The Conversion of Saul - Part 1 - Devo for 09/28/2009

Reading
Acts 9:1-31

Drawing Near
1. What is your conversion story? How did you come to believe in Christ?

2. What was your life like before?

3. In what tangible ways has Jesus Christ transformed you?

The Context
As our study continues in chapter 9, Luke records a monumental event in the history of the church - the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. It was Saul (Paul) who would become God's apostle to the Gentiles, leading the church in spreading Christianity "to the ends of the earth." Therefore it is Paul, more than any other person, who figures prominently in Acts 10 through 28. No one else was better suited to the task than Paul: a "Hebrew of the Hebrews" (Philippians 3:5; Galatians 1:14); a native of Tarsus, thus thoroughly acquainted with Greek culture (17:22-31); a citizen of Rome (16:37); trained in a trade so that he could support himself (18:3) as he traveled and ministered.

But before Christ could use this highly gifted man, He first had to transform him. And thus we have the record of his life-changing encounter with Christ on the Damascus road! The change in Saul was instantaneous. In less than one week he went from "breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord" (9:1) to preaching Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God" (9:20).

The church was understandably suspicious, but Saul's powerful and persistent preaching, coupled with the efforts by the Jewish authorities to kill him, finally convinced the apostles that Saul's conversion was genuine. According to Galatians 1:17-18, Saul/Paul spent about three years in Arabia between the time of his conversion and his journey to Jerusalem. According to Luke, following Saul's acceptance by the apostles, the church enjoyed another growth spurt and a time of peace.