Week 11 | The Conversion of Saul

Big Idea: No one is beyond the reach of God's transformative grace; each of us can be empowered by Christ to make a difference in the world.

Scripture: Acts 9:1-31

Intro:

John Newton was born in 1725 in England and had a turbulent early life, often finding himself in trouble due to his rebellious nature. By his twenties, Newton was deeply involved in the transatlantic slave trade, captaining ships that transported enslaved Africans under horrific conditions. He was known for his cruelty and had little regard for human life, reflecting the worst of the slave trade’s dehumanizing practices.

In 1748, Newton’s ship was caught in a violent storm off the coast of Ireland. Believing he was about to die, he cried out to God for mercy. Miraculously, the ship survived, and Newton took this as a sign of divine intervention. This experience marked the beginning of his spiritual transformation.

Though it took years for Newton to fully abandon the slave trade, his heart began to change as he studied the Bible and reflected on his past actions. Eventually, he left the slave trade altogether and became an ordained minister in the Church of England.

Newton dedicated the rest of his life to preaching the gospel and advocating for the abolition of slavery. He became a mentor to William Wilberforce, the leader of the abolitionist movement in Britain, and contributed to the eventual abolition of the slave trade in 1807.

In addition to his work as an abolitionist, Newton wrote many hymns, including the iconic “Amazing Grace”, which captures the essence of his transformation:

“Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.”

The hymn remains a timeless testament to the power of redemption and the possibility of profound change, even for those who have committed great wrongs. Newton’s story is a powerful reminder that no one is beyond the reach of grace.

Tension:

God delights in using people for His glory—people who are broken, flawed, and seemingly unqualified by human standards.

These are individuals who, by the world’s judgment, appear irredeemable or beyond hope. Yet God specializes in redemption, taking the broken pieces of a person’s life and crafting them into a beautiful story of grace and purpose.

He transforms hearts of hate into vessels of love, turns bitterness into joy, and repurposes even the darkest moments of a person’s past for His divine plan.

This truth resonates powerfully in the story of Joseph, encapsulated in Genesis 50:20, where Joseph declares to his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

Joseph’s words reveal the heart of God’s redemptive work. What others intend for harm, God can sovereignly use for good—not just for individual transformation, but for the blessing and salvation of many.

Joseph’s life is a testimony to this reality. Betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and forgotten in prison, he had every reason to believe that his life was a waste.

But God was at work, using even the most painful circumstances to position Joseph as a savior for his family and an entire nation during a time of famine.

Big Idea:

No one is beyond the reach of God's transformative grace; each of us can be empowered by Christ to make a difference in the world.

Truth:

The book of Acts paints an incredible picture of the early church’s growth and resilience. It begins in Jerusalem, where the church is birthed in power through the Holy Spirit and flourishes despite mounting opposition. The believers are strong, their fellowship is vibrant, and their witness is bold.

Yet, opposition arises—persecution intensifies, scattering followers of Jesus far beyond the city’s walls.

What seems like an attempt to crush the church becomes the very mechanism God uses to spread the gospel far and wide. As believers flee persecution, they carry the message of Jesus with them, and new fellowships begin to emerge in the places where they settle.

What men intend for harm, God uses for the good of His kingdom.

Amid this backdrop of growth and suffering, we encounter Stephen, the first person to give his life for following Jesus. Stephen’s death marks a pivotal moment for the early church. He boldly testifies to the truth of the gospel before the Jewish leaders, even as they rise against him.

His execution, a brutal stoning, is not only a tragic loss but also a significant catalyst for the gospel’s expansion.

The text mentions a young man present at Stephen’s death—a rising star in Jewish leadership named Saul, who watches approvingly as Stephen is martyred. Saul represents the height of opposition to the followers of Jesus. He is zealous, determined, and relentless in his pursuit to extinguish this growing movement.

What happens next is nothing short of miraculous. God takes what appears impossible—a man who despises Jesus and His followers—and transforms him into one of the greatest champions of the faith. Saul’s encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus changes everything.

In an instant, the persecutor becomes the persecuted, the enemy of the church becomes its most ardent defender, and the hater of Christians becomes one who deeply loves the bride of Christ.

The transformation from Saul to Paul is one of the most dramatic and inspiring examples of God’s ability to redeem and repurpose a life for His glory.

Paul doesn’t merely become a member of the church—he becomes one of its greatest advocates, missionaries, and theologians. Through his ministry, the gospel reaches new regions, crosses cultural and ethnic boundaries, and takes root in the hearts of countless people. The same zeal that once fueled his hatred now fuels his love for Christ and His church.

This story reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s transformative power. Paul’s life is a testimony to the boundless grace of God—a grace that turns enemies into allies and the most unlikely candidates into His chosen instruments. It also reveals the unstoppable nature of God’s mission.

Persecution couldn’t silence the church; instead, it became the means for the gospel to spread. Stephen’s death wasn’t the end but the beginning of a powerful movement. And Saul’s hatred didn’t thwart God’s plan; it became a stage for God’s glory to shine all the brighter.

God specializes in doing the impossible.

He takes the weak and makes them strong, the broken and makes them whole, and the enemies of the gospel and transforms them into its greatest advocates. The story of Saul to Paul reminds us that God’s plans are unstoppable, His grace is unfathomable, and His ability to use anyone for His glory knows no bounds.

Read Acts 9:1-31

Acts 9:1–31 (ESV)

1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Saul is a man of passion and conviction, deeply committed to what he believes is the righteous path. As a Pharisee, he is zealous for the traditions of his ancestors and fiercely protective of his understanding of God’s law. His dedication leads him to actively oppose the followers of Jesus, whom he sees as a dangerous threat to the faith he holds dear.

With unwavering determination, Saul embarks on a campaign to root out this movement, convinced he is doing God’s will. He is so certain of his mission that he becomes a leading figure in the persecution of the early church, going as far as seeking official authorization to hunt down believers beyond Jerusalem.

Yet, Saul’s passion, though sincere, is tragically misguided. He thinks he is fighting for God, but in reality, he is opposing Him. His zeal blinds him to the truth of who Jesus is and the movement of the Spirit among God’s people.

In his relentless pursuit of what he believes is right, Saul is further from God than he realizes. But God, in His mercy and sovereign grace, does not leave Saul in his misguided state. Instead, God intervenes in a dramatic and life-changing way.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 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. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

Ananias is instructed by God to go and assist Paul (formerly Saul) in regaining his sight and to deliver the divine message of Paul’s calling. This moment is significant because it demonstrates God’s ability to work through ordinary people like Ananias to accomplish extraordinary purposes.

Understandably, Ananias hesitates at first, as Paul was known for his zealous persecution of Christians. His skepticism reflects a common human tendency to doubt the possibility of radical change in those who seem irredeemable.

However, this act of obedience highlights a powerful truth: God specializes in transformation. The story of Paul’s conversion serves as a testament to God’s sovereignty over life and death, his authority to change the hardest of hearts, and his desire to redeem even those who appear to be the farthest from his grace.

Paul’s radical transformation from a relentless enemy of the Church to one of its greatest apostles showcases the depth of God’s mercy and his willingness to use broken people for his glory. It is a reminder that no one is beyond saving and that God’s plans often exceed human understanding.

The encounter between Ananias and Paul also challenges believers to trust God’s work in others, even when it seems improbable, and to embrace the role we might play in someone else’s journey of faith.

For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

Paul, newly transformed by his encounter with Christ, immediately begins proclaiming the message of Jesus in the synagogues. With boldness and conviction, he speaks about the love of God and declares that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah.

Paul does not hesitate or delay; instead, he wholeheartedly embraces his calling and sets out to share the truth that has radically changed his life.

This newfound understanding seems to connect deeply with his rich upbringing in Judaism. The scriptures and teachings he once studied with such fervor now come alive in the light of Christ, revealing a clearer, fuller picture of God’s redemptive plan. However, this bold proclamation creates tension. The very leaders and peers who had once stood alongside Paul in opposing the early Christians now view him as a threat. The man they had trusted as an ally has become, in their eyes, a traitor.

Paul’s experience serves as a poignant reminder that following Christ often comes at a cost. His transformation led to a complete shift in his relationships, with former friends becoming adversaries. Yet, Paul does not let this deter him.

His actions exemplify the urgency and commitment of a life fully surrendered to God. This account challenges us to consider the depth of our own obedience and whether we are willing to risk comfort, reputation, or relationships to fulfill God’s call on our lives.

Application

As we reflect on how this passage applies to our lives, it’s important to highlight a few key areas of growth and challenge.

One of the biggest hurdles many of us face is our comfort. We often settle into routines and spaces that feel safe and familiar, but God frequently calls us out of that comfort to use us in ways that advance his kingdom.

This disruption might take the form of an uncomfortable conversation, stepping into an unfamiliar role, or facing situations that stretch us beyond what we naturally enjoy.

Yet, these moments are not without purpose. They are opportunities to glorify God and adopt a kingdom mindset. When we view life through this perspective, we no longer dread discomfort. Instead, we begin to see these moments as divine invitations to honor God through our obedience and faithfulness. Every challenge becomes a chance to trust him more deeply and participate in his work of bringing hope and redemption to others.

For the disciples, this truth came alive in a deeply personal and unsettling way. When confronted with Paul (formerly Saul), they faced the difficulty of trusting that such a radical transformation could be genuine. This was the same man who had hunted them down, imprisoned believers, and even overseen the brutal death of their friend, Stephen.

To sit in the same room with him must have been agonizing, stirring up memories of pain, fear, and doubt.

Yet, this discomfort was part of God’s larger plan to demonstrate his transformative power.

The disciples had to confront their own skepticism and embrace the reality that God’s grace could reach even the most unlikely person. In doing so, they participated in a story of redemption that would echo throughout history.

Their experience challenges us to move beyond our own fears and hesitations, trusting that God’s plans are far greater than our comfort zones. When we step out in faith, we align ourselves with his work, turning moments of unease into opportunities to reflect his glory.

No one is beyond the reach of God and Salvation.

Who in your life do you look at and think they would never become a follower of Jesus?

Do you pray for them or have you given up?

God can save anyone and everyone. Just like Paul God delights in saving people who seem unsavable.

Are you obedient or resistant to God?

When God tells Ananias to go find Paul he does it. Even though there's fear around who Paul is or was he listens and obeys.

Are there areas where God is calling you to do something like reach out to somebody who might make you uncomfortable and you are resistant? Choose obedience!

Landing

As we close, remember this: God’s transformative grace knows no boundaries. The story of Saul’s radical encounter with Jesus reminds us that no one—no matter how far they seem from faith or how broken their life may appear—is beyond the reach of God’s love and redemptive power. Saul, the persecutor of Christians, became Paul, the proclaimer of Christ. His life was turned upside down, not because of anything he did, but because of who God is.

For us, the challenge is twofold. First, are we willing to believe in God’s ability to save even those we consider unsavable?

Whether it’s a family member, a co-worker, or someone whose life seems too messy to fix, God is asking us to trust His ability to redeem and restore.

Don’t give up praying for that person, sharing with them, or simply loving them as Jesus does.

Second, are we obedient when God calls us to step into uncomfortable places?

Like Ananias, we may feel hesitant, fearful, or even skeptical. Yet, God delights in using our willingness to bring about His purposes.

Obedience often means stepping out of our comfort zones, trusting that God is at work in ways we cannot see.

The grace that transformed Saul into Paul is the same grace that works in and through us today. It empowers us to make a difference in the world, not by our strength, but by God’s. Let us live with bold faith, believing that God can do the impossible and choosing obedience even when it’s hard.

No one is beyond the reach of God’s transformative grace—not you, not me, and not the people we may be tempted to give up on. Let this truth stir our hearts to pray fervently, trust deeply, and step boldly into the call God places on our lives.

As we go, may we carry the hope of the gospel into every corner of our lives, proclaiming through word and deed that Jesus changes everything.

Pray