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The Salvation of Saul (Continued)
Last week we looked at “Saul’s Disposition.” We saw that Saul had nothing within him that was seeking God. But this week we see:
God’s gracious provision – vv. 3-9
Acts 9:3-9
Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do." The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Saul is continuing on his way and God graciously reveals himself to him. He was headed to Damascus, one of the important historical cities. In Paul’s day a great many Christians were in Damascus, hence Paul’s desire to go there to persecute them. Interestingly, by the 7th century, Damascus was the capital of the Muslim world.
And notice that Jesus indicates that Saul was persecuting Him. The word persecute denotes a habitual, continual action. But Jesus graciously reaches out to Saul. This should come as a great comfort to us. When someone persecutes us they are really persecuting our Master—Jesus!
I also want to point out something that I think is important here. Notice what happens to Saul as soon as he hears Jesus’ voice: Then he fell to the ground. I point this out because so many false teachers speak irreverently of talking directly to Christ as one would talk to a friend. Here just the mere power of Jesus’ voice knocks Saul to the ground!
Acts 9:5
And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
As religious as Saul was he did not know the true Savior. Now Saul says "Who are You, Lord?" The word used for Lord here can speak of Christ as one’s Lord, but it can also have the idea of “sir,” so as to speak of another person. I’m not sure how Paul means it here, I take it that he just meant it as “sir” at this point.
Jesus clearly reveals Himself to Saul. Now keep this mind because we will see later that Jesus did not reveal Himself to everyone who was present.
Acts 9:6
So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
Now this is a picture of true salvation. Remember Simon was enamored with the miracles, he, unlike Paul, was never really concerned that his sin was an affront to a holy God! And notice that Paul instantaneously is willing to allow Christ to lead his life. Now it may not so instantaneous in all of our lives, but in a believers life it will happen. There is no such thing as having the Savior without any surrendering taking place. And here, Paul may have been using the word Lord as we would, since Jesus had just revealed Himself to him.
We also get a good picture here of how God guides His people. He did not tell Paul a lot of details, but He just simply said "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
Acts 9:7
The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
This is interesting. God did not reveal Himself to these men, at least not at this time. They heard a voice, but apparently did not understand what was being said. When we look at Acts 22:9 we get a fuller description concerning these other men who were with Saul:
“And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me.”
Now we just read that they did hear the voice. But what Paul is saying in 22:9 is that they could not discern what was being said.
Why did God reveal Himself to Saul and not these other men? We don’t know. One thing we do know is that it wasn’t because Saul was seeking God more than these men were! And surely these men had heard the gospel from the surrounding believers on prior and post occasions.
Acts 9:8-9
Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
This blindness was proof that he had seen the Risen Christ! Now look what has happened to this fierce persecutor of the church. Jesus did more than bring this man to his knees, He knocked him to the ground. But Jesus would pick him up and make him a spiritual giant. Also, it is well known that Paul had eye problems which may have been his “thorn in the flesh.” It is possible that Paul’s eye problems were the result of this experience.
Now someone might say well, “Saul could have rejected the Lord in this encounter.” Well, let’s look at Galatians 1:15-16.
Galatians 1:15-16
But when he who had set me apart before I was born , and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;
This text makes it clear that God had always planned to make Paul the great apostle that he became. In fact in Acts 9:15 Paul is referred to as a “chosen vessel” (literally it reads “a vessel of election”) Why did God not save Paul at an early age before he persecuted Christians? Again, we don’t know.
But notice what Paul says here. He says that God “called me through His grace,” Remember that Grace is unmerited favor. Paul knew that he did nothing to earn God’s favor.
Notice also that Paul says God decided to reveal “His Son in me.” He does not say “to me,” but “in me.” God had long ago planned His use of Saul. What does that mean for you and me? Well, it is a great comfort to know that God has already planned on how He is going to use you. We have looked at Eph. 2:8-9, but we cannot forget v. 10:
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
This text makes it clear that God had chosen Saul way before he was saved. Of course, Scripture tells us that those who are saved were “chosen from the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). Now why did God allow Saul to do what he did to believers? Why didn’t God save Saul at an early age? We just don’t know. But we do know that when it “pleased God” he set Saul apart for His purposes.
Have you considered what God’s purpose is for your life? The first step in realizing God’s purpose for your life is to be sure that you have accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior.
