But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison (Acts 8:3). As Paul headed out to Damascus, seeking after Christians, he was stopped by the risen Christ and witnessed the reality of the gospel.
Was Saul converted on the road to Damascus?
Acts 9: Was Saul converted on the road to Damascus? Home Posts One a Day Through the New Testament Acts 9: Was Saul… One of the most common errors taught concerning Saul of Tarsus is that he was converted and saved on the road to Damascus.
Why did Saul ask the high priest for letters to Damascus?
( Acts 13:9) 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.
Did Saul ride a horse to Damascus?
Some have argued that Saul must have been riding a horse, reasoning that since the road from Jerusalem to Damascus covered over 135 miles (220 kilometers), he would have wanted to ride a horse to get to Damascus faster. But Acts 9:4 simply state that Saul "fell to the ground," not that he fell off a horse.
How did Saul go blind in the Bible?
When Saul gets up and opens his eyes, he can’t see a thing. He is blind! So the men with him take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus. Jesus now speaks to one of his disciples in Damascus, saying: ‘Get up, An·a·niʹas. Go to the street called Straight.
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What was Saul St Paul going to do in Damascus?
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.
Why does Saul go to Damascus?
Saul convinced the high priest to allow him to go to Damascus and bring back any men who belonged to 'the Way'. Saul wanted to punish these disciples of Jesus and convince them to give up their newly found beliefs.
Who did God heal Saul in Damascus?
AnaniasAnanias (/ˌænəˈnaɪəs/ AN-ə-NY-əs; Ancient Greek: Ἀνανίας from Hebrew חנניה, Hananiah, "favoured of the LORD") was a disciple of Jesus at Damascus mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles in the Bible, which describes how he was sent by Jesus to restore the sight of Saul of Tarsus (who later was called Paul the Apostle) ...
Why does Saul go into hiding?
Saul explained that he was threatened into helping Walt and Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) and claimed that he went into hiding out of fear of them, not the police. In the end he managed to persuade the prosecution to make a deal with him, reducing his sentence to seven years in prison.
Is Saul the journey to Damascus biblically accurate?
Saul: The Journey to Damascus is actually an honest and accurate depiction of historical events that does not allow the extra-Biblical content to clutter things. The Biblical characters are relatively well-developed and are real people that can be related to.
What does a road to Damascus experience mean?
road to Damascus (plural roads to Damascus) (idiomatic, often attributive) An important point in someone's life where a great change, or reversal, of ideas or beliefs occurs.
Why did Saul fail as king of Israel?
His pride, jealousy, and fear displaced the faith he once had in his heart for God. Saul became spiritually hardhearted and blind to God and to his own sinful acts. Saul led the nation as king for about 42 years, but Saul did not fully obey the Lord, and thereby sinned against God.
What does Saul say when he opens his eyes?
When Saul gets up and opens his eyes, he can’t see a thing. He is blind! So the men with him take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus. Jesus now speaks to one of his disciples in Damascus, saying: ‘Get up, An·a·niʹas. Go to the street called Straight. At the house of Judas ask for a man named Saul.
What does Saul say when he meets him?
When he meets Saul, he lays his hands on him and says: ‘The Lord has sent me that you might see again and be filled with holy spirit.’. At once something that looks like scales falls from Saul’s eyes, and he is able to see again. Saul is used in a mighty way to preach to people of many nations.
What does the voice say to Saul?
Suddenly a light from the sky flashes around Saul. He falls to the ground, as we see here. Then a voice says: ‘Saul, Saul! Why are you hurting me?’ The men with Saul see the light and hear the sound of the voice, but they can’t understand what is being said.
What happened after Stephen was killed?
After Stephen is killed, Saul takes the lead in hunting for Jesus’ followers to hurt them. He goes into one house after another and drags them out and throws them into prison. Many of the disciples flee to other cities and begin to declare the “good news” there. But Saul goes to other cities to find Jesus’ followers.
What did Saul know about Jesus?
Saul recognized both his sins and the Lordship of Jesus. The "light that shone around him" (Acts 9:3) wasn't ordinary light. It was "from heaven" (Acts 9:3) and had supernatural power that had knocked him to the ground. Just as Saul was wondering about the cause of what had just happened, Jesus gave him the answer: “Saul, Saul, ...
What does it mean when Saul is speechless?
Also, the men who were on the road with Saul "stood" (Acts 9:7 below) speechless, which means that they were on foot; since a group can travel only as fast as its slowest member, having had companions on foot counters the speculation that Saul rode a horse to get to Damascus faster.
Did Saul walk on the road to Damascus?
Had Saul been riding a horse or walking on the road to Damascus? Some have argued that Saul must have been riding a horse, reasoning that since the road from Jerusalem to Damascus covered over 135 miles (220 kilometers), he would have wanted to ride a horse to get to Damascus faster .
Why did Saul travel to Damascus?
Damascus had become a center for the early Christians, and Saul asked for permission from the Sanhedrin to travel there to bring them back to Jerusalem in order to stand trial for apostasy. Saul had already gained a reputation as a zealous persecutor of Christ’s followers, arresting many of them and even having participated in the stoning of St. Stephen, and was so gung-ho about it that he was willing to go out of his way to find more of them.
Where did Saul go when he saw no man?
8 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.
Why was Saul called the Spouter of lies?
The Ebionim called Saul “The Spouter of Lies” for his false conversion to Messianic Judaism.
How many different versions of a dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus?
There are at least four different answers to this question. Acts of the Apostles describes three slightly different versions of a dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus. Either:
What authority did the High Priest give to the Christians?
To arrest Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem for prosecution. He was given this authority by the High-Priest.
Where did Paul go after the revelation?
Immediately after this revelation he went to Arabia (Petrea, home of King Aretas, who ruled Damascus at that time), which he could not have done while blind and helpless, so this part did not happen either. After spending some time in Arabia, possibly to obtain the approval of Aretas, Paul went to Damascus, where he seems to have angered the city governor most likely by converting gentiles. We hear no more from Paul about going to Damascus, as one would expect if the governor was waiting to arrest him.
Where did Paul go to be cured?
In the first two narratives of Acts, the blinded Paul was taken to Damascus to be cured and taught Christianity. In his own account, Paul simply had a revelation, following which he went straight to Arabia, then later to Damascus (Galatians 1:15–17).
The Conversion of Paul - Bible Story
The following Bible text is the account of Paul's conversion along the road to Damascus, in which the Lord appeared to him saying, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Meaning of Paul's Road to Damascus Story
Paul persecuted Christians under the legal structure of Judaism; as such, he was charged to arrest Jewish Christians, but had no authority over Gentile Christians.
Commentary on Acts 9
So ill informed was Saul, that he thought he ought to do all he could against the name of Christ, and that he did God service thereby; he seemed to breathe in this as in his element. Let us not despair of renewing grace for the conversion of the greatest sinners, nor let such despair of the pardoning mercy of God for the greatest sin.
Acts 9:1-22
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
Acts 9
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
Acts 22:14
14 “Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth.
Acts 26:13
13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions.
Who commanded Saul to be baptized?
You see, Ananias recognized that Saul was still in his sins. Therefore he commanded him to be baptized and wash away his sins. A man who is still in his sins cannot rightfully be called a brother in Christ. The use of the term “brother” is not a title but rather an expression of Saul’s common Jewish heritage.
Who recognized Saul as a brother in Christ?
One of the biggest problems with the idea that Ananias recognized Saul as a brother in Christ is Ananias ’ own statement to Saul recorded by Luke in Acts 22:16. Recounting his conversion, Saul (now Paul) said that Ananias spoke the following words to him after he received his sight, “And now why are you waiting?
What is the most common error taught concerning Saul of Tarsus?
One of the most common errors taught concerning Saul of Tarsus is that he was converted and saved on the road to Damascus. The singular defense of this doctrine is Ananias’ use of the word “brother” (“ adelphos ”) in addressing Saul in verse 17.
How many times does Adelphos appear in the Bible?
Adelphos appears more than 340 times in the New Testament. Of the numerous commentaries I researched, only the IVP Bible Background Commentary gave the varied usages for the word as it is here translated “brother.”. They gave those usages as “coreligionists, fellow members of the same Greek association or fellow Jews.”.
1. Saul Was Sold Out to His Sinful Mission
Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.
2. God Often Confronts Us When We Are at Our Worst
As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. Acts 9:3 (NLT)
4. It Only Takes One Touch from God to Change a Person
The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. Acts 9:11 (NLT)
Where did Paul go after he saw the Lord?
Paul was converted on the road to Damascus, which is in Syria ( Acts 9 ). After he saw the Lord, he continued on to Damascus. Acts 9 goes on to mention Paul’s ministry in Damascus and how he preached Christ and how the Jews planned to kill him. As his enemies were watching the city gates to prevent his escape, Paul was lowered down in a basket from the city wall and then traveled to Jerusalem. Although Luke, the author of Acts, does not mention the term Arabia or a three-year time frame, everything he writes in Acts 9 is consistent with what Paul says in Galatians 1. After his conversion, Paul spent time in Damascus and then went to Jerusalem later. In 2 Corinthians 11:32–33, Paul also mentions this detail: “In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.” This final piece of information indicates that the local Jewish leadership had persuaded the Damascene officials to help them capture Paul.
Where did Paul spend his time after his conversion?
After his conversion, Paul spent time in Damascus and then went to Jerusalem later. In 2 Corinthians 11:32–33, Paul also mentions this detail: “In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.”.
Where did Paul go after his conversion?
We have no idea how far south into the Arabian Peninsula Paul may have wandered, but we know he later returned to Damascus. Galatians 1:18 says that “after three years” he went to Jerusalem. Because his conversion is the focus in Galatians 1, it is most reasonable to assume that he went to Jerusalem three years after his conversion, not three years after returning to Damascus—but, either way, it was at least three years before he ever consulted the apostles in Jerusalem.
What does Paul ask Timothy to bring to him?
Even in prison near the end of his death, he asks Timothy to bring “my scrolls, especially the parchments” ( 2 Timothy 4:13 ). However, the point in Galatians 1 is that Paul already had a vigorous apostolic ministry before meeting with the apostles in Jerusalem, and from Acts 9 this ministry started immediately.
Where did Paul fly down the Damascus wall?
Fresco, c. 800. Paul hurriedly but quietly left Damascus, but not to immediately return to Jerusalem. His destination was Arabia, where he was to spend three years being taught directly by Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11 - 12, 15 - 18).
What was Paul's journey into Arabia?
Many questions have been raised concerning Paul's journey into Arabia. The first question relates to the meaning of the word. From the time when the word "Arabia" was first used by any of the writers of Greece or Rome, it has always been a term of vague and uncertain import.
Why did Paul use Pharisaic and Rabbinical learning?
His Rabbinical and Pharisaic learning was now used to uphold the cause which he came to destroy. The Jews were astounded. The Jews knew what Paul had been at Jerusalem and knew why he had come to Damascus. And now they saw him contradicting the whole previous course of his life.
What did Paul prove?
Paul's convictions never hesitated, his energy grew continually stronger, as he strove in the synagogues, maintaining the truth against the Jews, and proving that Jesus was the Messiah (Acts 9:22).
Where did Paul preach the gospel?
Paul in Damascus, Arabia. Shortly after Paul's baptism by Anaias, but before traveling to Arabia, Paul began to preach the gospel to the children of Israel in Damascus. He was "not disobedient to the heavenly vision" (Acts 26:19), but "straightway preached in the synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God.". His Rabbinical and Pharisaic learning was ...
Where did the Bedouins live?
The native geographers usually reckon that stony district, of which Petra was the capital, as belonging to Egypt, and that wide desert towards the Euphrates, where the Bedouins of all ages have lived in tents, as belonging to Syria, and have limited the name to the Peninsula between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, where Jemen, or "Araby the Blest" is secluded on the south.
Was Damascus an Arabian city?
For though the strong powers of Syria and Mesopotamia might check the tribes of Arabia, and retrench the name in this direction, yet the Gardens of Damascus were on the verge of the desert, and the city was almost as much an Arabian as a Syrian town.
