The Conversion of Saul | When was Paul Saved?
How does Saul of Taurus go from a vile persecutor of the church and enemy of Christ to one of the greatest servants of the Lord? And what lessons can we learn for his conversion? Let’s jump into the text and find out.
The conversion of Saul is recorded in 3 different places in the book of Acts: Acts 9:1-22, Acts 22:6-21, and Acts 26:9-21. When we look at all three of these accounts we get a full picture of what took place on the Road to Damascus and how and when the Apostle Paul got saved.
As we study the conversion of Saul we are going to use Acts 22 as our base text and then bring in additional relevant details from Acts 9 and Acts 26 when appropriate. But I encourage you to go and read all three of the accounts in there entirely to make sure I didn’t miss anything important.
Saul Recounts His Conversion in Nine Steps
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished. (Acts 22:3-5 | ESV)
See Paul’s conversion experience drawn out on a timeline by clicking here.
In Acts 22 we see evil Saul, a devoted Jew and persecutor of the Way or the church.
Let's continue reading.
Saul Meets Jesus
“As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. (Acts 22:6-9 | ESV)
Saul meets the Lord on his way to Damascus. And in verse 10 he acknowledges that Jesus is Lord as he asks Him what he must do.
2. Saul Acknowledges Jesus’ Lordship
“And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’” (Acts 22:10 | ESV)
In Acts 26:14-18 we learn a little bit more about this conversation between Jesus and Saul. Jesus tells Saul why He confronted him on the road.
3. Saul Questions Jesus?
Jesus tells Saul why He confronted him on the road. It is because Jesus will appoint him as a servant and witness to the things in which he has seen and to those in which he will see. Saul is to go to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus.
Lest continue reading in Acts 22:11.
4. Saul Chooses
And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus. (Acts 22:11 | ESV)
Saul’s choice to obey Jesus gets even clearer when he gets to Damascus. His repentance becomes evident also.
5. Saul Repents
In Acts 9:9 we learn Paul fasted for 3 days. The text says that he arrived in Damascus,
“And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. “ (Acts 9:9 | ESV)
In verse 11 of chapter 9 we also learn that he was spending this time in prayer.
6. Saul Experiences a Miracle
“And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him.’” (Acts 22:12-13 | ESV)
When Saul recounted his story here he left out how Ananias felt about this. But in Acts 9 we see that Ananias was reluctant to go meet Saul. When the Lord told Ananias to go meet Saul here is how he replied,
“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.” 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.” (Acts 9:13–16 | ESV)
So Ananias goes and meets Saul. At this point in Acts 9 we learn a little bit more about this miraculous healing Saul experienced. The text says,
“And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight.” (Acts 9:18 | ESV)
After Saul experiences this miracle he is given a special commission from Jesus.
7. Saul is Commissioned
This is what Ananias said to him:
“The God of our fathers appointed you to know His will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from His mouth; for you will be a witness for Him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.” (Acts 22:14-15 | ESV)
This is not new information. Jesus already told him this on the road.
But, do you remember that earlier after Saul realized he was persecuting the Lord he asked Jesus what he must do? This is just like the Jews in Acts 2 that asked Peter and the rest of the Apostles what they must do.
Here we are going to find out that what Saul must do is the same thing that Peter told the folks at Pentecost that they must do.
8. Saul is Told What to Do
“And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” (Acts 22:16 | ESV)
This is the answer to Saul’s question to Jesus. When he said ‘What must I do?’ Jesus told him to go to Damascus and there you will be told what you must do.
9. Saul Obeys
Acts 22 does not tell us whether Saul was baptized or not but Acts 9 does. It says,
“Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. (Acts 9:18b–19 | ESV)
Saul gets up and is baptized and according to Mathew 28:18-20 Saul is now a disciple of Christ.
The conversion of Saul of Tarsus from an evil persecutor of the church to one of the greatest servants of our Lord has great value for us. Let me share 2 reasons.
The Value for Us
Reason #1
If Saul, a persecutor of the church can be saved, anyone can. No one is too far gone into sin to be saved. In other words, there is hope.
There is hope for me
There is hope for you
There is hope for everyone.
No matter how hard-hearted they may seem.
Reason #2
The conversion of Saul also helps clear up a lot of misconceptions about how and when someone is saved.
You remember that after Saul realized who he was talking to in that bright light and who he had been persecuting he immediately asked Jesus what he must do?
He just realized he had been wrong about Jesus. He also just realized he had been persecuting the Messiah that he had been waiting for.
Saul was very educated in the Scriptures. He studied at the feet of Gamaliel, one of the most prominent rabbis of the time. He knew of God’s wrath against those who sin against Him.
He must have been anticipating some terrible punishment from God like in the days of old. And he wanted to know how he could make it right. How he might be saved and how he might have his sins washed away.
So he asked the Lord, “What must I do?"
When Was Saul Saved?
So the question is when was Saul saved? Well, lets look back at our timeline.
Saul is persecuting the church. Is he saved here? No, his sins haven’t yet been washed away.
Saul meets Jesus on the road.
He has a conversation with Him.
He acknowledges/confesses Jesus as Lord and asks Him what he must do.
Is he saved here? No, his sins haven’t yet been washed away.
Saul obeys the Lord by going to Damascus.
He fasts and prays .
He experiences a miracle.
And finally he is told what to do.
Is he saved here? No, his sins haven’t yet been washed away.
Saul did what he was told to do. Is he saved here? YES! His sins have been washed away.
There is so much confusion out there about when someone is saved by grace through faith. There is no doubt that we are saved by grace through faith. That is clearly what the Bible teaches in Ephesians 2:8-9.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 | ESV)
When Are We Saved by Grace?
THE QUESTION: When is someone saved by grace through faith?
THE ANSWER: When they submit to baptism for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38). When they believe and are baptized they are saved (Mark 16:15).
There are so many clear verses in Scripture that explain what happens in baptism.
For more information about the importance of baptism, watch these videos here.
