1Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
No fiercer aggressor against the Christian faith has stood out than Saul of Tarsus. Others have come over the centuries, but he was the first who was obsessed with destroying “The Way,” as it had come to be called. Venom filled his heart. The biography that began in Acts 8:1-3, now continues describing his premeditated , willful ability to use his influence with the religious powers to continue his crusade.
Paul, to use his more common Roman name, could never forget his background, recounting it later in Acts 22:4, 26:9-11 and Gal. 1:13-14. Most telling is his recollection years later when writing Timothy:
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. (1 Tim. 1:12–14)
Paul’s conversion story is the most famous of all in Christian history because of the impact he had on the spread of the Gospel, planting churches throughout the eastern Mediterranean area. His mission tours begin in Acts 13 and take up the entirety of the rest of the book. The letters he wrote comprise 13 of the 27 NT “books.” While not one of the original 12 apostles, the official witnesses of Christ’s life and death (Acts 1:8), Paul came to be accepted as an apostle, appointed by God (Gal. 2:7-10, 2 Cor. 12:12, 2 Tim. 1:11).
In his view, no one could be a worse sinner than he was; he was murdering Christians, working diametrically against what God was doing. If anyone was unworthy of being saved, of being used by God, it was him. He was the least likely of anyone to be considered useful for God’s glory. So why does he talk about it so much? Because his conversion shows how great God is:
It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. (1 Tim. 1:15–16)
Lord, thank You for using me also as an example of Your mercy and patience, just as You did with Saul!
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