76 - The Road to Damascus

Acts 9:1-31

In the last two readings we have seen the Good News being heard and accepted by a foreigner (the Ethiopian), and by Cornelius, a Roman soldier.

Now we have perhaps the most significant conversion in history - that of a zealous Jew who spared nothing to persecute the followers of the Way. He had just received a warrant to arrest any followers of Jesus to bring them to Jerusalem.

Paul was clearly a man of violence - he was "still breathing threats and murder" against the Christians; he was going to bring people bound to Jerusalem.  He tells this story himself later on in Acts 22, emphasizing that this was full blown physical persecution.

When Jesus speaks to Saul, he says he himself as the one being persecuted, identifying with his followers, just as he identified with the hungry and thirsty and sick in Matthew 25.

The action on the road to Damascus is between Jesus and Saul/Paul.  But it still takes the community of believers in Damascus, represented by the somewhat reluctant Ananias, to complete the transformation of Paul into a believer and ultimately the great evangelist.

Fresco by Michelangelo - Conversion of Saul

How did you come to a mature understanding of your faith?  For me the community of those who believe and live out the Gospel message are critical.