1

Saul met Jesus While Going to Damascus

2

[Acts 9:3-5]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.

3

After Jesus went back up to heaven, the disciples, who received the Holy Spirit, continued the work of preaching the gospel in many different places.

So many people accepted Jesus that the church grew daily.

4

But at that time the church leaders didn’t accept Jesus as their Savior.

They became jealous about the increasing amount of people coming to believe in Jesus. So they devised a plan to scatter them.

5

Eventually, they stoned to death the deacon Stephen who was the one of seven deacons in the Early church, with the charges of blaspheming God. Because of this matter the believers of Jesus started to have great persecution.

6

So, many believers scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

But there was one man who tried to catch those believers so he would chase after them. This person was Saul.

7

Saul got the permission from the high priest to catch all of the believers who were scattered.

He was heading to Damascus with some soldiers to the place where he knew believers were being gathered.

8

Saul didn’t believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of us all. Rather he thought the believers of Jesus were blaspheming God.

So he thought wrong by thinking that they should be all gone and so he was going there to catch them.

9

When Saul and the soldiers came near to Damascus, a surprising thing happened. A big light came from heaven and the light surrounded all around Saul. Saul was greatly surprised.

10

Saul fell to the ground.

And at that moment, Saul heard a voice saying to him,

“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

11

Saul spoke in the direction of place where the sound came from,

“Who are you, Lord?” And the voice again spoke.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”

12

Saul met the risen Jesus whom he had not believed in.

Jesus said to him, “Get up and go into the city.

There will be a person coming to tell you what you should do.”

13

Saul got up from the ground and opened his eyes, but he was not able to see. By the help of the men traveling with him, Saul went inside the city of Damascus. Saul was not able to eat or drink anything and he couldn’t see anything for three days.

14

Jesus sent a person named Ananias to Saul.

“Brother Saul, Jesus who appeared to you on the way coming here sent me to this place. The reason why Jesus sent me here is to restore your sight and for you to be filled with the Holy Spirit,” said Ananias.

15

Ananias laid hands on Saul and prayed for him.

Surprisingly, Saul, who was not able to see for 3 days, something like scales came out from his eyes and he was able to see again.

16

Saul got up from that place and got baptized.

Saul who used to persecute those who believed in Jesus became a Christian who believed Jesus as the Christ. From that time on to the day of his death, Saul lived as an apostle who proclaimed Jesus.

17

From among the friends here who are attending this worship service, is there someone who is still like Saul who can’t believe that Jesus is the Christ?  Like the way Saul met Jesus going to Damascus, I hope that you too can experience the miracle of meeting Jesus here. And live as a Christian who receives eternal life in heaven and who forever serves Jesus as his/her master.