The Experience of Conversion | Acts 9:1-30
The story of Saul demonstrates four stages in the experience of coming to faith in Christ: (1) conviction; (2) identification; (3) opposition; and (4) connection. This sermon is part 2 of “Spreading the Faith,” Bryan Craddock’s verse-by-verse sermon series on Acts 8-20.
What are the defining moments that have set the direction for your life? Was it a career choice or the start of a relationship? Was it something beyond your control--a sickness, an accident, or some other trauma?
There is always more to those stories than we see at that moment. There are circumstances and events that lead to it. There is the secret dialogue you have with yourself as it happens. Then there are the choices you make afterward and the ways that others respond.
The most significant decision that you will ever make is your response to the gospel of Jesus Christ. That choice determines your eternal destiny. But I think that a lot of people take an overly simplistic view of what is involved. Some assume that their upbringing settles it. Others associate conversion with a momentary feeling or an intellectual shift. There’s too much at stake to approach that decision lightly.
We all need to make sure that we’re on the right track. In 2 Corinthians 13:5, the Apostle Paul says,
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? --unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
One way to examine ourselves is to consider the story of Paul’s conversion. He often refers back to it in his writings, because that defining moment shapes his theological beliefs. It also becomes a defining moment for the Christian church and even for world history. It is so important that the book of Acts tells the story three separate times.
The first account is the fullest, and we find it in Acts 9:1-30. In this part of the book Luke is explaining how faith in Jesus and his gospel spreads beyond Jerusalem, but it is more than a historical record. He seeks to guide Christians in future generations, and I think that he crafted his account of Paul’s conversion to serve that purpose.
Of course, the name Paul is not used until later in the book. Chapter 9 refers to him by his Hebrew name—Saul. His story demonstrates four stages in the experience of conversion. Now Saul is a unique person. On a scale of 1 to 10, he lives life at 15, and his conversion experience reflects that. But the stages that we find in Luke’s account align with the theological truths in Paul’s writings and are thus reflected to some degree in the life of every genuine convert.
So, if you are curious about what it means to become a Christian, this story gives you a helpful explanation. If you are wondering whether you are personally on the right track, this passage can guide you. If you are seeking to serve the Lord, then understanding these stages should shape how we spread the gospel and help one another grow. The first stage has to do with light.
Conviction
It’s a common scene in old police movies. A suspect sweats under intense bright lights. Even before any questions are asked, his nerves betray the heavy burden of his guilty conscience. Before long, his sense of conviction leads him to confess.
Does light really have that power? No, some people give their best performances under the spotlight. But there is a different kind of light that shines into the heart and exposes our sinfulness, generating true conviction. That is the preparatory first stage in conversion.
Initially, Saul thinks that he is on the side of God’s light. He volunteers to pursue what he thinks is a dangerous new sect that is spreading to Jews everywhere. Acts 9:1-2 says,
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Damascus is beyond the Jewish government’s authority, but the endorsement of the high priest gives Saul religious jurisdiction. So, he feels entirely justified in breathing threats and murder toward Christians. In Acts 26:11, he even says that he tried to make Christians blaspheme and persecuted them in raging fury. As twisted as that seems, his heart is hardened from his training as a Pharisee. Jesus once called them blind guides who morally strain out a gnat while they swallow a camel (Mt 23:24).
But on the road to Damascus, Saul encounters the true light. Acts 9:3-6 tells us,
Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."
He is confronted by a series of hard truths. First, this light shines down from heaven. Moses and the prophets saw something similar when the glory of God appeared to them. But Saul learns that he is on the wrong side. He has been opposing the light. So, he asks for clarification and is confronted with a second truth. Jesus is the one speaking and appearing in divine glory. Furthermore, Jesus is so connected with his followers that whatever Saul has done to them, he has done to Jesus.
This encounter shows Saul how spiritually blind he has been. So, it seems fitting that he is left physically blinded. Verses 7-9 say,
The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
He sits in the darkness contemplating what has happened, and the feelings are so overwhelming that he does not even think about eating or drinking. His world is turned upside down. He has been fighting against God. He comes to see himself as the chief of sinners (1 Tim 1:15).
Now even though Saul’s encounter with Jesus is completely unique, his conviction over his sin is not. It is the place where the experience of conversion begins. When Paul explains the gospel in his letter to the Romans, he devotes the first three chapters to proving that we are all sinful. He sums up his argument in Romans 3:9-12, by saying,
What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."
These verses are like a bright light exposing the foolishness of being confident in your own goodness. We have all fallen far short of the goodness and love that God commands. We have also done things that God explicitly forbids, if not in deed, then in word or thought.
A lot of people brush all that aside, saying, “Nobody’s perfect. God will accept me as I am.” But true conviction of sin leads us to see that our sinfulness offends God. It sets us at odds with him and provokes his wrath, making us worthy of eternal condemnation and punishment. That is why we need a Savior. In Romans 5:7-10, Paul explains,
For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
Have you come to the conviction that you are a sinner and an enemy of God? This somber acknowledgment is where our reconciliation with God starts. Some zealous Christians try to shame others into feeling this conviction, but that approach often has the opposite effect, eliciting resentment and hardness of heart. True conviction is the work of the Spirit (Jn 16:8). It is what prepares us for the second stage in the experience of conversion.
Identification
Paul speaks of salvation as the free gift of God (Rom 6:23; Eph 2:8-9). But our culture tends to think of a true gift as being free from any obligations, and that assumption may distort our view of salvation. Instead, we should think of it like our tradition with engagement rings. A woman does nothing to earn it or pay for it, but accepting that gift alters the course of her life and changes her name.
The second stage of the conversion experience is like that. It requires a change of identification in how you view yourself and in how other Christians see you. In Saul’s case, God calls a man named Ananias to communicate this change. Acts 9:10-12 says,
Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight."
In Hebrew, the name Ananias relates to the grace of God. But Ananias is personally hesitant to show any grace toward Saul. The laying on of hands is not just about a transfer of power. It expresses identification with someone. In Acts 8, for instance, we saw that when Peter and John laid hands upon the new believers in Samaria, it expressed the unity between Jews and Samaritans in the church. So, in verses 13-14, Ananias expresses his hesitation.
But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name."
Even in his brief statement we hear his understanding of how the gospel changes a person’s identity. Through God’s grace sinners come to be seen as saints. It is not because we live perfect lives, but because we call upon the name of the Lord. We are sanctified or made holy by faith in him (Ac 26:18). So, Ananias should understand that even someone as evil as Saul can be saved.
The Lord responds to Ananias by revealing that his plan for Saul extends beyond personal salvation. Verses 15-16 tell us,
But the Lord said to him, "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."
The Lord has a unique role for Saul to fulfill as an ambassador of Christ. He will spread the gospel far and wide to Jews and Gentiles. He will also endure great suffering for the name of Jesus. But even though his personal ministry will be exceptional, the driving force behind it is present in every Christian. We all bear the name of Jesus, and the Lord wants to work through us as he did through Ananias and Saul.
So, Ananias obeys the Lord’s instructions. Verses 17-19 say,
So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.
Some people try to pin down the exact moment of Saul’s conversion. Is it on the road when he begins to understand who Jesus is? Is it when he prays and sees a vision of Ananias coming to heal him? It seems significant that Ananias refers to him as a brother. But in Acts 22:16, Paul connects it with his baptism. There he tells us that Ananias said,
And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.
Conversion is a process, but baptism is a milestone in that journey. It serves as a concrete expression of faith in the saving power of Christ. It is a visible demonstration that we are calling upon his name. In Romans 6:4, Paul relates it to Christ’s death and resurrection. He says,
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
The filling of the Holy Spirit that Ananias mentions is what gives power to live that new life. The Spirit takes away our spiritual blindness and helps us to understand spiritual truth (1 Cor 2:12). He enables us to bear the spiritual fruit of Christlike character (Gal 5:22-24). He also unites us with other believers. In 1 Corinthians 12:13, Paul says,
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
So, after his baptism, Saul begins to identify himself with Jesus and his followers. I’ll say more about that connection in a moment. For now, let me ask--does Jesus define your identity? Are you someone who calls upon him and consciously carries his name with you in everything you say and do? Have you been baptized? Is there evidence of the Spirit’s work in your life? Identification with Jesus is the heart of the conversion experience, but as other respond to it we see a third stage.
Opposition
One time I had the opportunity to take out a small sailboat. I had no experience and was not given any instruction, but I assumed that I could figure it out. Sailing along with the wind was easy, but then I needed to turn around and come back. Heading into the wind was much more difficult. In fact, I almost ran over a couple of swimmers. To make any progress, you must learn how to tack back and forth.
New converts experience a similar challenge. Without the Lord, the world is like the wind at your back. It keeps pushing you along farther away from him. But when you turn around, you run into a stiff headwind. A lot of people seem to get stuck at that point. So, at this stage we must learn to move forward in the face of spiritual opposition.
In Saul’s case, some of the opposition stemmed from his own reputation and behavior. Acts 9:20-22 tells us,
And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God." And all who heard him were amazed and said, "Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?" But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
Saul made a 180 degree turn from persecuting Jesus to proclaiming that he is the Son of God. The Jewish Council considered this claim to be blasphemous. It was part of the case that they made against Jesus. So, how could Saul who came on the authority of the chief priests possibly believe this? At first people are amazed. As he persists, they become bewildered by him. They just do not understand how such a change could have happened.
Saul had to overcome the momentum of his old life, and for him that related mainly to his beliefs. For many of us, however, that momentum comes from our behavior. Paul addresses that problem in Colossians 3:5-8, by saying,
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
Putting to death those sins is incredibly hard. We must completely change the way we approach life. The truth of the gospel must begin to shape all that we do, so that we live for the Lord. In Philippians 2:12, Paul refers to it as working out your salvation. That kind of life change takes time and commitment.
Saul needed to rethink everything he had learned. In Galatians 1:17, he says that he went away to Arabia for a time before returning to Damascus. Altogether, this stage of his life ends up lasting three years. Then Acts 9:23-25 tells us,
When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
The people who would have once cheered him on come to oppose him. He is forced to flee just like the Christians in Jerusalem fled from him. Now we may never face that level of hostility, but opposition from people is still there. Peter describes it in 1 Peter 4:3-5 by saying,
For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Opposition is always part of the conversion experience. We find it within ourselves as we try to change the beliefs and behavior that are so deeply ingrained in us. Then we face it from others who don’t like the change. Has that been part of your experience? If not, why? Are you still floating along with the world, or are you working out your salvation in true spiritual change? To carry through on the conversion experience, you must reach a fourth stage.
Connection
Most of us don’t have any aspirations to climb the world’s highest peaks. But there is something that we need to learn from those who do. Most of them know better than to do it alone. They even rope themselves together. That way if one of them stumbles, the others will help hold that person up.
The fourth stage of conversion is developing that kind of connection with other believers. If you identify with Jesus, it makes sense to associate with others who also identify with him. It also gives us the reinforcement we need as we face opposition. But building a strong connection with other believers is not necessarily easy.
Acts 9:19 mentions that Saul was “with the disciples in Damascus.” Ananias probably introduced him and vouched for him. Acts 9:25 makes it sound as if, by the end of that three year period, Saul has disciples who are learning from him. But when he is forced to flee Damascus, he returns to Jerusalem, and the Christians there are very hesitant to associate with him. Acts 9:26 says,
And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.
Had they heard about his conversion? Probably so. Then why would they doubt it? His disappearance into Arabia might have seemed suspicious. Perhaps they thought that the disciples in Damascus were being deceived, and this was all a conspiracy to identify and prosecute more believers. They knew what Saul was capable of, and they allowed their fear to control them.
Fear must always be overcome for new converts to develop a connection with other believers. But in most cases, it is the convert who is afraid, not the church. We fear what people will think of our old life. We worry that we will say or do something that will cause them to look down on us.
To overcome our fears, we must remember who we are through faith in Christ. In Romans 8:14-15, Paul says,
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"
Every believer is a child of God, and with him as our Father, there is no reason to succumb to fear. That makes us all part of one spiritual family. So, we should reflect that truth in how we relate to one another. In Saul’s case, Barnabas sets the example, and it has a powerful impact. Acts 9:27-28 tells us,
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.
Barnabas was first introduced back in Acts 4:36. His name was Joseph, but they gave him this nickname that means, “Son of encouragement.” He certainly lives up to that name here. He comes alongside Saul and helps others see the way that God is at work through him.
Later Paul explains that the church should work as a body. In 1 Corinthians 12:24b-26, he says,
But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Every believer is part of Christ’s body. We all have different strengths and spiritual gifts from him. So, no one should be left out, and no one has the right to sit out. We need one another. We must all work at developing and maintaining our connection.
After all that they had been through, the church in Jerusalem needed the encouragement of seeing Saul’s boldness. In Galatians 1:18, he says that he was only there for fifteen days. But even brief connections like that can be significant. Saul benefitted from the church’s care and counsel. Acts 9:29-30 says,
And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
In time, the Lord would do much more through Saul of Tarsus, and his connection with the church would be vital to that ministry. Do you have that vital connection? Are we encouraging one another as members of Christ’s body? No believer should try to go it alone.
__________
The full experience of conversion is bigger than a single moment. God prepares us for it through a stage of conviction. The stage of identification with Jesus is the heart of conversion. But as we change the course of our lives, we quickly encounter a stage of opposition that never ceases. So, we need to move into that next stage of an ongoing vital connection with a local body of believers.
Where do you stand in this process? Are you at the beginning? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of sin? If so, don’t brush it aside. Accept that you need to be reconciled with God, and that reconciliation is only possible because Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead. Believe in him. Call upon him and trust him to change your life. If you would like to learn more about salvation in Christ, I encourage you to read what Paul has to say in the second chapter of Ephesians.
Perhaps you believe, but you are stuck in the middle of the turn floating along with the current of the world. If so, you need to work out your salvation as Paul says in Philippians 2:12. Continue the process. Identify with Jesus, face the opposition, and pursue a vital connection with a body of believers.
If you have come through that process, then help others. Speak the gospel boldly for the Lord as Saul did. Encourage and help new believers as Barnabas did.
May we continue to grow as the body of Christ!
Reflect
Have you personally experienced these stages? How so?
Which stage has been the most difficult for you? Why?
How should understanding these stages shape your ministry to others?