What Wilt Thou Have Me To Do?

Undoubtedly many people have heard this story of Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. The story of how the primary enemy of the early church meets Jesus is told in Acts 9:1-9. Saul, the man who had detained the followers of Jesus in Jerusalem (Acts 7:58, 8:1-3), moves north to Damascus, expands his terror beyond Judea. Saul is stopped by Jesus, who tells him that He is not only alive but also glorified by the light of heaven. Saul is awestruck and nearly blinded. He is led into the city by his companions, where he waits for three days without food or drink until Jesus’ messenger arrives to instruct him. Acts 22:6-16 and Acts 26:9-18 provide additional information from Saul.

In verses 1-2:

Saul represents the world. Saul was so passionate for his Jewish convictions that he started a mistreatment crusade against any individual who had faith in Jesus (“of this way”). For what reason would the Jews need to oppress Christians to the extent or as far toward Damascus? There are a few prospects: first, to hold onto the Christians who had escaped; second, to contain and forestall the spread of Christianity to other significant urban communities; third, to hold the Christians back from inciting any issues in Rome; fourth, to propel Saul’s vocation and fabricate his standing as a genuine Pharisee, who was enthusiastic for the law; and fifth, to bind together the groups of Judaism by giving them a shared adversary.

• Acts 8:3, As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

As Paul headed out to Damascus, seeking after Christians, he was gone up against by the risen Christ and carried up close and personal with the reality of the Gospel. Occasionally God breaks into an individual’s life in a fantastic way, and now and then transformation is a calm encounter. We are to be careful with individuals who demand that someone should have a specific kind of conversion. The correct method to come to faith in Jesus is the way God brings that individual.

In verses 3-6:

A sinner is recognized. “And suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.” Light always covers darkness. In a dark room, when the lights are turned on, we will turn our heads toward the bright light, but we shield our eyes. This light was so bright that Saul fell to knees, “And he fell to the earth.”

A sinner recognizes the sovereignty of God. “And he said, Who art thou, Lord?” A sinner submits and surrenders unto God’s will (what some Christians should be doing). “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” A sinner is told specifically what to do, (some Christians will not listen). “Arise, and go into the city.”

Paul alludes to this experience as the beginning of his new life in Christ (1 Corinthians 9:1, 15:8; Galatians 1:15-16). At the focal point of this awesome experience was Jesus Christ. Paul did not have a dream nor see a vision; he saw the risen Christ himself (9:17). Paul recognized Jesus as Lord, admitted his own wrongdoing, surrendered his life to Jesus, and made plans to obey. Genuine change comes from an individual experience with Jesus Christ and prompts another life in relationship with him.

Paul believed that he was persecuting blasphemers, yet he was oppressing Christ himself. Any individual who persecutes Christians today is likewise liable of mistreating Jesus (Matthew 25:40, 45), on the grounds that believers of today are part to the body of Christ while they are here on earth.

In verses 7-8:

The men around Saul heard a voice but saw no man. Saul gets up but he cannot see.

• Daniel 10:7, And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.

In verse 9:

For three days Saul was without sight, and he fasted. Jonah spent three days in the belly of a great fish. Jesus was in the tomb for three days. The number three represents divine completeness.

Now we will look at the next section.

The greatest earthly foe of the early church had his heart changed, which is then explained in Acts 9:10-19. Back in Acts 8:1-3, it describes Saul as a zealous Christian persecutor who is a Jew who speaks Greek and is trained by the Pharisees. Acts 9:1-9 had described his request for permission to pursue followers of Jesus in Damascus, but instead he discovered Jesus. He has been waiting in Damascus for Jesus’ disciple Ananias, blinded by Jesus’ glory. Ananias arrives and takes part in Jesus’ cure of Saul’s spiritual and physical blindness. Saul receives physical nourishment and is baptized. After spending some time in Damascus, Saul immediately uses his extensive knowledge of Jewish Scripture to argue that Jesus is the Messiah. The assassin of the Sanhedrin is now the target of his former friends.