August 16th, 2026: Saul of Tarsus, The Unlikely Apostle | Acts 22: 3-15

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  (Matthew 5: 16)

What does “letting our light shine” actually mean ? People, as a rule,  are not interested in a true theological debate.  Most simply need to hear about Jesus and understand how having a relationship with Him changes lives. As followers, students, disciples of Jesus, we all have our own and varied stories to tell.  We have experienced the love and rescue of our savior.  We live in His word and promises.  Jesus’ commission to us all was to be His light for others. 

Today’s lesson is all about Saul of Tarsus.  His story will reveal yet again that God chooses the unlikely (by man’s standards), for His purposes. There is a difference between being a disciple versus being an apostle. All followers or students of Jesus are disciples, but only 12 were apostles. The apostles were a special group of men, chosen and  eyewitnesses of Jesus.   These are those…. that have turned the world upside down.

Prior to the scripture verses today, Saul  has done some pretty awful things.  As a devout Jew, a Pharisee of the Pharisee’s, trained by one of the most revered teachers Gamaliel, Saul is extremely loyal and zealous for the Law of Moses. He is a hero to the religious leaders.  He is a terror to the new christian believers. 

Saul is adamant to put an end to this nonsense of a Messiah named Jesus. After all, the worship of other Gods was one of the main reasons for God’s wrath and the Jewish captivity of the Babylonians for 70 years. In the very midst of his righteous  anger and as he searched out permissions to imprison, torture or kill new christian believers, Saul meets the Light of the World  on the road to Damascus. 

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (Acts 9:3-5)

At the time of our lesson, Paul has been preaching the gospel of Jesus for about 20-25 yrs.  He has now traveled back to Jerusalem.  Many have warned him not to go to Jerusalem because there are Jews there who wish to kill him. Paul is advised to go into the Temple for a purification vow and to reassure the locals that he is still “one of them,” a Jew.   However, there are Jews from other areas (Asia) that come in to stir up the locals against Paul. They accuse him of  teaching to forsake Moses, the Law, and Jewish customs. They pull Paul out of the temple, shut the gates and intend to kill him.  

The Roman soldiers rescue Paul from the crowd.  As he is being taken away, he comes to a stairway.  From the stairway Paul has a vantage point where he can speak to the crowd, standing slightly above the turmoil. He speaks to them in the Hebrew language. This is what he says:

 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

Why does He speak to them in Hebrew?  He is calming the crowd and showing them by his language that he is in fact “one of them”.  The Jews present can understand what Paul is saying. The Romans probably could not.  He is speaking directly to them as a born Jew.  He is from the tribe of Benjamin.  He trained there; many know him. 

And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

Paul reminds them that he very severely hindered the efforts of Jesus with his eagerness to pursue and kill the early christian believers.  Many of them know this.  The priests who are present know this.  The elders and religious leaders gave Paul the letters to use for their death, binding and imprisonment. He is not saying this with pride. He is saying this to share his testimony. There were people present who may have had family or friends tortured or killed because of him. This was honesty in a difficult time. 

And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

Paul will tell this story multiple times throughout his lifetime.  He will tell his story as a testimony and as encouragement.  This is the event that changed Saul to Paul. His background, upbringing and religious status meant that he might understand the fulfillment of the law. Paul was said to have been fluent in 7 languages.  He was highly intelligent.  It is possible, there were people there who knew this about him. It was important to Paul  to share with those in Jerusalem. Paul loves his people.  How much do we love?  

Paul is not telling them to ignore Moses he is telling them the one Moses prophesied to come, has! The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; (Deuteronomy 18:15). How does Paul know this - because of the eye witnesses of Jesus' resurrection. Paul is an apostle out of season, because he has also seen Jesus for himself. 

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. (1Corinthians 15: 4-10).

Paul will travel to Rome and eventually be beheaded for his belief in Jesus. From his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul. the vessel that God chose, will write 13 books of the New Testament.  Most of these will be written while in prison  as instruction and encouragement to others.  Paul will devote the rest of his life to transitioning both Jews and Gentiles from the covenant of Mount Sinai to the new covenant in Jesus the Messiah. Paul’s light shines every time one of his epistles (letters) to a church are read.   

This unlikely Apostle, is the most read writer to ever live. His story, his testimony, does not begin in serenity and holiness.  It begins with threats and slaughter.  It is the encounter with Jesus that changes the direction of Paul’s thinking and his life.  It is the same for us and those around us. As unlikely as we are, God has plans that require our surrender and obedience. Study carefully as he tells his story.  If you think you have gone too far to be used by God, think again! 

 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

(Matthew 28:18-20)

Thank you for studying with us! God bless!