Vol 8 No. 1 Sept. 2010

The Conversion of Saul

Mike Johnson

The conversion of Saul is recorded in three places in the Word of God.  It is recorded in Acts 9:1-18, Acts 22:1-16, and Acts 26:12-18.  We will focus on the accounts in Acts 9 and Acts 22 as we examine this conversion case.

Background Information

Saul was born in the city of Tarsus (Acts 21:39). He was most likely sent to the city of Jerusalem at an early age for his religious training.  Saul was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3).  Gamaliel was a well-known teacher of the Law; he was a member of the Sanhedrin Council and was held in high esteem by the people.

Saul, later known as Paul,  advanced well in the Jewish religion.  Galatians 1:14, written by Paul, says that he “profited in the Jew’s religion above many my equals in mine own nation,” and he points out that he was “more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.” (Also note Phil. 3:4-6 and Acts 26:4-6).

When Christ came, Saul rejected Him, choosing instead to try and serve God under the Law of Moses. Saul was present at the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:58) and was in agreement with what was done (Acts 8:1).  He also persecuted the church (I Cor. 15:9), and he put many saints into prison (Acts 26:10).

Saul’s Conversion

Saul was not content with just persecuting the church at Jerusalem.  The church at Damascus apparently had some success so Saul decided to go there and bring Christians from Damascus back to Jerusalem to be punished.  He received permission to do this from the high priest and then departed for Damascus.  When he neared Damascus, a light came from heaven, and a voice said, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?”  Saul said, “Who art thou Lord?” Clearly, Saul was greatly confused at this point.  Jesus, the speaker, then identified himself.  Saul, no doubt in a very emotional state by this time, asked what he needed to do, and the Lord said, “Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do”  (Acts 9:6b).  Saul, who had been blinded by the light, was led into the city. He did not eat or drink anything for three days and continued to be without sight.  Finally, God sent  Ananias to Saul.  Ananias healed him of his blindness and told him, “And now why tarriest thou?  Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”  Saul became a Christian and an Apostle.  He was a faithful servant of God, and he is the writer of many of the New Testament books.

Not Just Any Religion

We learn from this conversion case that “just any religion” will not do.  Before Saul’s conversion, he was in the Jewish religion.  This was a religion that was based upon a true revelation of God, i.e., the Law of Moses.  Saul had even been faithful to the religion that he was a part of and was brought up in.  However, at this time with the Law of Moses being done away with (Col. 2:14), he could not be saved by it.  He needed to become a Christian.  After the Law of Moses was done away with, salvation could only be obtained through Christ (Act 4:12).  Thus, Saul’s former religion was not sufficient.

Many people today think that most any religion will do.  This, however, is far from the truth.  We must be a part of the church that Jesus died for.  Many are a part of false, manmade religions which are not acceptable.  In Matthew 15:13, Jesus said, “ . . . Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.”  Also, Matthew 15:9 says, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”  Today, not just any religion will do.  It must be that which is according to God’s Word (Jn. 4:24).

When Was He Saved?

When was Paul saved?  Was it while he was on the road to Damascus when the Lord first appeared to him, or was it later, after he was baptized in Damascus?  This is a question that has raised controversy, but it should not be controversial as the answer is clearly found in God’s Word.

Acts 9:4-6 shows that Saul did realize that Jesus was God’s son on the road to Damascus.  While on the road, the light appeared and the voice spoke.  Saul asked who it was, and the voice revealed that it was Jesus speaking.  Saul, “ . . . trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”  It seems clear that at this point Saul realized that Jesus was the son of God.  Was he saved at this point? Was he saved by simply accepting the fact that Christ was God’s son?   Note, that he was not told, “Why, Saul you do not have to do anything  as you now believe and are saved.”  No, instead, he was told, “arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”  The account of Acts 9 simply records that Saul arose and was baptized.  However, the account in Acts 22 gives more detail about what Paul had to do.  Verse 16 says that he was told, “And now why tarriest thou?  Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”  It is clear that Saul still had his sins even though: the Lord had appeared to him, he was a believer, he had obviously repented, he had been praying, and he had not eaten for three days.  Why was this? Even though Saul was a believer, he had not been baptized, and thus he still had his sins.  Therefore, Saul was not saved on the road to Damascus.  He had not been baptized at that point, and surely no one would argue that he was saved still having his sins.

Sometimes it is argued from Acts 9:17 that Ananias called Saul “brother” previous to the time that he was baptized, and thus he was a brother in Christ prior to his baptism.  It is true that the term “brother” is used in the Bible to refer to Christians.  However, it was also used frequently among the Jews to refer to their fellow Jews (note Acts 7:2, 22:1,2:29).  Since it can be used both ways, how is it used here?  When Saul was referred to as “brother,” he still had his sins (22:16), i.e., he was unsaved.  This is because he had not been baptized.  Without doubt, the term is used in the sense of nationality instead of in the sense of a brother in Christ.

Acts 22:16 is actually in perfect agreement with what the Bible has to say in other places about baptism.  Acts 2:38 teaches that baptism is for the remission of sins.  Mark 16:16 says, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”  All three of these passages are saying that same basic idea.  Baptism is essential for salvation. There is a lot to learn from Saul’s conversion.