The road to Damascus is where the apostle Paul’s conversion took place. He was a Pharisee known as Saul. Before his conversion, He dedicated himself to stopping Jewish people from believing in Christ. His mission was to round up Christians, persecute them, and lead most of them to death (Acts 9:1).

Apostle Paul’s Conversion

Paul’s conversion is a remarkable illustration of God’s astonishing grace. Here was a man who was a part of the spiritual leaders who despised Jesus and succeeded in crucifying Him.

Despite Saul’s rejection of Christ, God planned to save him. This happened on his way to Damascus, where he would arrest believers of Jesus. Christ stopped him on the road to Damascus and confronted Him.

Christ said to Saul:

 Now as he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, (Acts 9:3-5, NASB)

It was at this point that Jesus profoundly got Saul’s undivided attention. Did you notice Saul fell? Christ’s voice paralyzed him. It prevented any distractions that would take him away from this significant moment of his life. This was the beginning of his conversion.

The men who traveled with Paul heard the same voice (Acts 9:7). They couldn’t speak. Jesus took Saul’s sight away and blinded him (Acts 9:8). His darkness was temporary, and when Ananias laid his hands on him, his sight returned (Acts 9:17-18).

After Saul’s encounter with Jesus, he followed Christ’s commandment to enter Damascus and embrace the apostle Ananias whom Jesus appointed to prepare his complete conversion (Acts 9:10-12). However, Ananias knew of Saul’s persecution of Christians and disapproved of his wickedness (Acts 9:13).

But Jesus disclosed this to Ananias:

 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;for I will show him how much he must suffer in behalf of My name.” (Acts 9:15-16, NASB)

These two verses show how Christ unfolded Paul’s purpose in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). Jesus unveiled Paul’s mission to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles. He also made it known that he would suffer for believing in Him.

When Ananias adhered to Christ’s commandment (Acts 9:17), Saul received the Holy Spirit and became baptized (Acts 9:18). From this point forward; Paul started his ministry (Acts 9:20).

Paul suffered imprisonment, death threats, and persecution for preaching Jesus’s Gospel. His conversion on the road to Damascus paved the way for the salvation of the Gentiles.

Paul wrote twelve of the twenty-seven New Testament books. They are God’s way of showing the fruits of his conversion. Contained within them are significant and crucial revelations of Christ’s Deity. It shows us how he planted churches and preached an unwavering faith in Jesus.

Final Thoughts

Paul’s conversion shows Jesus’s love for transforming sinners into disciples. Each of our conversions gives witness to God’s incredible willingness to save us from eternal damnation. For this reason, my life is no longer bonded to me. I’m converted and now have the gift of the Holy Spirit. I’m forever grateful for God’s gift of eternal life!

What happened on your road to Damascus?