What Happened on the Road to Damascus?

It was about 37 AD.

Saul of Tarsus had been persecuting the Church of God in and around Judaea for the last 5 or 6 years. He was wreaking havoc in the church, going house to house and dragging believers out, both men and women, and putting them into prison. It says he had a zeal in persecuting the church, breathing out threatenings and slaughter. He would cause them to blaspheme, if he could, such that the Jews could kill them by stoning or he would throw them into prison left to died anyway. It was such that he would have killed every last one of them but for God’s protection and divine intervention.

Now he was headed to Damascus 150 miles away, in Syria. It wasn’t good enough for him to just rid Jerusalem of these heretics. In his religious fervor, he had to go all the way to Damascus and root them out there too.

He had the blessing of the high priest to do so. (Theophilus, son of Ananus, who had been appointed by Vitellius, the Roman governor)

He believed he was doing God service, and was blameless in his persecutions. (John 16:2-3; Php 3:6)

 

It is under these circumstances that Saul is confronted by Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus in the form of a bright light, brighter than the sun at noonday, and a voice from above.

Israel-Syria border northwest of the Sea of Galilee -
It is in this area where Saul would have traversed
on his way to Damascus, which
lies about 25 miles away - Road to Damascus

There are three accounts of this miraculous event in your Bible. They may appear, at first glance at least, to contradict one another somewhat. See if you notice where they are.

We’re going to examine these three accounts today to see what really happened on the road to Damascus.

Was Saul really converted on the road to Damascus? And how did it come about?

Acts 9 - Luke’s Narrative

Act 9:3-8 KJV

(3)  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

(4a)  And he fell to the earth,

 

Some say he fell from a horse, some that he just dropped to the ground where he was walking. Taking a 150 mile trip, he may very well have been travelling by horse or a donkey though the text doesn’t specifically say.

 

(4b)  and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

 

When God repeats a name twice, it is to display deep emotion, but not necessarily anger (as in the Martha, Martha of Luke 10:41 and the Jerusalem, Jerusalem of (Mat 23:37).

 

Jesus said that what Saul was doing, persecuting Christians, dragging men and women out of their houses to be punished or put in prison, was the equivalent of persecuting Him directly. How can that be?

 

Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matt 25:40)

 

By persecuting the disciples of Jesus, Saul was persecuting Jesus himself.

 

Act 9:5-8 KJV

(5)  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

 

Answer: “I am Jesus whom you’ve been persecuting.”

Now he knows. Now he knows who this being is. And Saul, once converted as Paul, spent the rest of his life seeking to know him more completely. (Php 3:10)

 

It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks, or the goads.

 

This is an interesting phrase. It turns out that it was a proverbial expression common to the day.

 

An iron goad was an instrument for urging on oxen, horses and other beasts of burden. It was a sharp
piece of iron stuck into the end of a stick, with which the ox would be poked. These goads among the Hebrews were made very large. It tells us in Judges 3:31 Shamgar killed 600 men with one of them. Compare 1Sam 13:21.

 

The expression “to kick against the pricks” is derived from the action of a stubborn and unyielding ox kicking against the goad. The ox would injure no one but himself and would gain nothing. The expression denotes “rebellion against lawful authority, and thus getting into greater difficulty by attempting to oppose the commands to duty.”

 

In other words, it is futile for you to resist the Lord your God. God had singled Saul out to turn him from the evil zeal he had towards God’s people and to turn him towards zealous service to God in a most dramatic reversal. And Jesus tells him here that it is futile for him to try to resist.

 

Trembling and astonished, Saul realized he had no choice in the matter.

 

I am Jesus whom you persecuted

 

Act 9:6-8 KJV

(6)  And he trembling and astonished said, 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.

 

Once Saul realized Who he was dealing with, he submitted as unto God. Just like a dumb ox, he was under the hand of the Master.

 

What wilt thou have me to do? This was the smartest thing he said all day.

 

But Jesus only tells him what to do next. He did not reveal the whole plan.

As it is so often with us, He tells us what to do next not the entire plan and how it will turn out. He directs us one step at a time instead of laying out the details of the grand plan all at once. We must take that next step in faith trusting the rest to Him.

 

(7)  And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

(8)  And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

 

The second account we have of Saul’s experience on the road to Damascus is in Acts chapter 22 where we hear Paul recount it himself.

Acts 22 - Paul’s Defense Before the Mob of Jews

 

This was 20 years after Paul’s experience on the Road to Damascus. (58 AD)

At the end of Acts chapter 21, an angry mob of Jews wanted to kill Paul because they claimed he had brought a Gentile, named Trophimus the Ephesian, into the Temple and defiled it.

Paul had been dragged out of the temple and the Jews were beating him when Roman soldiers stopped it and took Paul into custody.

As he was being led away, he got permission from the commander to let him speak to the Jews from the stairs.

Act 22:1-21 KJV

(1)  Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.

 

Interestingly, Paul begins the same as Stephen had done.

“Men, brethren, and fathers”. (Act 7:2)

 

(2)  (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)

(3)  I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

(4)  And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

(5)  As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

 

 

Paul’s saying, “I was just like you all before I met Jesus. Let me tell you what happened!”

By mentioning Gamaliel, he may also have been prompting them to recall what Gamaliel had said back in Acts 5:38-39.

 

… let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:  But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

 

Then he begins to tell the story of how this was so.

Act 22:6-11 KJV

(6)  And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.

(7)  And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

(8)  And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, [specifically, which Jesus] whom thou persecutest.

(9)  And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

(10)  And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.

(11)  And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.

 

Paul was making it clear to the mob that it wasn’t his idea to preach to the Gentiles; this was God’s plan, not his. He hoped it also explained to the crowd why he seemed so friendly to the Gentiles: Paul was simply obeying Jesus and His word to him.

Paul was arrested and taken into Roman custody. (Act 22:24-30)

From now until the end of the Book of Acts, Paul will be in Roman custody.

 

The third account is Paul’s defense as he appears in the court before King Agrippa.

Acts 26 - Paul Defends Himself Before King Agrippa II

Paul stood before the man whose great-grandfather, Herod the Great, had tried to kill Jesus as a baby; his grandfather, Herod the tetrarch, Antipas, who had married his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, had beheaded John the Baptist for pointing it out; his father, Agrippa I, had killed the first of the apostles to be martyred, (Acts 12:2) James the son of Zebedee.

Agrippa’s family history made it unlikely that Paul would be received warmly. However, we’ll see the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to take no thought ahead of time what to say, that Paul would be given the words to speak by the power of the Holy Spirit speaking through him.

(Matt 10:20; Mark 13:11; Luke 21:15)

Act 26:1-7; 13-21 KJV

(1)  Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

(2)  I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

(3)  Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

 

In the auditorium there in the city of Caesarea Paul spoke to Festus, Agrippa, his sister Bernice with whom it is believed he had an incestuous relationship, commanders of the Roman Legion, and all the prominent men of Caesarea. (Acts 25:23) Why did Paul say Agrippa was expert in Jewish customs? Agrippa and Bernice were Jews so Paul’s appeal to them began with this framework in mind.

(4)  My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

(5)  Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

(6)  And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:

 

Who is the hope of the promise? Jesus, the Messiah.

 

(7)  Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

 

The Messiah which has been spoken of in the Law and the Prophets has come! I’m merely attesting to the fact. And for this, they accuse me of heresy.

 

(13)  At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

(14)  And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

(15)  And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

(16)  But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; [see 2Cor 12:1-7]

(17)  Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

(18)  To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

 

Isn’t that why we’re sent, brethren? To preach the gospel that their eyes may be opened, to be a witness, making disciples of them? (Matt 28:19-20)

§  To turn them from darkness to the light (see also 1 John 2:8)

§  From the power of Satan unto God

§  That He may grant them repentance and forgive their sins (2 Tim 2:24-26)

§  That they too may receive the glorious inheritance among God’s people

 

(19)  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

(20)  But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

(21)  For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

 

I went to the Jews first. I gave them first chance to hear what I had learned. Then I went to the Gentiles.

Paul’s argument was so convincing, so rational, and so fervently presented that Agrippa is “almost persuaded” to be a Christian. (v. 28)

Act 26:28  Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

 

Act 26:31-32

(31)  And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

(32)  Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

 

But Paul MUST go to Rome. He was instructed to go to Rome by Jesus Himself. These were just the circumstances that brought it about.

Act 23:11 KJV And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

 

So, did you catch the apparent “contradictions” in the three accounts?

 

Apparent Contradictions

 

Acts 9:3-4; 7 says –

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (Act 9:3-4 KJV)

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. (Act 9:7 KJV)

 

And Acts 22:6-7; 9 says –

 

(6) And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. (7) And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (Act 22:6-7 KJV)

 

(9) And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. (Act 22:9 KJV)

 

And Acts 26:13-14 says –

 

(13) At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. 

(14) And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 

 

Did the men with him hear the voice or not hear the voice?

Did the men with him remain standing, or did they all fall down?

 

Resolution

As to the men standing – I think it would be safe to say, they all saw the light. How could they not? It was brighter than the sun! Upon seeing the light, at first, they all fell to the ground, as Saul said. They all fell to the earth, which would be the immediate response to the appearance of such a bright light, brighter than the sun a midday. Upon recovering themselves, the men with him very likely rose from the ground and surveyed the remainder of the scene in silent amazement and alarm while Saul remained on the ground in fear listening to Christ’s admonishment.

 

But, how is it possible to hear but not hear?

Saul said they heard a voice in Acts 9:4 and then later he says they heard not the voice that spake to him in Acts 22:9.

Is it possible to hear a voice, the sound of it, and not know what’s being said?

Ever hear people talking but you can’t quite make out what they’re saying? What if they’re speaking a foreign language? Can you hear their voices but not comprehend what’s being said?

In Acts 2 – At Pentecost, they all heard in their own language, (v. 6) others heard gibberish and accused them of being drunk (v. 13)

Bear in mind also, the voice spoke to Saul in Hebrew. The men with him were likely of the armed guard type who may not have been educated in Hebrew, but the language of the day, Greek.

A similar instance occurs in John 12:27-29, when the voice of God came from heaven to Jesus, “The people who stood by and heard it said it thundered.” They heard the sound, the noise; but they did not distinguish the words addressed to him.

 

 

 

 

Joh 12:27-29 KJV

(27)  Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

(28)  Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

(29)  The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.

 

Mat 13:13-17 KJV

(13)  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

(14)  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

(15)  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. (ref. Isa 6:10)

(16)  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

(17)  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

 

There’s no doubt, however, that Saul knew who was speaking to him. And he heard and understood what was said!

 

Act 22:12-16 KJV

(12)  And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,

(13)  Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.

(14)  And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

(15)  For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

(16)  And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. [see also Gen 4:26]

 

 

As to the men standing - They at first fell to the ground, as Saul did. They all fell to the earth, the immediate effect of the appearance of the light. Upon recovering themselves, the men with him rose from the ground, and watched the scene speechless with silent amazement and alarm.

 

Hearing indeed the voice - namely, the sound of that voice which had spoken to Saul; but without distinctly understanding the sense of what was said. When it says, “heard not the voice” it must be understood in the sense of “understanding the words,” the distinct articulation, which Paul heard. They heard a “noise”; they were amazed and alarmed, but they did not hear the distinct words addressed to Saul. Whether the word translated “voice” is used in the genitive case or the accusative case in the Greek makes all the difference.

 

Yet most importantly, Saul heard what Christ had to say to be sure, and understood exactly what He said to him without question!

Was Saul actually converted on the road to Damascus?

 

We tend to think of this event on the road to Damascus as Paul’s conversion but was he actually converted there?

 

Act 9:9-18 KJV

(9)  And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

 

Saul lost his sight due to the great intensity of the Light. (Acts 22:11; 26:13)

Ever have your picture taken with a camera and a flash was used? You can’t see for a few seconds afterward. This was a much greater flash that blinded him for three days. He had not yet been restored. He had not yet been told what Jesus’ assignment would be. He had time to reflect on what he had done. You can imagine his deep sorrow and remorse such that he lost his appetite not even wanting a drink of water. Did he repent? I believe he did.

 

(10)  And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

 

Question: Could we ever be “a certain disciple”? Could God entrust us with a newly repentant babe in Christ?

 

(11)  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas

[for obvious reasons, this is not the same Judas as Iscariot]

for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

(12)  And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

(13)  Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

(14)  And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

(15)  But the Lord said unto him, 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:

(16)  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

(17)  And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

(18)  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

 

Saul received not only physical sight but also spiritual sight.

 

1. Saul repented.
2. He had hands laid on him to receive the Holy Spirit.
3. He was baptized.

 

Where was Saul converted?

 

It was not on the road to Damascus but in a house belonging to Judas on Straight Street in the city of Damascus.

 

From that point forward Saul, a Roman citizen sent to the Gentiles, went by his Roman name, “Paul”. It doesn’t say he was renamed by God as was the case when Jacob was renamed Israel.

 

Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, (Act 13:9 KJV)

 

Conclusion

 

Paul’s conversion – an example for us all

1Ti 1:12-17 KJV

(12)  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

(13)  Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

(14)  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

(15)  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

(16)  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

(17)  Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Saul’s conversion is a pattern for us all, for all who call on the name of the Lord. We can share in his experiences and know that our experiences are God’s will and find comfort in God’s grace and love.

 

If God can forgive a man like Saul, he can forgive you. He can forgive me.

 

Saul’s conversion reminds us that conversion is something God does in us. It is God that does the work and He will complete it.

 

Php 2:13 KJV  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

 

And He will complete it.

 

Php 1:6 KJV  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

 

Once the work begins, it continues until Christ returns for us or we sleep in the grave awaiting his return.

 

Saul’s conversion reminds us that God looks for people to cooperate in the conversion of others, even though they are not really necessary, except as a demonstration of the importance of the family of God.

 

Perhaps He called you for such a time as this like Esther. (Est 4:14)

Maybe he called you to assist in turning many to righteousness. (Dan 12:3) Maybe he called you to be a shining example to others such that when they see your good works, they will glorify the Father. (Matt 5:16)

Maybe he brings others to you that they may ask you the reason for the hope that lies within you. (1Pet 3:15)

 

Saul was an extremely rare individual. It was uncommon to find such an educated, intelligent, devout Jew who was also a Roman citizen. God would use this unique background to use him a special way.

Your testimony of how you came into the Truth may not be as dramatic as Paul’s. But you don’t have to be a Paul for God to use you. You too have a unique background and perspective. God wants to use your unique talents in a special way also.

 

God called you not just to be in his family but to serve, to serve Him and to serve others, now and in the future. He didn’t call us to just be in His family, burying our talent, but to do, to put it to good use in His service.

 

Answering the call isn’t the end, but the beginning.

 

And may we all have ears to hear what our LORD has to say when we ask, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”.

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