PAUL’S CONVERSION (1)

This begins a series on Acts 9 and the Conversion of Paul.

INTRODUCTION

History changed with the events of Acts 9. It authorizes the spread of the message of Christ from a strictly Jewish message to a worldwide message. It marks the beginning of the separation of Christianity from Judaism, from a message of exclusion to Jews only to the inclusion of Jews and Gentiles into one body. It is the gate that swings open the message of God and His grace to the world. It has been correctly observed:

Two people dominate the pages of the NT more than any others: Jesus and Paul. These two men were quite different from each other in many ways…. But both played a vital part in the establishment and early development of the Christian movement.[1]

Witherington comments, “Without question, the story of Saul’s ‘conversion’ is one of the most important events, if not the most important event, that Luke records in Acts.”[2] While there are those who hold to a new perspective on Paul, and deny that Paul experienced a conversion, but transferred to a new sect of Judaism, I disagree. The Scriptures tell us that for Jews to believe in Jesus they had to be converted (Matt. 13:15; 18:3; Mark 4:12; John 12:40; Acts 3:19). Part of the problem is we are reading back into Scripture a modern definition of conversion: i.e. “Religious conversion is the adoption of a new religion that differs from the convert's previous religion."[3] This is not the Scriptural definition of conversion. The Greek word epistreya /epistrepha means to turn to, to return or to turn about. Conversion is turning to God in a new relationship from the old relationship or lack thereof. It is the adoption of faith from unbelief. This is precisely what happened to Paul on the road to Damascus. 

There can be no question that Paul holds a prominent place in the history of the New Testament and the world. More is known about him than any of the Twelve Apostles. The only thing we know about most of the Twelve are their names, with the few exceptions of Peter, James, John, and Matthew. John the Baptist, Jesus, and the disciples offered Israel a Messiah-King; Paul will offer the world a Messiah-Saviour. To Paul will be given the revelation of the mystery, the dispensation of Grace (Eph. 1:1-10), which was hid even at this point in Acts, that the Twelve were unaware of.

Acts 9 records the conversion of Saul (a.k.a. Paul). The importance of this event is clearly indicated by it being related to us three times in Acts (Acts 9; 22:1-16; 26:9-18).[4] Acts 9 is a third person account, while in Acts 22 and 26 we have first person accounts.[5] (See Chart below). He also gives information about his conversion in his epistles (Gal. 1;13-17; 1 Cor. 15:8-10; Phil. 3:4-11). Barclay calls Saul’s conversion the most famous in all history.[6]

 Acts 9 marks a new section in the book of Acts. Starting with the conversion of Saul everything changes. This Saul changes from the persecutor to the preacher. The record of the Twelve to Israel changes to Paul’s (a.k.a. Saul) ministering to the Gentiles. He becomes the apostle to the Gentiles (Rom 11:13). It must be pointed out that this change did not come because the Twelve had failed; rather, it came because the nation had failed to accept the offer of the Twelve. Sir Robert Anderson notes,

In a word, if ‘to the Jew first’ is characteristic of the Acts of the Apostles as a whole, ‘to the Jew only’ is plainly stamped upon every part of these early chapters, described by theologians as the ‘Hebraic section’ of the book. The fact is clear as light. And if any are prepared to account for it by Jewish prejudice and ignorance, they may at once throw down this volume, for it is here assumed that the apostles of the Lord, speaking and acting in the memorable days of Pentecostal power, were Divinely guided in their work and testimony.[7]

Paul’s ministry will entail two things: First, it will be directed toward the Gentiles (Acts 26:28). He will reveal that from now on there will be no difference between Jew and Gentile, which are made one in the body of Christ (Eph. 3:6). Second, he will also have a ministry to the Jews, not only to lead them to Christ, but to announce their judgment (Acts 9:13; 13:46). The conversion at this juncture prepares the readers for both. It also preceded Peter’s ministry to Cornelius. Peter’s experience will be used as validation to the Apostle that God is reaching out to the Gentiles  (Acts 15). Peter’s experience with Cornelius will also be used to validate the ministry of Paul.

Paul's Damascus Road Account in Acts

       Event                                      Acts 9                  Acts 22                 Acts 26
Bright light                                      9:3                       22:13                     26:3
"I AM Jesus"                                   9:5                       22:8                       26:15
"Why Persecute Me?"                     9:4-5                    22:7-8                   26:14-15
Commission to the Gentiles                                                                     26:16-18
Ananias' Oracle                               9:10-19                22:12-16
Ananias affirms commission           9:15-16                 22:15

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[1]  Wenham, David, PAUL: FOLLOWER OF JEWS OR FOUNDER OF CHRISTANITY, 1.

[2]  Witherington, ACTS, 303.

[3]  Wikipedia.org

[4]  It is recommended that all three passages be read and studied together to get all the details of the conversion.

[5]  Bock, ACTS, 350.

[6]  Barclay, ACTS, 71.

[7]  Anderson, Sir Robert, THE SILENCE OF GOD, 76-77.