Saul's Conversion—an Example of Grace

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. - Acts 9:1-22

    The story of Saul's conversion is recorded three times in the book of Acts, twice in his own words (22:4-16; 26:9-19) and once here in Luke's words. This man's conversion is described in great detail by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, because the conversion of Saul of Tarsus is a pattern, or example, of all true conversions (1Tim. 1:12-16).

    People commonly talk about Saul's Damascus Road experience as though it was a rare, exceptional thing, but that is not the case at all. Without question, the physical things Saul experienced that day were exceptional. The brilliant light and audible voice from heaven have not, to my knowledge, accompanied any other person's con version. However, Saul's spiritual experiences on the Damascus Road were not uncommon at all. In fact, all who are truly converted by the grace of God experience the very same things Saul did, essentially.

    Salvation is not an experience, but a person, the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 2:30). We must not look to our experience as the basis of faith and assurance before God. We look to Christ alone, trusting his blood, his righteousness, his intercession and the power of his grace for the salvation of our souls. Christ alone is our Saviour! Christ alone is the object of our faith! Yet salvation is something people experience. No one has the grace of God in his heart who does not experience the workings of grace in his heart. Salvation is a work of grace(Eph. 2:8-9). Taking Saul's conversion as our example, we see that there are five distinct acts of grace by which all who are saved have been brought to repentance and faith in Christ (Ps. 65:4).

    1. A divine election (9:15)

    No one has ever been saved, or ever will be, except those who are the objects of God's eternal, electing love (2 Thess. 2:13-14; Acts 13:48). God's operations of grace towards Saul did not begin on the Damascus Road, but long before. Saul was chosen to salvation before the world began (Eph. 1:4-6). When God sent Ananias to preach to this newborn babe in grace, the very first thing he preached to him was election (Acts 22: 13-14). Faith in Christ is not the cause of election, but it is the fruit and the proof of election (Acts 13:48; 2 Peter 1:10). When a sinner bows to Christ, trusting him as Saviour and Lord, we say to him with confidence, 'The God of our fathers hath chosen thee' (22:14).

    Election does not keep anyone from being saved, but guarantees that some people will be saved. Were there no election of grace, there would be no salvation (Rom. 9:27-29). We would not and could not choose the Lord, but he chose us, and his choice of us made our choice of him certain (John 15:16). Election said, 'Saul of Tarsus will be saved.' God's merciful decree said, 'Saul will be saved at noon on the Damascus Road at the day appointed.' Predestination drew the map by which Saul must travel to the appointed place of mercy. Providence led him along the predestined path to the place and hour when Christ must be revealed to him. 'And it came to pass!'

    2. A divine revelation (9:3; Gal. 1:15-16)

    Though he was chosen by God, Saul could never be saved until he was made to 'see that Just One' (22: 14). So when it pleased God to reveal his Son in him, 'Suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.' He saw Christ and the glory of God in Christ (2 Cor. 4:6). He saw the same thing that Moses saw (Exod. 33:18-34:7). He saw that Just One of whom he had heard Stephen speak (Acts 7:52). He was made to see, by divine revelation, the glory of God in his absolute sovereignty, infinite grace and mercy and inflexible justice, and he saw how God can be both gracious and just in saving sinners by the substitutionary blood atonement of that Just One, the Lord Jesus Christ (Ps. 85:9-11; Rom. 3:24-26).

    Salvation comes to sinners when they are given a revelation of Christ and the glory of God in him by the Spirit's effectual application of the gospel to their hearts. When a person sees Christ as he is and is reconciled to him in his true character he or she is saved.

    3. A divine call (9:4-9)

    There is a general call which men and women can and do resist (Matt. 20: 16; 22: 14). It goes forth indiscriminately to all who hear every time the gospel is preached. But there is an effectual call too. No one will ever be saved until he receives this effectual, irresistible call of the Holy Spirit by which helpless, totally depraved, spiritually dead sinners are brought to life and faith in Christ by the power of God (John 5:25; Eph. 2:1-4). Holy Scripture gives us numerous illustrations of this effectual call (Ezek. 16:6-8; 37:1-14; John 11:43-44; 1Cor. 1:26-31). Saul was one of Christ's sheep. The time had come for the Good Shepherd to call his wandering sheep. When he calls, his sheep hear his voice and follow him (John 10:1-5,27-29).

    This call of the Spirit is called 'the effectual call' because it gets the job done (Ps. 65:4; 110:3). It is a personal call (9:4-5). Many were present, but only Saul was called. It is a convicting call (9:4-5). The Lord convicted Saul of his sin with the words, 'Why persecutest thou me?' It is a humbling call (9:4,6). Saul 'fell to the earth', submitting to the claims of Christ, his sovereign Lord. This call of the Spirit is also a distinguishing call (9:7). The men who were with Saul saw alight, heard a voice and were afraid. They knew something was going on, but not what. This call of grace separated and distinguished Saul from his companions (1 Cor. 4:7). Again, the call of God is an awakening call (9:6). Once he was called of God, Saul began to call upon God. Blinded now to all earthly concerns, he began to seek the Lord with an earnest heart.

    For three days he was in suspense and darkness (9:8-9). Matthew Henry comments: 'He was all this time in the belly of hell, suffering God's terrors for his sins, which were now set in order before him. He was in the dark concerning his own spiritual state, and was so wounded in spirit for sin that he could relish neither meat nor drink.'

    4. A divine illumination (9:17-18)

    God sent a preacher to Saul who told him all the truth. Then the scales of darkness and ignorance, superstition and tradition fell off his eyes, and he received his sight. When Ananias instructed him in the way of faith (Isa. 40:1-2) and he received his sight, what did he see? He saw Christ as his substitute, God as his Father and the Holy Spirit as his Comforter. He saw it to be his duty and his privilege to follow Christ in all things, beginning with believer's baptism, and he did it. The will of God became the rule of his life.

    5. A divine conversion (9:18-22)

    Saul was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. Grace converted him (Phil. 3:4-14). All that he once cherished he now renounced. His righteous deeds, his religious works and his reputation asa Pharisee, he now counted to be but manure. He turned from religion to Christ. Grace turned him from a mere form of godliness to worship and serve the living God, and he was turned for ever (Eccles. 3:14). Immediately, he confessed Christ in believer's baptism (Rom. 6:4-6), identified himself with the despised people of God and the gospel of his grace and became a faithful witness of Christ. He laid down his life in the cause of Christ. Grace had made him a new man (2 Cor. 5:17). This is the way of God with men. This is the way God saves sinners: by election, revelation, calling, illumination and conversion. He saves in this way so that man's salvation will be to the praise of the glory of his grace. It is this experience of grace that identifies who God's elect are (1 Thess. 1:4-10).