Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a Light from Heaven.

 

Saul was like a bounty hunter for the Sanhedrin. He hated the Church and every follower of Jesus and he saw to it that they were arrested and put to death. In the 8th Chapter of the Book of Acts, we find where Saul was present as Stephen was stoned to death simply because he was a follower of Christ. It was probably Saul who had him arrested.

 

In the 9th Chapter of Acts, Luke continues to write about Saul and tells us that he went to the high priest and got letters giving him permission to arrest Believers in Damascus. Apparently, he had gotten word that Believers were meeting in the synagogues there. So, Saul went through the proper channels, got the documents he needed, and set out with some men on the 175-mile trip to Damascus.

 

They were almost there when something happened that would change Saul forever! And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a Light from Heaven. (Acts 9:3) Jesus Christ in all His Glory totally enveloped Saul. He didn’t see it off in the distance like some may say. The Bible says and suddenly there shined round about him a Light from Heaven. It shined all around him. Saul was IN the Light of the Lord. He was IN the midst of Jesus, Who is the Light of the world.

 

Saul was the picture of the world and all its evil. He was totally entrenched in religion and the law and he hated the Truth and everything about Jesus. He worked every day to destroy as many Believers as he could. The spirit of the Antichrist was manifested in the person of Saul. He truly was anti (against) Christ. His entire life was darkness; hate and bitterness controlled him and murder was a way of life for Saul.

 

He was bound for Damascus to arrest and murder some more Believers. He was almost there when the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ literally knocked him to the ground. And he fell to the earth, and heard a Voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? (Acts 9:4) We are not told if Saul was riding a horse, in a chariot, or walking but the Power of God was so strong, he fell to the ground.

 

Jesus had something to say to Saul and being the strong-willed person that he was, God had to knock him down and blind him to get his attention. Saul had lived in evil and darkness for many years until that fateful day on the Road to Damascus when God knocked him to the ground and he saw the Light!

 

Hank Williams Sr. wrote a song about this because the same thing happened to him. I wandered so aimless, life filled with sin. I wouldn’t let my dear Savior in. Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night. Praise the Lord, I saw the Light. I saw the Light, I saw the Light. No more darkness, no more night. Now I’m so happy, no sorrow in sight. Praise the Lord, I saw the Light.

 

The Light of the Lord will……….turn the tide……….in this dark world.

 

 

Praise the Lord, I saw the Light!         Doreen

 

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