Saul is Saved!

We are first introduced to Saul of Tarsus at the stoning of Stephen. Stephen was a disciple of Christ who was put to death for preaching the message (Acts 7:54-60). In Saul’s eyes, however, he was a heretic and blasphemer. Therefore, Saul approved of the actions taken against him.

After the death of Stephen, Saul was emboldened and initiated a campaign of intense persecution against the disciples, pursuing and imprisoning them. His hostility was unmistakable. 

“But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.”   (Acts 8:3)  The word “ravaging” means to ruin or to damage. The idea is that of a wild beast tearing at raw flesh. This is the only time the word appears in the New Testament. Ironically, the one dragging off men and women in this text would one day be dragged off himself (Acts 16:19-23).

By Acts 9, Saul was so determined to rid the world of Christianity that he received permission from the high priest to broaden his pursuit of the disciples to Damascus. The high priest served as head of the Sanhedrin, which was the Jewish legislative body. Caiaphas was high priest at the time.

“But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:1-2)

Saul was convinced that those belonging to the Way were enemies of God. However, his actions made him the true enemy of God. “The Way” is an expression used throughout the book of Acts referring to Christianity (Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22). It was one of the earliest designations for the church. The familiar term “Christian” did not appear until later (Acts 11:26).

As Saul and his companions made their way toward Damascus, a bright light flashed around Saul forcing him to the ground. He then heard a voice calling his name. “And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” (Acts 9:3-6)

Saul must have been terrified to hear the speaker identify himself as “Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” At that moment, he knew that Jesus of Nazareth was alive, that Stephen had told the truth, and that he, not the disciples, was the enemy of God. Gamaliel’s worst fears had come to pass (Acts 5:39). Saul was then led into the city where he would be told how to be saved.

Now some believe that Saul was converted on the road to Damascus because he referred to Jesus as “Lord.” However, Saul did not even know that it was Jesus at that point. Therefore, we must understand “Lord” as simply a courteous title, much like our word “sir” today. Saul was not forgiven of his sins until baptism (Acts 22:16).

Saul entered Damascus much differently than he anticipated. He was helplessly led by the hand because the encounter left him blind. Since his companions also saw the light (Acts 22:9), it must have been the brightness of the glorified Christ, which only Saul witnessed, that left him blind.

The Lord sent a disciple named Ananias to visit Saul. Upon entering the house, Ananias laid hands on Saul and restored his sight. This indicates that at some point Ananias had received the laying on of the apostles’ hands. He could perform the miraculous gifts, but not impart them to others.

So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”(Acts 9:17)  Ananias’ use of the term “brother” has caused some to think that Saul was already saved at this point. However, Saul was not forgiven of his sins until baptism (Acts 22:16). Ananias called Saul his brother because they were Jewish brethren according to the flesh, not because they were Christian brethren according to the Spirit.

Throughout the book of Acts we see examples of people calling one another brethren in this way (Acts 2:29, 37; 3:17; 7:2; 22:1). In Romans 9, Paul lamented the unbelief of the Jews saying, “For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh” (v. 3, emp. mine). So the term did not necessarily imply spiritual fellowship.

Despite the fact that he had been praying for three days (Acts 9:11), Saul was still in his sins and needed to be baptized. Therefore, Ananias told him exactly what he must do. “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” (Acts 22:16)  One contacts the blood of Christ and has his sins forgiven when he is baptized in water (Acts 2:38). That is why we see such urgency in the words of Ananias. Baptism is not to be delayed or postponed. It is to be done immediately. Saul wasted no time rendering his obedience to the gospel.

What a privilege it must have been for Ananias to baptize Saul into Christ (Galatians 3:27). Saul went from sinner to saint, from persecutor to preacher, from murderer to martyr. His zeal for Judaism was transformed into a zeal for Jesus! Better known to us as Paul the apostle (Acts 13:9), he would go on to write nearly half of the New Testament and establish countless churches of Christ.

This remarkable episode, beginning on the Damascus road and concluding with Saul becoming a Christian a few days later, is consistent with every other detailed conversion in the book of Acts. (See Acts 2:37-38; 8:12-13, 8:35-39; 10:45-48; 16:14-15, 31-33; 18:8) 

Saul came to believe in Jesus, repented of his sins, and was immersed in water for the forgiveness of his sins.  There can be no denying the necessity of baptism.  Saul was miserable until his baptism, and did not have his sins washed away until baptism.

Have you been saved like Saul? 

Robert Prater