Road to Damascus

Saul of Tarsus

After the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Saul of Tarsus (a Pharisee in Jerusalem) swore to wipe out the new Christian church called, "The Way." Early Christians referred to themselves as followers of The Way, a term occurring in Acts six times. It connotes the idea of "the true way of God" or "the way of salvation."

Saul was a malicious persecutor of the church. He is seen in the above picture commending the stoning of the Apostle Stephen, who was falsely accused of blasphemy (Acts 7). The intensity and ferocity of Saul's hatred towards the church compelled him to seek out and destroy the Lord's disciples. He went to the chief priest and asked for letters of authorization to the synagogue leaders in the city of Damascus. Saul wanted to arrest any man or woman who followed the way of Christ and imprison them in Jerusalem.

If you are a true disciple of Christ, you too will encounter "persecution." Persecution proves you are walking with the Lord and it's Satan's attempt to stop your influence for the Kingdom of God. 

Saul's Conversion

On the road to Damascus (one of the world's oldest cities - located in Syria) Saul and his companions encountered a blinding light from heaven. Saul was immediately struck down, and the Lord spoke to him saying, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (Acts 9:4)

When Saul asked who was speaking to him, the voice replied, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do" (Acts 9:5-6).

The men with Saul heard the sound but did not see the vision of the risen Christ that Saul did. Saul was left blinded and led by the hand into Damascus to a man named Judas.

What do you suppose the significance of the "three" days represents? Think about it this way... Saul was in complete darkness for 'three' days as Christ was in a tomb of darkness for 'three' days. Jonah was also in the belly of a whale for 'three' days.  I believe Christ gave them that time to reflect on their foolishness and disobedience. Up until that point, they were living for themselves and not doing the will of the Lord. The period of darkness represented a time of judgment, repentance, and divine deliverance. Jonah’s time in the fish was a symbolic death, where he prayed and recommited to God’s purpose, emerging to fulfill his mission. Jesus himself references Jonah’s experience as a foreshadowing of his own death and resurrection (Matthew 12:40), emphasizing the theme of divine rescue and renewal. 

Saul's blindness symbolizes spiritual darkness and his former opposition to God’s truth. The three days represent a transformative period of reflection and repentance, culminating in his baptism and commissioning as an apostle. The restoration of his sight parallels a spiritual rebirth, aligning with the broader theme of moving from darkness to light through divine grace.

Jesus spends three days in the tomb after his crucifixion, fulfilling his own prophecy of death and resurrection. This period of darkness represents the ultimate victory over sin and death, as his resurrection establishes the foundation of Christian salvation. The three days link directly to Jonah’s experience, as Jesus explicitly compares his time in the tomb to Jonah’s time in the fish, underscoring themes of divine power, redemption, and fulfillment of God’s plan.

Can you imagine what Jonah and Saul must have been thinking while in complete darkness? Saul, for instance, went from persecuting Christians to becoming completely dependent on them (and the Lord). He had to "entrust" himself to those he sought to murder. Imagine the fear that must have fallen upon him. He encountered the God of the universe (the one whom he was persecuting) and now was subject to whatever the Lord willed for him. Would Christ hand him over to the Christians to be stoned? Would he be blind forever? The darkness must have been terrifying!

Sin will always leave us in darkness, but the moment a sinner gives his heart to Christ, he will find peace and 'life' as he continues in the light.  Saul's state of darkness was necessary to humble him and fit him for his work.  God was transforming his heart. Jesus told Ananias, referring to Saul, "I will show him how much he must suffer for my name" (Acts 9:15). 

On the road to Damascus, Saul's life changed forever. God stopped him dead in his tracts and opened his eyes to the way he was living. Before his conversion, he was an enemy of Christ, and we were too before our conversion! At one point in our life, we were all on the road to Damascus... living in "rebellion."  And if *you* have yet to come to the Lord and trust in Him as your Savior, you are still on the road to Damascus. God tells us where that road leads to:

"For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it" (Matthew 7:13).

No one can see they are traveling the wrong way when in darkness. No one can recognize the sin they are wading in, until the light of Christ is shed upon them, exposing their iniquities. Ephesians 5:13 says, "But everything exposed by the light becomes visible--and everything that is illuminated becomes a light." When Christ struck Saul down in light, his heart was exposed, then it was transformed. Saul then became that very light that leads others out of darkness. How about you...

Are you being a light for others?

The dictionary defines The Road to Damascus as: 

A sudden turning point in a person's life (similar to the sudden conversion of the Apostle Paul on the road from Jerusalem to Damascus of arrest Christians)

On the road to Damascus, Saul experienced this dramatic conversion, a "turning point" in his life. He went from being the most viscous persecutor to the greatest missionary! He is responsible for writing nearly half of the New Testament! When you encounter Christ, He never leaves you unchanged! Saul's conversion is so encouraging because no matter what your past may have looked like, Christ can use you for His glory! Satan likes to remind people of their past mistakes to make them feel *unworthy* of spreading the word; however, when he does this... remind him of his future!

After the scales had fallen from Saul's eyes, 

he was given new eyes. He had become a new creation... in Christ. 

Saul even changed his name to Paul. During the *three* days of darkness in which he experienced, Saul died to himself. 

Have you died to yourself? 

Colossians 3 says:

"Since you were brought back to life with Christ, focus on the things that are above... Therefore, put to death whatever is worldly in you: your sexual sin, perversion, passion, lust, and greed (which is the same thing as worshiping wealth). It is because of these sins the wrath of God is coming. You used to live that kind of sinful life. Also get rid of your anger, hot tempers, hatred, cursing, obscene language, and all similar sins. Don’t lie to each other. You’ve gotten rid of the person you used to be and the life you used to live, and you’ve become a new person."

Are you a new creation?