Provide an overview of Paul’s story of his conversion as found in Acts 9:1–19, 22:3–16, and 26:8–9. Are the differences in these accounts normal variations found when someone retells an important event, or are they clear indicators of a fabrication? Give evidence for your view. How can Paul’s story of his conversion be used as a model for Christians today?
Provide an overview of Paul’s story of his conversion as found in Acts 9:1–1 9, 22:3–16, and 26:8–9. Paul’s , who is formally called Saul before his conversion, story is much like our own. Luke designated “Saul” as “Paul” for the first time in Acts 13:9 (Lea p. 307).[1] These revelations of Christ take a familiar pattern throughout the Bible. When read carefully, these apparition stories in the Gospels reveal a common pattern: (1) Jesus is dead, and all hope has been lost; (2) Jesus intervenes; (3) Jesus offers a sign of his identity; and (4) the disciple(s) recognize(s) Jesus (Oxford, p. 21).[2] In the toil of our deepest sin the Lord Jesus shakes us out of our sinful plans and sets us on a path to serve him. Paul was traveling by horseback, outside the city of Damascus, when the risen Lord appeared in front of him. The brilliance of Jesus’ glory knocks Paul to the ground. Paul, because of his relationship with the scriptures, knows the voice of God. He didn’t know that God was Jesus though. He asks the question, “Who are you Lord?” Jesus says, “I am Jesus of Nazareth who you are persecuting, it is hard for you to kick against the pricks (Acts 9:5, 22:8 KJV).”[3] He asks immediately, “Lord what will you have me to do?” Jesus tells him to go into the city of Damascus and wait there until he is told what to do. Paul had to be led into Damascus by his fellow travelers, because he was blinded. He was without his sight for three days and he didn’t eat or drink (Acts 9:9)
Meanwhile in Damascus another disciple named Ananias had a vision and was told by the Lord to go to the street called Straight into Judas’s house, and ask for Saul of Tarsus. Ananias was told that Saul is praying, and while he is praying, he sees a vision of Ananias coming to him, laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight. Ananias questions the Lord out of fear because he has heard of Saul’s persecution of the Christian church and how he has killed, captured, and taken Christians to the chief priests to bind and in-prison them (Acts 9:14). Jesus tells Ananias to go because Saul was God’s chosen vessel to bear his name to the Gentiles. Ananias goes to Saul, lays his hands on him and prays for Saul/Paul to receive his sight. Something like scales, fall from his eyes after he was prayed for. He was then baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17).
Are the differences in these accounts normal variations found when someone retells an important event, or are they clear indicators of a fabrication? Give evidence for your view. Acts 9 is written in the third person by Luke, who is describing how Paul started out in ministry and how the church started growing. Luke is describing Paul’s conversion and his first steps with his relationship with Christ. In Acts 22, Paul is speaking to his fellow Jews in the Hebrew tongue after being beaten for his testimony of Christ. He gives his own personal account of his interaction with Jesus, his response to seeing him, and what followed when Ananias met him in Judas’s house. Paul in this account is justifying his ministry to the Jews and how his testimony has changed because of his encounter with Jesus, and how he use to be an elect of the Jews, a Pharisee. In Acts 26, Paul is justifying himself as one called to tell the Gentiles that salvation in through the belief in Jesus. Again he is using his interaction and conversion as his punch card for ministry. All these similar but different variations of a conversion are normal. Luke and Paul are addressing their particular audiences, they adjusting their testimonies to fit the particular audiences they were ministering to. Paul’s conversion is not fabricated one bit. God would allow untruth in his Word, it is inspired by the Holy Spirit.
How can Paul’s story of his conversion be used as a model for Christians today? Paul’s conversion story should be a model for us today. We must use our own personal testimonies to impact the audience we are speaking to. Some specific details of our testimonies will intrigue some but not others. Some details could offend some, and others could find those same details challenging them to accept a relationship with Christ. We must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit in addressing our audience and allow our hearts to overflow in truth and develop what we say in a very strategic way that we can produce the most fruit for the Kingdom of God.
References:
KJV Life in the Spirit Study Bible. Grand Rapids MI: Zondervan: Life Publishers International,
1992.
Lea, Thomas D., and David Black. The New Testament: Its Background and Message. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2003.
Oxford Scholarship Online. Oxford University Press. 22 August 2011
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/0199266530.001.0001
[1] Lea, Thomas D., and David Black. The New Testament: Its Background and Message. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2003. p. 307.
