Paul meets Jesus on the road

Saul was trying to stop people who followed Jesus. He went to the high priest and asked for letters that would let him find believers in Damascus and bring them back to Jerusalem as prisoners.

As Saul came near Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly shone around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice asking why he was persecuting him. Saul asked who was speaking. The voice told him it was Jesus. Jesus told Saul to go into the city and wait to be told what to do.

The men traveling with Saul heard a voice but saw no one. Saul stood up unable to see, so they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind and did not eat or drink.

In Damascus, the Lord spoke in a vision to a disciple named Ananias and told him where to find Saul. Ananias knew Saul had harmed believers, but the Lord said Saul was chosen to carry his name before Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel.

Ananias went to Saul and laid his hands on him. He said Jesus had sent him so Saul could receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost. Something like scales fell from Saul's eyes. Saul could see, was baptized, ate and became stronger. Soon he preached in the synagogues that Christ is the Son of God. The people were amazed.

Acts 9 opens with Saul actively opposing the disciples of Jesus. He went to the high priest and asked for letters to the synagogues in Damascus. His purpose was to find people who belonged to this way, men or women, bind them and bring them to Jerusalem. For the believers there, Saul was not an unknown critic. He was coming with authority to arrest them.

As Saul approached Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly shone around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice ask why he was persecuting him. Saul asked who was speaking, and the answer identified the speaker as Jesus. Saul was told to enter the city, where he would learn what he must do. The men traveling with him stood speechless. They heard a voice but saw no man.

When Saul rose, he could not see. His companions led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he remained without sight and neither ate nor drank.

Meanwhile, the Lord spoke in a vision to a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. He was told to go to the street called Straight, to the house of Judas, and ask for Saul of Tarsus. Ananias knew Saul's reputation. He answered that he had heard how much harm Saul had done to the saints in Jerusalem and that Saul had authority in Damascus to bind believers. The Lord told Ananias to go, describing Saul as a chosen vessel who would bear his name before Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel, and who would suffer for that name.

Ananias obeyed. He entered the house, laid his hands on Saul and said that Jesus, who had appeared to Saul on the road, had sent him so Saul could receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost. Something like scales fell from Saul's eyes. He could see again, rose and was baptized. After eating, he regained strength.

Saul then spent time with the disciples in Damascus. Almost immediately, he preached Christ in the synagogues, declaring that he is the Son of God. His listeners were amazed because they knew why he had come. Yet Saul grew stronger and confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.