From Terrorist to Evangelist

The ultimate question this passage invites us to ask is this: have I truly experienced conversion? John Stott emphasizes this need as he summarizes how we should apply Saul’s conversion narrative:

We too can (and must) experience a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, surrender to him in penitence and faith, and receive his summons to service. Provided that we distinguish between the historically particular and the universal, between the dramatic outward accompaniments and the essential inward experience, what happened to Saul remains an instructive case study in Christian conversion. Moreover, Christ’s display of “unlimited patience” towards him was meant to be an encouraging “example” to others. (Message of Acts, 166)

Have you surrendered to Christ in repentance and faith, receiving his summons to service? If so, then allow the grace of God to encourage you as you live on mission. God saves sinners, and he wants to reach others through you. Rejoice! If you haven’t surrendered to him, then do so now. You can’t use the excuse that you’re too bad or even count on all of your religious efforts to buy your salvation. Look at Saul! You are just the right candidate for grace.

Acts 9:19b-31

Jesus never promised Saul that his ministry would be easy, so it shouldn’t have surprised Saul when he faced trials right after conversion. His life soon followed this pattern: Saul preached Christ boldly; Saul became the object of a murderous plot; Saul escaped. Welcome to the ministry, Saul!

At this point in Acts, Saul has a new family and a new message (vv. 19-20). He’s undergone a total transformation! Saul is telling everyone about the One who changed him—Jesus, the Son of God (v. 22). This guy became an entirely new person through the work of Christ. Saul’s whole ministry would be Christ exalting from beginning to end.

Everyone was “astounded” by Saul’s transformation. He had raised havoc in Jerusalem, persecuting everyone who called on Jesus’s name (v. 21; cf. 1 Cor 15:9; Gal 1:13,23; 1 Tim 1:13). Here the very name Saul once despised is the name he powerfully and unceasingly declares.

Over time Saul “grew stronger” (v. 22). This seems to reference spiritual strength. God continued to empower Saul to testify to the good news of the gospel. Soon the man’s ministry began to frustrate the Jews in Damascus because they couldn’t counter his claims about Jesus as the Christ. How I love that Scripture includes that detail because this same thing happened in Stephen’s case: no one could withstand the wisdom with which he spoke either (6:10). Saul, in effect then, has taken Stephen’s place (vv. 22-23), and it’s not long before he too faces the threat of death. The Lord, however, doesn’t allow a murderous scheme against him to succeed; he has much more work for the apostle to do. Verses 24-25 detail Saul’s Indiana Jones-like escape.

Following Jesus isn’t easy, but he is with us. Jesus’s grace is sufficient. In 2 Corinthians Paul rattles off a host of trials he endured as he followed Christ. Chapter 11 of that book culminates in the escape from Damascus. He said,

[I have faced] far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, [and have been] many times near death.

Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers; toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing. Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows I am not lying. In Damascus, a ruler under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to arrest me. So I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped from his hands. (2 Cor 11:23-33)

Paul’s words give us a needed dose of realism. Living in a fallen world is difficult, and following Jesus in a fallen world involves even more suffering (2 Tim 3:12). So don’t be surprised when you face trials and opposition for proclaiming Christ.

Paul’s words also remind us that in the midst of trials we still can rely on and rejoice in the all-sufficient grace of Jesus. In the next chapter of 2 Corinthians, Paul expresses this very fact—that Christ’s power is made perfect in weaknesses (2 Cor 12:9). So go to Jesus to be strengthened by grace (2 Tim 2:1).

Finally, this testimony of Paul reminds us that no one can thwart the sovereign Lord’s plans. Neither the city’s governor nor a host of other people could capture Paul because Jesus was in charge and wouldn’t allow them to succeed. In the midst of your trials, remember that there’s only one sovereign Lord. Live with confident trust in him.

In Jerusalem the Christians who’d received reports about Saul’s conversion were full of suspicion. When he tried to join the disciples, they were afraid of him and did not even believe that he was a Christ follower (v. 26).

Enter Barnabas. Thankfully, the “Son of Encouragement” gave Saul a hearing and trusted his story. Barnabas then advocated for Saul, describing all of the previous transforming events in Saul’s life to the apostles (v. 27) and vouching for him. Because of Barnabas’s intervention, the disciples received Saul as a brother.

Twice Luke says that Saul preached “boldly in the name of the Lord/Jesus” (vv. 27-28). Based on some of Paul’s writings, we shouldn’t attribute that courage to a brash personality. True, he was a zealous man. But the former persecutor told the Corinthians that his preaching involved feeling “weakness,” “fear,” and enduring “much trembling” (1 Cor 2:3). Paul asked the churches in Ephesus and Colossae to pray for him so he might preach the gospel fearlessly (Eph 6:19-20; Col 4:3-4). This is a reminder that boldness, for all believers, is a gift of God, who gives it to those who humbly ask him (Acts 4:29,31). Let’s ask God to grant us this boldness as we make Christ known.

In Acts 9:29 Saul is disputing with the Hellenists—a group that showed up in 6:9 at Stephen’s trial. Saul was likely a leader in the Greek-speaking synagogue. Now he’s disputing about Jesus with the men who once trusted his leadership!

As a result of Saul’s bold preaching, he faces the same problem he faced in Damascus: he becomes the target of a murderous plot (v. 29). His Christian brothers send him away to Tarsus (v. 30), leading the narrative to close with Saul en route to his hometown (21:39; 22:3). Saul will reenter the Acts account when Barnabas retrieves him so that together they may visit the church in Antioch (11:25-26; cf. Gal 1:21).

This passage underscores the nature of being a witness and is a reminder of the importance of being an encourager to other believers. Regarding the former, Saul gives us a pattern for a faithful witness. Faithful witnesses are first Christ centered. Saul goes about preaching Christ, not talking about himself or giving some how-to-live-a-better-life sermon. Second, a faithful witness is empowered. Saul was strengthened through his personal relationship with Christ (v. 22). Third, a faithful witness is bold (vv. 27-28). Fourth, a faithful witness will suffer. Let’s pray for the Lord to empower us to proclaim Christ boldly even in the face of suffering.

Regarding the need to encourage other brothers and sisters, Barnabas, once again, provides a wonderful model for us. I love how Luke says, “Barnabas took him” (v. 27). It tells us Barnabas spent time with Saul. He listened. He encouraged. He advocated for him. He befriended him. Later he retrieved Saul and ministered alongside him. The investments this man made involved time, risk, and humility. He truly was filled with grace. Be on the lookout for ways you can be a Barnabas to other believers this week.

Luke moves the whole Acts narrative along with this summary:

So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was strengthened. Living in fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. (9:31)

This tells us that though the church faced many threats and trials externally, it experienced great peace inwardly. We experience peace through a right relationship with God through Christ. This relationship involves walking by the Spirit and walking humbly before the God who is to be feared. When we walk humbly, prayerfully, and dependently, we find peace—even though we may be in a time of crisis.

In addition to enjoying these spiritual blessings, the church multiplied numerically. Jesus continued to build his church despite murderous plots and heated opposition. Both the conversion of Saul and the growth of the church showcase God’s amazing grace. Both give us reason to give God praise.

Not long ago I took our family to watch the remake of the movie Annie. The film touched on many important themes and gave me many talking points for dinner-table discussion. One of the songs in particular gave me opportunity to talk with my family about the gospel.

Toward the end of the movie, Will Stacks (a wealthy cell-phone tycoon who runs for mayor) and Hannigan (a horrible foster mom) sing, “Who Am I?” The lyrics of their song are antigospel, revealing that both characters live for money. Self-centered and greedy, each realizes that change is in order. It’s time to start thinking about other people.

But becoming less self-centered or even wildly dedicated to humanitarian causes doesn’t really fix anything. The chorus, “I want to start again, so I’ll look within,” rings hollow—though it’s based on a popular twenty-first-century notion. People can change their diets, their habits, even their passions, but self-effort alone can’t completely change a life, alter a person’s eternal destiny. People need the Life-Changer to do that.

Saul’s life wasn’t changed as a result of karma or looking within or because he followed a self-help plan. His following lists of religious rules fell short. Jesus is what changed Saul into Paul. Jesus changed him forever. So if you want to start again, look to him, the Life-Changer, Jesus Christ. In him there is hope for both the self-righteous moralist and the unrighteous hedonist. He can make all things new.