CHAPTER 3 – DAMASCUS: A TURNING POINT IN MY LIFE

Paul is travelling with a retinue from Jerusalem to Damascus. Following the death of Stephen, he intends to persecute the followers of Christ there. Suddenly, he is blinded by a dazzling light. He falls to the ground and hears a voice that engages him in a dialogue: ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ – ‘Who are you, Lord?’ – “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” (Acts 9:4–5).

Thereupon, the blinded Paul is led to Damascus. He meets a man named Ananias. Ananias also has a vision and is sent to Paul by the voice of Jesus. Ananias lays his hands on Paul, whereupon Paul regains his sight.

Was this a sudden conversion, or does the Damascus event represent a radical yet gradual process? The well-known saying ‘from Saul to Paul’ also conveyed the image of a transformation from a ‘bad Jew’ to a ‘good Christian’ – an anti-Semitic view. Yet Paul’s transformation is not a turning away from Judaism. Today, we understand it to mean that Paul changed from a violent persecutor to a non-violent preacher.

Further reflection to follow …