a resource website for Christian Entrepreneurs

Home  |  Sitemap  |  Contact us

[Everyone has a story. What’s your story?]

Everyone has a story. What’s your story?

Paul told his story often.

When the Apostle Paul wanted to give evidence for his belief in Jesus as the true Messiah, the Son of God, he told his story of meeting Jesus on the Road to Damascus. Paul’s conversion story is one of the most compelling stories in human history.

When Paul was arrested in Jerusalem he spoke to the mob of legalistic Jews and told them his conversion story that happened on the road to Damascus. Acts 22:1-16

When Paul stood on trial before King Agrippa he again told his conversion story that took place on the road to Damascus. Acts 26:12-18

Saul was his given name. He was born in a Jewish home in Tarsus. His father was a Roman citizen so Paul was privileged to also be a Roman citizen. He was circumcised on the 8th day after his birth according to Hebrew law. He was fluent in both Aramaic and Greek languages.

Paul told About His Life Before Christ

Paul testified that his life before Christ was empty and dark. 2 Corinthians 4:6 Paul declared, “God who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness, has shone within my heart.” Paul said that something happened to him on the Damascus road comparable to the creation of light. Genesis 1:2-3, “The earth was without form and void.” God said, “Let there be light.” Paul said that same light that God created at creation shined into his own soul.

Paul testified that compared to everything else in his life his Damascus road experience was the greatest, greater than his Jewish heritage, his Rabbinical training under the famous Rabbi Gamaliel, his prestige as a Pharisee having a knowledge of scripture forwards and backwards, or his Hellenistic contacts. Everything was secondary to his experience of meeting Jesus.

Paul believed that according to Hebrew law he was righteous and faultless. It was that zeal for the law that compelled him to track down Christ followers and drag them off to prison. Paul was extremely zealous for the cause of Judaism. When Stephen was stoned to death for his teaching about Jesus, Stephen’s clothes were laid at the feet of Saul.

Prior to his Damascus road experience Paul was a champion of Judaism and the traditional laws of Judaism. He believed that righteousness came by keeping the law. For Paul righteousness was all by human effort. Later Paul would describe his condition before Christ as “wretched man that I am, sold as a slave under sin.” Romans 7:14,24

The risen Christ confronted Saul on the Damascus road. Jesus, the Light of the World, appeared to Saul with a brilliance of light brighter than the hot desert Middle Eastern sun. Saul fell from his horse blinded and landed flat on the ground. Jesus spoke to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Paul murmurs out in a weak shaky voice, “Who are you, Lord?”

Paul hears the response: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:4-6

Saul must have realized that he was being confronted by the very one he did not believe in. Jesus is the very one whose followers he was on his way to persecute and put behind bars. He is flat on his face before the very one he has hated.

Jesus is still hated by many people around the world today. However many Jews and Gentiles have had their lives transformed when they met Jesus.

Jesus gave Paul his instructions and the next steps. Paul had the choice to obey or disobey. He surrendered to Jesus and asked the Lord what He wanted him to do. He was obedient to the words of Jesus.

Saul who had been spiritually blind was now physically blind. Jesus touched his heart and gave him spiritual sight but for three days he was blind and had to be led around by someone else.

[NEXT[

• Article Index
• Ministry News
• Newsletter
• Evangelism
• Resources
• Entrepreneurs
• Contact Details