There are nine or ten different individuals or groups of individuals whose conversions are recorded in Acts. In the case of Cornelius (the first Gentile, Acts 10-11) there are two separate accounts of his conversion. In the case of Saul of Tarsus, there are three different accounts: the first is the account of the historian, Luke (Acts 9). The second and third accounts are Saul’s own testimony how he was converted to Christ (Acts 22, 26).
We are introduced to Saul when he was a young man and was very much opposed to the religion of Jesus. We met him first at the trial ad death of Stephen, the first martyr of Jesus. Many more believers would follow the steps of Stephen and die rather than renounce their faith in Jesus. Saul agreed to the stoning of Stephen, demonstrating his agreement by watching over the garments of those who stoned him. In the days that followed, Saul’s animosity grew more intense for he “laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women, committed them to be punished” (Acts 8:3). His persecution of Christians led him to several new cities in his efforts to eliminate those who confessed their faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He went to the chief priests in Jerusalem and obtained letters for those in the synagogues of Damascus that if there were any Christians found there, he would bind them and bring them to Jerusalem (Acts 9:1-2).
It was at this point that the Lord intervened. As Saul drew near to Damascus, it was around noon and suddenly a great light brighter than the noon-day sun shown down upon Saul. He was blinded by the light and fell to the ground. He heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me?” (Acts 9:4). Saul replied, “Who art thou, Lord?” with the returning response, “I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest” (Acts 9:5). Many misunderstand Saul’s words, thinking that Saul’s word “Lord” was a confession of Jesus. The text clearly shows that Saul did not know who had spoken to him. He used the word “Lord” to speak to one whom he recognized as his superior. When Jesus identified Himself to Saul, Saul responded, “Lord, what would thou have me to do?” Jesus told him, “Go into the city and it will be told thee what thou must do” (Acts 9:6; 22:10). Saul was blinded by the great light and some of those with him led him into the city where he was told to wait for someone to come and speak to him. Saul spent three days and nights praying and fasting.
In Damascus, there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord appeared and told him how to reach Saul. Saul had been told that a man named Ananias would come and heal him of his blindness, and tell him all things he must do (Acts 9:11-12). Ananias was a man of faith, but at this point his faith seemed to fail him. He told the Lord that Saul had come to Damascus to bind Christians and punish them — as though the Lord did not already know that (Acts 9:10). The Lord told Ananias, “Go thy way, for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before Gentiles and kings and I will show him how many things he must bear for my name’s sake” (Acts 9:15-16).
Ananias obeyed the Lord’s command, went to the place where the Lord had said he would find Saul, and when he found Saul he laid his hands on him, restoring his sight. He then spoke of the work God planned for him to do, instructing him of his need for salvation by saying, “And now, why tarriest thou? Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Saul immediately arose and was baptized.
Saul was no different than any other man; like all others he “had sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Saul was told that in his baptism his sins would be washed away. This was what sinful men were told to do on Pentecost (Acts 2:38). And these words were simply a duplication of what Jesus told His apostles to preach (Mark 16:15-16). Paul did not hesitate. Years later he wrote the Roman Christians: “Are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4). Paul was very specific: the language was written in the first person. Whatever the Roman Christians had done to be saved, Paul had also done. The Romans had been baptized into Christ’s death or into the benefit of Christ’s death — and so had Saul. The Romans had been raised from baptism to walk in newness of life — and so had Saul. Saul was told by the Lord that in Damascus he would be told all things he must do. Ananias told him, “Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins” (Acts 22:16). Had Saul already been saved, either on the road to Damascus or else through prayer during the three days he waited for Ananias, he would not have been told that from baptism he would “rise to walk in newness of life.” He would already be walking in newness of life.
Saul had heard and believed the words of Ananias who spoke the words the Spirit had directed. This means that Saul had been born of the Spirit. He had been baptized. This means that he had been born of water. Just as Nicodemus had been told he must be born of the water and spirit, Saul had also been born of the water and Spirit. He has been “born again.” Saul had been converted.
Jim McDonald