Saul of Tarsus

Main Characters:

Saul, Stephen, Caiaphas, Rabbi Gamaliel and Ananias

Acts 6:12-14, Acts7:1, 7:52-60, Acts 8:1-4, Acts 9:1-29, Acts 13:9, Acts 21:30-33 and Acts 28:16  

Overall Theme:

Saul of Tarsus, a student of Jewish law, zealously   persecutes early Christians.  On a trip to Damascus, where he intended to carry out more persecutions, Saul experiences a blinding vision of Jesus.  Because of this, Saul converts to Christianity. Changing his name to Paul, he becomes a tireless evangelist, preaching in the name of Jesus to Jews and Gentiles alike from the Near East to Rome.

Summary:

Saul is a student of Jewish law who is implacably    opposed to the “heresy” of  the Christians. He stands by as the Jewish religious court, the Sanherdrin, sentences Stephen to death by stoning for his Christian beliefs, even holding the coat of one who stones Stephen.

Saul unleashes a reign of terror against the Christians of Jerusalem. Some manage to flee to distance cities like Damascus, but Saul is determined to pursue them and bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.  Nothing could convince Saul to stop, not even the moderating influence of his teacher, Rabbi Gamaliel.

As Saul  gallops toward Damascus on his mission of persecution, he encounters a vision of Jesus which changes his life forever. A great light streaks down from heaven and knocks him on the ground. Jesus appears to Saul out of the light.  Jesus tells a terrified Saul to go into Damascus where he will learn his fate. His soldiers have to carry Saul there, as he has been struck blind by the vision.

The Lord then appears in a dream to Ananias, a faithful Christian, telling him to lay his hands on Saul and   give him back his sight so that Saul can carry out his chosen mission - to teach His gospel to the gentiles, to kings and to the children of Israel. 

Saul promises to preach the word of Jesus in every synagogue and soon after changes his name to Paul. Paul begins his journeys to the cities of the Mediterranean world, preaching the word of Jesus.

Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus is a strong example of the power of Jesus and his message to change lives. It reminds us that regardless of a person’s past actions, beliefs or sins, he or she can be saved through belief in Jesus.

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