The Call of Saul (Paul)

(Please read Acts 9)

We last saw Saul in Acts 8:3, where it says that he “was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.” Here he continued and expanded this work to the city of Damascus.

The picture is of an angry, violent man absolutely convinced of his own righteousness. Saul hated the disciples of the Lord. He wasn’t seeking Jesus when Jesus sought him. We might say that Saul was decided against Jesus when Jesus decided for Saul.

Suddenly a light from Heaven shone around Saul and he heard a voice. This spectacular event must be regarded as unusual. God does not normally confront sinners with a heavenly light and an audible voice from Heaven. Saul’s reaction was simply to fall to the ground. This wasn’t because of honor or reverence for God, it was simply a reaction of survival—he was terrified at the heavenly light.

“Why are you persecuting Me?”

As the heavenly light overwhelmed him, Saul was confronted by the true nature of his crime: he persecuted God, not man. Saul thought that he was serving God in viciously attacking Christians, but he discovered that he was fighting God.

We shouldn’t only emphasize “Me” in the phrase “why are you persecuting Me?” We should also notice the “why” and see that Jesus asked “why are you persecuting Me?” That is, “Saul, why are you doing such a futile thing?”

Saul asked the right questions

“Who are You, Lord?” (Acts 9:5). We must ask this question with a humble heart, and ask it to God. Jesus showed us exactly who God is, and He can answer this question. Paul spent the rest of his life wanting to know more completely the answer to this question (Philippians 3:10).

“Lord, what do You want me to do?” (Acts 9:6 NKJV). Few dare to really ask God this question, but when we ask it, we must ask it with submission and determined obedience.

Saul’s question was personal. He asked the question with a “me”: “Lord, what do You want me to do?” We often are quite interested in what God wants others to do. But the surrendered heart asks, “Lord, what do you want me to do?”

©1996-present The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik — enduringword.com. Used with permission.