrived at the place where Saul was staying and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately Saul could see. At one time Saul was blind, both physically and spiritually. But now he saw and knew the truth, the truth that Jesus Christ is Lord.
After being baptized in water and filled with the Holy Spirit, Saul spent several days with some of the local disciples in Damascus. Then he started proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God in their synagogues. The people were amazed by such a change in the man, the very man who once came to arrest believers was now declaring Jesus as the Christ. All of Saul's teaching and training had been lacking one thing—Jesus. Jesus was the missing peace of the puzzle and now all the scriptures made sense.
The Pharisees and the enemies of the faith were shocked by this new outcome. They now had a new foe; one that had to be dealt with immediately. So the Jews and former friends of Saul now plotted to kill him also. The very man who was once viewed as their champion had become their greatest enemy. But, Saul escaped with the help of his new friends. As Saul grew in faith, he later changed his name from Saul to Paul, severing himself from the past.
The Pharisees and the enemies of the faith were shocked by this new outcome. They now had a new foe; one that had to be dealt with immediately. So the Jews and former friends of Saul now plotted to kill him also. The very man who was once viewed as their champion had become their greatest enemy. But, Saul escaped with the help of his new friends. As Saul grew in faith, he later changed his name from Saul to Paul, severing himself from the past.
Paul became a pillar of the faith and an apostle of the Lord after his vision of the Lord. He was also taught by the Holy Spirit in the wilderness for three years. Paul became the greatest missionary evangelist, spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the Roman Empire. He also suffered many, many times—for which he was glad—so that we could know the truth (2 Cor. 11:23-27). Knowing and serving Jesus Christ was worth everything to him.
While Paul suffered in prison on numerous occasions, he wrote many letters to the churches he established in various parts of the world. Those letters became books of the Holy Bible. They reveal the awesome and wonderful nature of Jesus the Son of God, who now lives within every believer. They also reveal that one day every knee will bow before Him, and declare that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Paul loved Jesus more than life itself. His other passion was in sharing the revelation of that love, Jesus Christ. Here are just a few passages from his letters. As you read them keep in mind that these were written by a man who at one time didn't believe in Jesus, and who hated Jesus' followers and disciples. (There is a difference between disciples of Jesus and those who follow Christianity, which I have written about in other articles.)
"Jesus Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God, the first born of all creation. For by Him all thing were created, both in heaven and on earth...all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church...for it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him." (Col. 1:15-19)
Paul speaking of himself said, "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake...I was made a minister...so that I might carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is the mystery which has been hidden from past ages and generations, but has now been revealed to his people...which is Christ in you the hope of glory." (Col. 1:24-27)
"Jesus Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God, the first born of all creation. For by Him all thing were created, both in heaven and on earth...all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church...for it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him." (Col. 1:15-19)
Paul speaking of himself said, "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake...I was made a minister...so that I might carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is the mystery which has been hidden from past ages and generations, but has now been revealed to his people...which is Christ in you the hope of glory." (Col. 1:24-27)
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father...that He would grant you...to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith...being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend...the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge. Now...to Him be the glory...to all generations forever and ever. Amen." (Eph. 3:14-21)
"And although we hated him, Jesus suffered and died for us in order to present us holy and blameless and beyond reproach—if we repent and continue in the faith." (Col.1:21,22 PAR)
"And although we hated him, Jesus suffered and died for us in order to present us holy and blameless and beyond reproach—if we repent and continue in the faith." (Col.1:21,22 PAR)
