Here he comes face to face with none other than Jesus Christ. The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Acts' second telling of Paul's conversion occurs in a speech Paul gives when he is arrested in Jerusalem. We need to distinguish that one being baptized in water is not baptized in Christ by the spirit- Jesus said so in Acts 1:5 and was proven in Acts 2 when they were in the upper room. Paul's conversion occurred after Jesus's crucifixion. Before his conversion, the Apostle Paul actively persecuted those who believed Jesus was the Messiah. when he called upon the name of the Lord? According to both sources, Paul was not a follower of Jesus and did not know him before his crucifixion. I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. When someone is asked when Saul was saved, they usually respond, "When he saw the Lord on the road to Damascus." (Galatians 1:13–14), NIV. Faith, John 3:16 2. Confession, Romans 10:9 3. As the following discussion will demonstrate, we can more profitably distinguish fifteen phases or locations of Paul’s missionary work in the thirty-five years between his conversion in A.D. 31/32 on the road to Damascus and his death in Rome around A.D. 67. Faith, John 3:16 2. It is only after pentecost that the 12 apostles go around spreading the word and hence stiring up persecution against themselves. I believe that the scriptures are clear that Paul received salvation and his commission on the road to Damascus. Because He, and the Scripture says so. Alternative explanations have been proposed, including sun stroke and seizure. After the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 6 - 7), Paul obtains direct permission from the High Priest to search for believers in Damascus' synagogues. The singular defense of this doctrine is Ananias’ use of the word “brother” (“adelphos”) in addressing Saul in verse 17.Among the commentators so claiming include Adam Clarke, JFB, A.T. Robertson, Vincent, Albert Barnes, Matthew Henry, Schaff, and Wycliffe. Notice how he includes himself with the Roman Christians with the words “we” and “us” in Romans 6:3-4 (Acts 9:18; 22:16). The Renaissance Italian master Caravaggio painted two works depicting the event: The Conversion of Saint Paul and Conversion on the Way to Damascus. When Paul was on the Road to Damascus, he experiences this second form of conversion as Paul rededicates his life to serving God. Paul on the Road to Damascus – Paul’s conversion KJV 1 year ago admin Listen to this. Luke, the inspired historian, records the conversion of Saul in Acts chapter nine. It is normally dated to AD 34–37.[1][2][3]. That his conversion took place at that moment 2. And Paul himself tells us why Christ appeared to him in this special revelation and it had nothing to do with the manner in which people are saved today. The blindness which followed may have been post-ictal. It was not Paul’s “Damascus Road” experience that did the trick. www.easyenglish.bible. [22], Based on Paul's testimony in Galatians 1 and the accounts in Acts (Acts 9, 22, 26), where it is specifically mentioned that Paul was tasked to be a witness to the Gentiles, it could be interpreted that what happened on the road to Damascus was not just a conversion from first-century Judaism to a faith centred on Jesus Christ, but also a commissioning of Paul as an Apostle to the Gentiles—although in Paul's mind they both amounted to the same thing. His whole life was changed rather dramatically. Jesus asks Paul about that very persecution when they meet on the road to Damascus. [8] Whereas Acts 9:7 states that Paul's travelling companions heard the voice, Acts 22:9 states that they did not. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers." In that moment he believed, and he went from persecutor to disciple. So when God called him he could not resist the fact that his ambitions were all wrong. The conversion of Paul has been depicted by many artists, including Albrecht Dürer, Francisco Camilo, Giovanni Bellini, Fra Angelico, Fra Bartolomeo, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, William Blake, Luca Giordano, Sante Peranda, and Juan Antonio de Frías y Escalante. not afterwards when he was baptized. Supposed prophecies ranged from fine days predicting good harvests, to clouds and mists signifying pestilence and war in the coming months. "[19] It also demonstrates "God's power to use everything, even the hostile persecutor, to achieve the divine purpose. 9 Then () Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked () letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. We would love to study with you! This personal experience of Jesus Christ effected a 100% conversion for Paul. [23], The Acts of the Apostles says that Paul's conversion experience was an encounter with the resurrected Christ. It is also the focus of an eight part mixed choir a cappella piece (The Conversion of Saul) composed by Z. Randall Stroope. The final step in the “new Birth” process is baptism. This feast is at the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, an international Christian ecumenical observance that began in 1908, which is an octave (an eight-day observance) spanning from January 18 (observed in Anglican and Lutheran tradition as the Confession of Peter, and in the pre-1961 Roman Catholic Church as the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter at Rome) to January 25. Sprinkling is the same thing as baptism. We are saved by faith only. It is very important that we gather all of the biblical information before we answer any Bible question. (Acts 22:9). or when he was baptized? Saul was not saved on the road to Damascus. "[24], This conclusion was challenged in the same journal by James R. Brorson and Kathleen Brewer,[25] who stated that this hypothesis failed to explain why Paul's companions heard a voice (Acts 9:7), saw a light,[Acts 22:9] or fell to the ground. As Paul* marched down the road to Damascus, in zealous pursuit of the Christians, he had a profound experience. 4. Paul also discusses his pre-conversion life in his Epistle to the Philippians,[3:4–6] and his participation in the stoning of Stephen is described in Acts 7:57–8:3. But then came a miraculous event that drastically changed the course of Paul’s life. The Book of Acts says that Paul was on his way from Jerusalem to Syrian Damascus with a mandate issued by the High Priest to seek out and arrest followers of Jesus, with the intention of returning them to Jerusalem as prisoners for questioning and possible execution. As Paul* marched down the road to Damascus, in zealous pursuit of the Christians, he had a profound experience. He revealed his secret of enduring a … Paul’s experience on the Damascus road was a unique demonstration of the resurrection of Jesus. But what about Luke and Saul’s different details regarding what the men heard ? While Jesus’ appearance to Paul may have been different in character from Christ’s pre-ascension appearances, this encounter with Paul was no merely subjective vision, as both Jesus’ voice (Acts 9:7) and the bright light (Acts 22:9) were perceived by Paul’s traveling companions. [35] In rural England, the day functioned much like groundhog day does in the modern-day United States. Luke retells the conversion of Acts and the narrative compares Jesus to an Old Testament theophany of Yahweh. This belief is the consequence of the false doctrine of "salvation by faith only." 8. Immersion in water, Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16 NOTE: The thief on the cross was saved before the New Testament was in force. Most people believe and teach that Saul was saved on the road to Damascus. It was in pursuit of this effort that Paul travels on the road that leads from Jerusalem to Damascus. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around … When Do You Think That Paul Was Saved, On The Road To Damascus Where He Met Jesus And Called Him Lord, And Was Sent, Or When Ananias Laid His Hands On Him And His Scales Fell Off And He Received The Holy Spirit. "[9][10], The debate revolves around two Greek words. The Epistle to the Galatians chapter 1 also describes his conversion as a divine revelation, with Jesus appearing to Paul. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or … In that moment he believed, and he went from persecutor to disciple. He became the most determined of the apostles, suffering brutal physical pain, persecution, and finally, martyrdom. Michelangelo's The Conversion of Saul is housed in the Cappella Paolina of the Vatican Palace. The apostle Paul was saved just like every other person that was saved or will be saved under the new covenant. After the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 6 - 7), Paul obtains direct permission from the High Priest to search for believers in Damascus' synagogues. Saul (Paul) was saved on the road to Damascus. Saul believed and repented three days prior on the road to Damascus. Paul just knew he was eradicating the scum from the earth for God by annihilating the Christians for who he thought served a false god. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ These are all excellent thoughts to entertain when reading the account in Acts 9, but what about the two questions Saul asked when confronted with the blinding light and the resurrected Jesus? -Chloé P. Like Like. Jesus Himself appeared before him as a light from heaven, forcing Paul to his knees. We are not saved by our works...baptism is a work: Eph 2:8; Salvation is a free gift, there is nothing we can do to earn it: Rom 6:23; Acts 2:38 really says, "repent and be baptized because your sins have already been forgiven click here; John 3:16 only says that you must believe for eternal life! Paul, who went by the name of Saul at that time, was on his way to Damascus with a letter from the high priest of the temple in Jerusalem giving him authority to arrest any who belonged to “the Way,” meaning those who followed Christ. 2. This flip-over craft will teach children that you become a new person when you are saved. "[20], There is no evidence to suggest that Paul arrived on the road to Damascus already with a single, solid, coherent scheme that could form the framework of his mature theology. Saul of Tarsus’ Theology . The conversion of Paul the Apostle (also the Pauline conversion, Damascene conversion, Damascus Christophany and The Road to Damascus event), was, according to the New Testament, an event in the life of Paul the Apostle that led him to cease persecuting early Christians and to become a follower of Jesus. Acts chapter 9 is the story. On the road to Damascus “As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. www.easyenglish.bible . Saul still had his sins upon him when Ananias came to him. When the Lord appeared to him b. 1. People are not saved from sin and at the same time have all their sins upon them. We need to factor in the date that Stephen was martyred, which happened before Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. When Paul was saved, it wasn’t just the events on the road to Damascus that were dramatic. [11] While Paul did not actually stone Stephen, he was there, and “was consenting unto his death” (Acts 8:1)(Acts 22:20). If we would be honest we must too admit most of what we preach and practice is due to tradition. Let’s begin by exploring Paul’s theology prior to his encounter with the Lord. [14] More commonly, it is asserted that the genitive is used when a person is heard, the accusative for a thing, which goes in the same direction but yields a far weaker argument. Aug 30, 2016 - On the Road to Damascus Saul Activity Page.. Paul was the enemy of the Christians. [Acts 26:14] Additionally, Paul's blindness remitted in sudden fashion, rather than the gradual resolution typical of post-ictal states, and no mention is made of epileptic convulsions; indeed such convulsions may, in Paul's time, have been interpreted as a sign of demonic influence, unlikely in someone accepted as a religious leader. This speech was most likely originally in Aramaic[6] (see also Aramaic of Jesus), with the passage here being a Greek translation and summary. We’ll answer these questions and more by examining Paul’s road to Damascus experience. The speech is clearly tailored for its Jewish audience, with stress being placed in Acts 22:12 on Ananias's good reputation among Jews in Damascus, rather than on his Christianity. That doesn’t mean he still didn’t have sins to confess and be forgiven of, and it is the “calling upon the name of the Lord” that accomplishes that. In chapters 22 and 26, Paul reviews his conversion while making a defense of his character and work. Yes he was saved on the Damascus road. Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus. Paul Becomes a Christian Acts 9:1-31. Critics doubt if the same author recounting the same story in much the same words in different parts of the same text would have used the same two key terms with such strikingly different meanings.[13]. Note that while on the road, the Lord said it would be in Damascus where he would be told "what you must do" - Ac 9:6 b. Most people believe and teach that Saul was saved on the road to Damascus. Col. 2:8 warns not to be spoiled or captured by tradition. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you might have. or when he was baptized? Let’s notice a … Here is the thing the same tenacity Paul had to persecute Christians was the same tenacity to win people to Christ. Read More ⇨ Paul’s Conversion Jigsaw Puzzle. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. The Christian calling The Bible gives other examples of men and women being called to follow Christ, and most of their stories were not as dramatic as Paul’s. not afterwards when he was baptized. STORY 108 On the Road to Damascus STORY 109 Peter Visits Cornelius STORY 110 Timothy —Paul’s New Helper This occurring in the overall context of Paul’s other auditory and visual experiences that the authors propose may have been caused by mood disorder associated psychotic spectrum symptoms.[26]. His conversion is a testimony to the authenticity of Christianity. Similar parallel can be drawn to the compromises and decisions made by other entities who've taken shortcuts or otherwise "juked" the data to achieve their ends, such as the Baltimore Sun's managing editors in their pursuit of a Pulitzer Prize. [Acts 22:6–21] Paul addresses the crowd and tells them of his conversion, with a description essentially the same as that in Acts 9, but with slight differences. The Christian calling The Bible gives other examples of men and women being called to follow Christ, and most of their stories were not as dramatic as Paul’s. This commentary has yet to go through Advanced Theological Checking. Jesus Himself appeared before him as a light from heaven, forcing Paul to his knees. Paul, named Saul, was on his way to Damascus with a letter from the high priest of the temple and the council in Jerusalem. [18], The conversion of Paul, in spite of his attempts to completely eradicate Christianity, is seen as evidence of the power of Divine Grace, with "no fall so deep that grace cannot descend to it"[19] and "no height so lofty that grace cannot lift the sinner to it. Repentance, Acts 3:19 4. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around … Words in boxes are from the Bible. Concerning Albinus under whose Procuratorship James was slain; as also what edifices were built by Agrippa. Much of what we know about Saul prior to his encounter with Jesus comes from Saul’s own words. Here is the thing the same tenacity Paul had to persecute Christians was the same tenacity to win people to Christ. Background: Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus is a strong example of the power of Jesus and his message to change lives. It was what happened there plus what happened when Paul went into Damascus. Reply. 3. At first glance, it does not say when Paul was saved. By Raymond Elliott. The idea that Paul was saved then and there on the road to Damascus doesn’t fit with the overall context of the passage. In chapters 22 and 26, Paul reviews his conversion while making a defense of his character and work. [Acts 26:12–18] This account is briefer than the others. Instead, the conversion, and the associated understanding of the significance of the resurrection of the crucified Jesus, caused him to rethink from the ground up everything he had ever believed in, from his own identity to his understanding of Second Temple Judaism and who God really was. Likewise, those accompanying Saul to Damascus “saw the light” (Acts 22:9), but they saw “no one” (9:7). Acts 9 – what happened on the road to damascus? The Road To Damascus. He was probably the one they feared the most. [21], The transforming effect of Paul's conversion influenced the clear antithesis he saw "between righteousness based on the law,"[22] which he had sought in his former life; and "righteousness based on the death of Christ,"[22] which he describes, for example, in the Epistle to the Galatians. When someone is asked when Saul was saved, they usually respond, "When he saw the Lord on the road to Damascus." It was on the street called Straight three days after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Published 7:40 pm Sunday, October 15, 2017. It is very clear from what Paul would later write concerning his former conduct that this was a devastating revelation for him (1 Timothy 1:12-13; 1 Corinthians 15:9; 1 Timothy 1:15-16). The events on the Damascus Road helped lead to Saul being saved, but he was yet in his sins when he left that place on the road. 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