Brokenness of Saul and Redemption of Paul ACTS 9 – THE CONVERSION OF SAUL OF TARSUS The brokenness of Apostle Paul was evident from the very beginning of his life. Before becoming an apostle, he was known as Saul of Tarsus, a zealous persecutor of Christians. He actively participated in the persecution of early believers and played a role in the martyrdom of Stephen, one of the first Christian martyrs (Acts 7:58-8:1). Scripture Reference: “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples” (Acts 9:1, NIV). Still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord: The picture is of an angry, violent man absolutely convinced of his own righteousness. Saul hated the disciples of the Lord. He wasn’t seeking Jesus when Jesus sought him. We might say that Saul was decided against Jesus when Jesus decided for Saul. In Philippians 3, he made mention of this background, saying he was circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. Historical Fact: Paul's persecution of Christians is also mentioned by his own testimony in his letters. In his letter to the Galatians, he wrote about his past actions, stating, “I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it” (Galatians 1:13, ESV). He took pleasure in arresting and persecuting followers of Jesus, thinking he was doing the right thing for his faith. But everything changed on his way to Damascus. He encountered a blinding light and heard the voice of Jesus, . Paul's life was transformed when he had a dramatic encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. While traveling to persecute Christians, he was struck by a blinding light, heard the voice of Jesus asking him why he was persecuting Him, and was temporarily blinded. “As he [Paul] neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'” (Acts 9:3-4, NIV). Suddenly a light shone around him from heaven… and heard a voice: Somewhere outside of Damascus, this suddenly happened. This spectacular event must be regarded as unusual. God does not normally confront sinners with a heavenly light and an audible voice from heaven. Then he fell to the ground: Saul’s reaction was simply to fall to the ground. This wasn’t because of honor or reverence for God, it was simply a reaction of survival – he was terrified at the heavenly light. In Acts 22:6 Paul revealed that this happened at mid-day, when the sun shines at its brightest. Yet Paul said that this light was brighter than the sun (Acts 26:13). As the heavenly light overwhelmed him, Saul was confronted by the true nature of his crime: He persecuted God, not man. The account of Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus is mentioned not only in the Book of Acts but also in Paul's letters. In his letter to the Galatians, he described how Jesus revealed Himself to him, stating, “God… was pleased to reveal his Son to me” (Galatians 1:15-16, ESV). This encounter left him physically blind and spiritually broken. He had spent his life zealously pursuing a cause that was against the very person he encountered on that road. “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Saul responded with two of the most important questions anyone can (and must) ask. Who are You, Lord? We must ask this question with a humble heart, and ask it to God. Jesus showed us exactly who God is, and He can answer this question. Paul spent the rest of his life wanting to know more completely the answer to this question (Philippians 3:10). iii. What do You want me to do? Few dare to really ask God this question, but when we ask it, we must ask it with submission and determined obedience. Saul’s question was personal. He asked the question with a “me”: “Lord, what do You want me to do?” We often are quite interested in what God wants others to do. But the surrendered heart asks, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” This is often the character of God’s direction in our lives. He directs us one step at a time instead of laying out the details of the grand plan all at once. Temporary blindness and dependence on others: Following his encounter with Jesus, Paul was left blind for three days. He had to rely on others to lead him to Damascus. Scripture Reference: “For three days he was blind and did not eat or drink anything” (Acts 9:9, NIV). Historical Fact: Paul's temporary blindness and dependence on others during his initial days in Damascus are mentioned in the Book of Acts. He was eventually healed through the intervention of a Christian named Ananias (Acts 9:17-19). Humility and transformation: After his encounter with Jesus, Paul underwent a profound transformation. He became a humble servant of Christ, dedicating his life to preaching the Gospel and planting churches. Scripture Reference: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20, NIV). Historical Fact: Paul's transformation is evident in his letters and the accounts of his missionary journeys documented in the Book of Acts. Despite facing numerous hardships, he persevered in spreading the message of Jesus Christ, ultimately becoming one of the most influential figures in early Christianity. These scriptural references and historical facts demonstrate how the Apostle Paul was broken before his conversion, and how his encounter with Jesus led to a radical transformation in his life, making him one of the key apostles in the spread of Christianity. After this encounter, Paul spent three days in darkness, both physically and mentally. He couldn't eat or drink, and he was left questioning everything he had believed in. In this brokenness, he had to confront his own pride, arrogance, and misguided zeal. He had to come to terms with the fact that he had been wrong all along. But even after his conversion, Paul continued to experience brokenness throughout his ministry. He faced countless hardships, including persecution, imprisonment, and physical ailments. He was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, and abandoned by friends and colleagues. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes about his own brokenness, stating that he was afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. He acknowledges his weaknesses and limitations, recognizing that it is in his weakness that God's strength is made perfect. Paul's brokenness allowed him to be a vessel for God's grace and power. It humbled him and made him reliant on God's strength rather than his own. It taught him to find joy in suffering and to trust in God's provision and faithfulness. Ultimately, Paul's brokenness led him to a deeper understanding of God's love and mercy. It shaped his ministry and his message, as he shared the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ with countless people throughout the ancient world. The brokenness of Apostle Paul was a transformative and essential part of his journey. It was through his brokenness that he was able to experience God's healing and redemption, and it was through his brokenness that he was able to bring hope and salvation to others. After his conversion, the Apostle Paul embarked on a remarkable journey of faith and ministry. Here's a timeline of some significant events and milestones in Paul's life after his conversion: Conversion and Early Ministry (c. 33-37 AD): Paul's conversion occurred around 33-37 AD on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19). He spent time in Damascus, where he began preaching about Jesus, causing astonishment among those who knew him as a persecutor (Acts 9:19-22; Galatians 1:17-18). Paul then went to Arabia for a period, possibly for spiritual reflection and study (Galatians 1:17). Return to Damascus and Escape (c. 37-39 AD): After his time in Arabia, Paul returned to Damascus (Acts 9:23-25). He faced opposition and had to escape Damascus by being lowered in a basket through an opening in the city wall (Acts 9:23-25; 2 Corinthians 11:32-33). Ministry in Jerusalem (c. 39-43 AD): Paul visited Jerusalem, where he met with the apostles and stayed with Peter for fifteen days (Galatians 1:18-19). However, his preaching led to conflicts with Greek-speaking Jews, and he faced threats on his life (Acts 9:28-30). Ministry in Antioch (c. 43-46 AD): Paul played a significant role in the early Christian community in Antioch (Acts 11:25-26). He taught and ministered there for about a year, working alongside Barnabas (Acts 11:26). First Missionary Journey (c. 46-48 AD): Paul, accompanied by Barnabas, embarked on his first missionary journey, starting from Antioch (Acts 13-14). They traveled through Cyprus and the regions of Pamphylia, Pisidia, and Lycaonia, proclaiming the Gospel and establishing churches. Council of Jerusalem (c. 49 AD): Paul and Barnabas attended the Council of Jerusalem, a pivotal gathering of early Christian leaders (Acts 15:1-29). The council addressed the issue of Gentile believers and their relationship to the Mosaic Law, affirming that Gentiles did not need to be circumcised to be saved. Second Missionary Journey (c. 49-52 AD): Paul embarked on his second missionary journey, this time accompanied by Silas and later joined by Timothy and Luke (Acts 15:36-18:22). They traveled through Asia Minor, visiting cities such as Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth, among others. Third Missionary Journey (c. 53-57 AD): Paul embarked on his third missionary journey, traveling through Asia Minor and Greece (Acts 18:23-21:17). He spent an extended period in Ephesus, where he ministered and faced opposition (Acts 19). Arrest in Jerusalem and Imprisonment (c. 57-62 AD): Upon his return to Jerusalem, Paul was arrested and accused of bringing Gentiles into the Jewish temple (Acts 21:27-36). He was imprisoned in Caesarea for two years, where he appeared before Roman governors Felix and Festus (Acts 24-26). Paul exercised his right as a Roman citizen and appealed to Caesar, leading to his journey to Rome (Acts 25:10-12). Imprisonment in Rome (c. 62-64 AD): Paul arrived in Rome and was placed under house arrest, awaiting his trial before Caesar (Acts 28:16, 30-31). During his imprisonment, he continued to write letters, including Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, known as the Prison Epistles. Martyrdom (c. 64-67 AD): Historical sources indicate that Paul was likely released from his first imprisonment in Rome (2 Timothy 4:16-17). However, he was later arrested again during the persecution under Emperor Nero and was martyred, traditionally believed to have been beheaded in Rome, around 64-67 AD. This timeline provides an overview of the major events in the life of the Apostle Paul after his conversion. It highlights his missionary journeys, the establishment of churches, his interactions with other apostles, and his eventual martyrdom.