Saul’s Encounter with Jesus: What Acts 9 Teaches About Transformation

A faculty devotional by Dr. Christy Hill 

We’ve all had those times when something new clicks in our head or heart, and we see things differently. These moments are transformational because they impact our worldview. We see and understand what once was out of reach, hidden, or just plain confusing. We are meaning-making creatures, so “aha moments” are paradigm shifts that bring new interpretive lenses to the journey of life and usually involve dissonance or disequilibration. 

When everything fits our preconceived categories, there’s no openness for change and no need to search for bigger boxes to make meaning out of life’s experiences. But when we encounter new places, people, and circumstances, we are poised for mental paradigm shifts, “aha moments.” At Grace Theological Seminary, students are challenged to think deeply about Scripture, theology, and ministry in ways that often lead to these kinds of transformative moments of growth and understanding.

Conversion of Saul

One “aha moment” in the Bible is in Acts 9. Saul of Tarsus, the Pharisee, was stridently defending his legalistic Jewish faith, even to the point of throwing converts to Christianity in jail. Saul’s encounter with Jesus began when Jesus asked, “Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4). It’s interesting to note that Saul was not directly persecuting Jesus; yet, by persecuting Christians, Jesus felt each stinging assault Himself. 

In God’s economy, Christians are one with Christ, so what was being done to Christians was being done to Jesus Himself. Saul was struck with physical blindness to inaugurate the most important journey of his life, the journey toward true spiritual sight. So deep was Saul’s encounter with Jesus that it took Saul off his destructive course and into a place of helplessness, needing not only his fellow travelers but, most importantly, God. For three days, “he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank” (9:9). Quite a paradigm shift! 

Conversion of Ananias

In the meantime, another paradigm shift was taking place in the heart of a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called him to go and minister to the “man of Tarsus named Saul” (9:11). As you can imagine, the prospect of going directly to the man from whom others were fleeing did not seem like the best plan for self-preservation. God’s command, though, was clear: “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (9:15-16). When Ananias arrived, he greeted the feared persecutor of the church as “Brother Saul” (9:17). Again, quite a paradigm shift!

 How God Transforms People

Some points of encouragement that might bring some “aha moments” to us from this story include: 

• We will never suffer alone. Jesus feels the pain and takes it personally. He is not detached from our pain. 
• When we are blindsided by circumstances that don’t make sense, we should allow the confusion to bring us to our knees so that we no longer rest on our own strength, but on Christ’s sufficiency. 
• When God calls us to do things that don’t make sense, we must follow God’s leading and trust that He has bigger plans for our lives than living comfortably as a Christian.

After Saul’s encounter with Jesus, the rest of Saul’s story, who was later called the Apostle Paul, is told in the book of Acts and in many of the other New Testament letters. While not every conversion to Christ is as dramatic as the conversion of Saul, the “aha moments” and paradigm shifts are deeply profound and life-changing. We go from being enemies of God to being reconciled to Him as our Abba, Father (Romans 8:6-17). We go from being slaves to the fear of death to having Jesus as our brother, who provides eternal life (Hebrews 2:10-18). We go from being orphans to having the Holy Spirit dwell in us so that we will never be alone (John 15:15-18). These are the “aha moments” that every Christ follower can enjoy.

Learn more about Saul’s encounter with Jesus and the rest of the Bible in the Grace College School of Ministry Studies or Grace Theological Seminary. Whether through undergraduate study or seminary training, students are equipped to understand the Bible deeply and faithfully communicate its message in every area of ministry.