The Way

Saul’s Conversion - Acts 9:1-19

9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

The last time we saw Saul, he was in Jerusalem going from house to house dragging men and women off to prison. He is so passionate about eradicating, what he calls "the Way", he asks for permission from the high priest to go to Damascus, round up believers, and bring them back to Jerusalem.  Saul is most probably a member of the Sanhedrin the ruling body of 70 elders.  Damascus was about a six-day journey north of Jerusalem.  It is obvious that it became known to Saul that the church had starting growing which is why he went. 

On the way there Saul has an extraordinary experience.  A light from heaven flashes and it is so brilliant Saul falls to the ground.  Then a voice says, "Saul, Saul why do you persecute me."  Whenever Jesus says a name twice it is usually showing a deep concern for someone.  In other passage Jesus says, "Martha, Martha" and "Jerusalem, Jerusalem."  Clearly Jesus knows Saul and wants Saul to know him.  Note Saul didn't come to Jesus, but Jesus came to him.  Saul realizes it is someone addressing him and the authority in the voice when he says, "Who are you Lord?"  When Saul uses the word "Kurios" he is  acknowledging divine authority, though he probably does not yet know the full extent of the authority of who he is talking to.  We know this was not merely a dream for Saul or a voice in his heasd, when those traveling with him hear the voice as well. 

This is one of the most dramatic conversions in the bible followed by a dramatic transformation in Saul's life.  Later Saul takes the name of Paul and becomes the greatest missionary perhaps the world has ever seen.  Note Saul's post-conversion zeal to reach the world for Christ is seen here in his desire to round up Jesus' disciples.  Jesus will redeem Paul's passion for persecution into a zeal for evangelism .  But first Paul had to experience Jesus personally on the road to Damascus.  

There are many ways people are called by Jesus to start a new "way" of life.  Not many people have Paul's experience of meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, but nonetheless we are all met by Jesus on the road of life.  And Jesus invites to join him on the way.  The "Way" was the first term given to the Christian community, even before the term "church".  It shows that following Jesus is a Way of life.  Paul's way of life goes from persecuting Christians to reaching Christians.  On you on the way with Jesus, or have you veered off the path?  Jesus is still inviting people to join him on the way to eternal life. After all in probably his most famous statement in John 14:6 he says to his disciples, "I am the way, the truth and the life."