the acts of the apostles-第16章

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pride　of　popularity　braced　him　to　rebel　against　the　voice　of　conscience　and
the　grace　of　God。　And　having　fully　decided　that　the　priests　and　scribes　were
right；　Saul　became　very　bitter　in　his　opposition　to　the　doctrines　taught　by
the　disciples　of　Jesus。　His　activity　in　causing　holy　men　and　women　to　be
dragged　before　tribunals；　where　some　were　condemned　to　imprisonment　and　some
even　to　death；　solely　because　of　their　faith　in　Jesus；　brought　sadness　and
gloom　to　the　newly　organized　church；　and　caused　many　to　seek　safety　in
flight。

Those　who　were　driven　from　Jerusalem　by　this　persecution　〃went　everywhere
preaching　the　word。〃　Acts　8：4。　Among　the　cities　to　which　they　went　was
Damascus；　where　the　new　faith　gained　many　converts。

The　priests　and　rulers　had　hoped　that　by　vigilant　effort　and　stern
persecution　the　heresy　might　be　suppressed。　Now　they　felt　that　they　must
carry　forward　in　other　places　the　decided　measures　taken　in　Jerusalem
against　the　new　teaching。

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For　the　special　work　that　they　desired　to　have　done　at　Damascus；　Saul
offered　his　services。　〃Breathing　out　threatenings　and　slaughter　against　the
disciples　of　the　Lord；〃　he　〃went　unto　the　high　priest；　and　desired　of　him
letters　to　Damascus　to　the　synagogues；　that　if　he　found　any　of　this　way；
whether　they　were　men　or　women；　he　might　bring　them　bound　unto　Jerusalem。〃
Thus　〃with　authority　and　commission　from　the　chief　priests〃　（Acts　26：12）；
Saul　of　Tarsus；　in　the　strength　and　vigor　of　manhood；　and　fired　with
mistaken　zeal；　set　out　on　that　memorable　journey；　the　strange　occurrences　of
which　were　to　change　the　whole　current　of　his　life。

On　the　last　day　of　the　journey；　〃at　midday；〃　as　the　weary　travelers　neared
Damascus；　they　came　within　full　view　of　broad　stretches　of　fertile　lands；
beautiful　gardens；　and　fruitful　orchards；　watered　by　cool　streams　from　the
surrounding　mountains。　After　the　long　journey　over　desolate　wastes　such
scenes　were　refreshing　indeed。　While　Saul；　with　his　companions；　gazed　with
admiration　on　the　fruitful　plain　and　the　fair　city　below；　〃suddenly；〃　as　he
afterward　declared；　there　shone　〃round　about　me　and　them　which　journeyed
with　me〃　〃a　light　from　heaven；　above　the　brightness　of　the　sun〃　（Acts
26：13）；　too　glorious　for　mortal　eyes　to　bear。　Blinded　and　bewildered；　Saul
fell　prostrate　to　the　ground。

While　the　light　continued　to　shine　round　about　them；　Saul　heard；　〃a　voice
speaking　。　。　。　in　the　Hebrew　tongue〃　（Acts　26：14）；　〃saying　unto　him；　Saul；
Saul；　why　persecutest　thou　Me？　And　he　said；　Who　art　Thou；　Lord？　And　the　Lord
said；　I　am　Jesus　whom　thou　persecutest：　it　is　hard　for　thee　to　kick　against
the　pricks。〃

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Filled　with　fear；　and　almost　blinded　by　the　intensity　of　the　light；　the
companions　of　Saul　heard　a　voice；　but　saw　no　man。　But　Saul　understood　the
words　that　were　spoken；　and　to　him　was　clearly　revealed　the　One　who　spoke
even　the　Son　of　God。　In　the　glorious　Being　who　stood　before　him　he　saw　the
Crucified　One。　Upon　the　soul　of　the　stricken　Jew　the　image　of　the　Saviour's
countenance　was　imprinted　forever。　The　words　spoken　struck　home　to　his　heart
with　appalling　force。　Into　the　darkened　chambers　of　his　mind　there　poured　a
flood　of　light；　revealing　the　ignorance　and　error　of　his　former　life　and　his
present　need　of　the　enlightenment　of　the　Holy　Spirit。

Saul　now　saw　that　in　persecuting　the　followers　of　Jesus　he　had　in　reality
been　doing　the　work　of　Satan。　He　saw　that　his　convictions　of　right　and　of
his　own　duty　had　been　based　largely　on　his　implicit　confidence　in　the
priests　and　rulers。　He　had　believed　them　when　they　told　him　that　the　story
of　the　resurrection　was　an　artful　fabrication　of　the　disciples。　Now　that
Jesus　Himself　stood　revealed；　Saul　was　convinced　of　the　truthfulness　of　the
claims　made　by　the　disciples。

In　that　hour　of　heavenly　illumination　Saul's　mind　acted　with　remarkable
rapidity。　The　prophetic　records　of　Holy　Writ　were　opened　to　his
understanding。　He　saw　that　the　rejection　of　Jesus　by　the　Jews；　His
crucifixion；　resurrection；　and　ascension；　had　been　foretold　by　the　prophets
and　proved　Him　to　be　the　promised　Messiah。　Stephen's　sermon　at　the　time　of
his　martyrdom　was　brought　forcibly　to　Saul's　mind；　and　he　realized　that　the
martyr　had　indeed　beheld　〃the　glory　of　God〃　when　he　said；　〃Behold；　I　see　the
heavens

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opened；　and　the　Son　of　man　standing　on　the　right　hand　of　God。〃　Acts　7：55；
56。　The　priests　had　pronounced　these　words　blasphemy；　but　Saul　now　knew　them
to　be　truth。

What　a　revelation　was　all　this　to　the　persecutor！　Now　Saul　knew　for　a
certainty　that　the　promised　Messiah　had　come　to　this　earth　as　Jesus　of
Nazareth　and　that　He　had　been　rejected　and　crucified　by　those　whom　He　came
to　save。　He　knew　also　that　the　Saviour　had　risen　in　triumph　from　the　tomb
and　had　ascended　into　the　heavens。　In　that　moment　of　divine　revelation　Saul
remembered　with　terror　that　Stephen；　who　had　borne　witness　of　a　crucified
and　risen　Saviour；　had　been　sacrificed　by　his　consent；　and　that　later；
through　his　instrumentality；　many　other　worthy　followers　of　Jesus　had　met
their　death　by　cruel　persecution。

The　Saviour　had　spoken　to　Saul　through　Stephen；　whose　clear　reasoning　could
not　be　controverted。　The　learned　Jew　had　seen　the　face　of　the　martyr
reflecting　the　light　of　Christ's　gloryappearing　as　if　〃it　had　been　the
face　of　an　angel。〃　Acts　6：15。　He　had　witnessed　Stephen's　forbearance　toward
his　enemies　and　his　forgiveness　of　them。　He　had　also　witnessed　the　fortitude
and　cheerful　resignation　of　many　whom　he　had　caused　to　be　tormented　and
afflicted。　He　had　seen　some　yield　up　even　their　lives　with　rejoicing　for　the
sake　of　their　faith。

All　these　things　had　appealed　loudly　to　Saul　and　at　times　had　thrust　upon
his　mind　an　almost　overwhelming　conviction　that　Jesus　was　the　promised
Messiah。　At　such　times　he　had　struggled　for　entire　nights　against　this
conviction；　and　always　he　had　ended　the　matter　by　avowing　his　belief

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that　Jesus　was　not　the　Messiah　and　that　His　followers　were　deluded　fanatics。

Now　Christ　had　spoken　to　Saul　with　His　own　voice；　saying；　〃Saul；　Saul；　why
persecutest　thou　Me？〃　And　the　question；　〃Who　art　Thou；　Lord？〃　was　answered
by　the　same　voice；　〃I　am　Jesus　whom　thou　persecutest。〃　Christ　here
identifies　Himself　with　His　people。　In　persecuting　the　followers　of　Jesus；
Saul　had　struck　directly　against　the　Lord　of　heaven。　In　falsely　accusing　and
testifying　against　them；　he　had　falsely　accused　and　testified　against　the
Saviour　of　the　world。

No　doubt　entered　the　mind　of　Saul　that　the　One　who　spoke　to　him　was　Jesus　of
Nazareth；　the　long…looked…for　Messiah；　the　Consolation　and　Redeemer　of
Israel。　〃Trembling　and　astonished；〃　he　inquired；　〃Lord；　what　wilt　Thou　have
me　to　do？　And　the　Lord　said　unto　him；　Arise；　and　go　into　the　city；　and　it
shall　be　told　thee　what　thou　must　do。〃

When　the　glory　was　withdrawn；　and　Saul　arose　from　the　ground；　he　found
himself　totally　deprived　of　sight。　The　brightness　of　Christ's　glory　had　been
too　intense　for　his　mortal　eyes；　and　when　it　was　removed；　the　blackness　of
night　settled　upon　his　vision。　He　believed　that　this　blindness　was　a
punishment　from　God　for　his　cruel　persecution　of　the　followers　of　Jesus。　In
terrible　darkness　he　groped　about；　and　his　companions；　in　fear　and
amazement；　〃led　him　by　the　hand；　and　brought　him　into　Damascus。〃

On　the　morning　of　that　eventful　day；　Saul　had　neared　Damascus　with　feelings
of　self…satisfaction　because　of　the　confidence　that　had　been　placed　in　him
by　the　chief　priest。　To

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him　had　been　entrusted　grave　responsibilities。　He　was　commissioned　to
further　the　interests　of　the　Jewish　religion　by　checking；　if　possible；　the
spread　of　the　new　faith　in　Damascus。　He　had　determined　that　his　mission
should　be　crowned　with　success　and　had　looked　forward　with　eager
anticipation　to　the　experiences　that　he　expected　were　before　him。

But　how　unlike　his　anticipations　was　his　entrance　into　the　city？　Stricken
with　blindness；　helpless；　tortured　by　remorse；　knowing　not　what　further
judgment　might　be　in　store　for　him；　he　sought　out　the　home　of　the　disciple
Judas；　where；　in　solitude；　he　had　ample　opportunity　for　reflection　and
prayer。

For　three　days　Saul　was　〃without　sight；　and　neither　did　eat　nor　drink。〃
These　days　of　soul　agony　were　to　him　as　years。　Again　and　again　he　recalled；
with　anguish　of　spirit；　the　part　he　had　taken　in　the　martyrdom　of　Stephen。
With　horror　he　thought　of　his　guilt　in　allowing　himself　to　be　controlled　by
the　malice　and　prejudice　of　the　priests　and　rulers；　even　when　the　face　of
Stephen　had　been　lighted　up　with　the　radiance　of　heaven。　In　sadness　and
brokenness　of　spirit　he　recounted　the　many　times　he　had　closed　his　eyes　and
ears　against　the　most　striking　evidences　and　had　relentlessly　urged　on　the
persecution　of　the　believers　in　Jesus　of　Nazareth。

These　days　of　close　self…examination　and　of　heart　humiliation　were　spent　in
lonely　seclusion。　The　believers；　having　been　given　warning　of　the　purpose　of
Saul　in　coming　to　Damascus；　feared　that　he　might　be　acting　a　part；　in　order
the　more　readily　to　deceive　them；　and　they　held　themselves

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aloof；　refusing　him　their　sympathy。　He　had　no　desire　to　appeal　to　the
unconverted　Jews；　with　whom　he　had　planned　to　unite　in　persecuting　the
believers；　for　he　knew　that　they　would　not　even　listen　to　his　story。　Thus　he
seemed　to　be　shut　away　from　all　human　sympathy。　His　only　hope　of　help　was　in
a　merciful　God；　and　to　Him　he　appealed　in　brokenness　of　heart。

During　the　long　hours　when　Saul　was　shut　in　with　God　alone；　he　recalled　many
of　the　passages　of　Scripture　referring　to　the　first　advent　of　Christ。
Carefully　he　traced　down　the　prophecies；　with　a　memory　sharpened　by　the
conviction　that　had　taken　possession　of　his　mind。　As　he　reflected　on　the
meaning　of　these　prophecies　he　was　astonished　at　his　former　blindness　of
understanding　and　at　the　blindness　of　the　Jews　in　general；　which　had　led　to
the　rejection　of　Jesus　as　the　promised　Messiah。　To　his　enlightened　vision
all　now　seemed　plain。　He　knew　that　his　former　prejudice　and　unbelief　had
clouded　his　spiritual　perception　and　had　prevented　him　from　discerning　in
Jesus　of　Nazareth　the　Messiah　of　prophecy。

As　Saul　yielded　himself　fully　to　the　convicting　power　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　he
saw　the　mistakes　of　his　life　and　recognized　the　far…reaching　claims　of　the
law　of　God。　He　who　had　been　a　proud　Pharisee；　confident　that　he　was
justified　by　his　good　works；　now　bowed　before　God　with　the　humility　and
simplicity　of　a　little　child；　confessing　his　own　unworthiness　and　pleading
the　merits　of　a　crucified　and　risen　Saviour。　Saul　longed　to　come　into　full
harmony　and　communion　with　the　Father　and　the　Son；　and　in　the　intensity　of
his

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desire　for　pardon　and　acceptance　he　offered　up　fervent　supplications　to　the
throne　of　grace。

The　prayers　of　the　penitent　Pharisee　were　not　in　vain。　The　inmost　thoughts
and　emotions　of　his　heart　were　transformed　by　divine　grave；　and　his　nobler
faculties　were　brought　into　harmony　with　the　eternal　purposes