Paul’s conversion on the Damascus Road, 26:12-18
Verses 12-13: Now Paul begins to relate his fateful day of consequences on the road to Damascus, a city with a synagogue, but a strange city outside the limits of Judæa. Damascus of Syria is about 135 miles north-northeast of Jerusalem.[1] Both Jews (Acts 9:2, 20) and Christians (9:10, 19) lived there. Paul “went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,” which he bore as a letter from the high priest (Acts 9:2).
That Saul was travelling at midday suggests something of the fatal furor that propelled him to advance toward the city. He would not rest; he would not wait until it was cooler. He must forge on. However, on this midday, Saul encountered a light that outshone the sun – it was (1) light from heaven, (2) above the brightness of the sun, and (3) shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
Verse 14: Some detractors paint a contradiction between “all fallen to the earth” and “stood speechless” in Acts 9:7. They do so by literalizing an idiom. The phrase “stood speechless” is an idiomatic expression describing a situation when someone is so shocked and surprised that they are dumbfounded, unable to speak. It is not about posture (i.e. standing versus falling).
Saul heard a voice. The voice was:
- speaking to Saul. The speaking was addressed to one person and not the entire envoy. Saul heard the voice and understood what was said. His companions merely heard sound but did not understand what was said.
- speaking in the Hebrew tongue. The speaking voice spoke in the Hebrew language. It was an external reality, not just a voice in Saul’s mind.
- saying Saul, Saul. Saul was addressed and his name repeated, “Saul, Saul.” Repetition is commonly used for emphasis, and/or getting one’s attention. Cf. Genesis 22:11 (Abraham); 46:2 (Jacob); Exodus 3:4 (Moses); I Samuel 3:10 (Samuel); Luke 10:41 (Martha); 22:31 (Simon). In the Old Testament the double-naming occurs in appearances of God to chosen individuals. In the New Testament Jesus uses it as a form of emphasis and admonition.
- asking why persecutest thou me. Though Saul was persecuting individual Christians, plural, the voice asks why are you persecuting “me,” singular. Christ himself is persecuted in his people.
- saying it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. This agricultural proverb, such as an ox kicking against the goad that guides him, speaks of something that is both difficult and injurious. The ox would through his effort only injure itself rather than the prick or its bearer. See Acts 9:5. Note “pricks” is plural.
Verse 15: Saul speaks to the voice, asking, “Who art thou,” and addressing him as “Lord.” He recognizes this as some type of divine communication. The Lord identifies himself as (1) Jesus (2) whom thou persecutest. Saul’s rage against the people of Christ and their beliefs was ultimately persecution of Christ himself.
Verses 16-18: In relating his experience, Paul does not include every detail each time before different audiences; his accounts are complementary and supplementary. In this case he does not mention asking the Lord what he should do, but adds more of what the Lord said. Jesus told Paul of his broad calling, and then sent him to Ananias in Damascus. Ananias affirms the message of Jesus to Paul, but also gives him immediate instructions. Jesus informs Saul that he is calling him into his service, to be a witness of what he has seen and will see. He will be both sent to and delivered from the Jews (the people) and the Gentiles. He will carry an eye-opening message with the power to turn them from darkness to light, from Satan to God. Cf. Colossians 1:13-14; I Peter 2:9; John 14:30. Not only is forgiveness of sins available to the Gentiles but also a joint inheritance among the sanctified.
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