The Persecutor who was Chosen to be God's Vessel
A. Jesus called out to two men
1) The call to Paul (1-9)
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 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. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. (1-9)
2) The call to Ananias (10-16)
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." (10-16)
B. Saul's new life begins
1) Meeting Ananias (17-19a)
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. (17-19a)
2) He began to speak about Jesus immediately (19b-20)
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. (19b-20)
Summary
A famous missionary in the early church and a theologian who authored many books of the New Testament, Paul started out as a Jewish religious leader and an active persecutor of Christians. Jesus can use anyone, even someone who starts out persecuting his believers. In order for Paul to change, he needed a personal encounter with God himself and to be ministered to by a man named Ananias. God's Holy Spirit, which was poured out on believers on the Day of Pentecost, can be poured out on us today. Perhaps you know someone who needs to experience God as Paul did. Let's pray that Jesus would speak to that person. And let us pray to be filled with the Spirit so that we can help others as Ananias helped Paul.
For Discussion
1. Why did God choose Paul?
2. How did Ananias respond to God's call?