Acts 9:1-20

The conversion of Saul - a very well known passage in Acts. What can we learn from this about conversion?

Noone is too far gone to be saved

Saul was definitely the antagonist for the church. He was responsible for a large amount of persecution against Christians. But God was stronger. He revealed himself as Jesus to this man, and then provided comfort and help for him in Ananias. God loved even the hardest of hearts until it was softened.

Conversion is a face-to-face with Jesus

Not everyone has such a dramatic conversion, but all of them involve facing Jesus in some way. Saul's conversion this was a "Theophany" or a visible appearance of God. For others in the Bible this was a terrifying experience. Most fall to the ground in fear. For Saul this was a confrontation - Jesus asked why Saul was persecuting Him. To hate the church is to hate Jesus because the church is Christ's body on Earth.

They become a new person, with a new purpose

Saul's entire life was turned around. He now fought for the very mission that he wanted to destroy. He even changed his name to show how much of a different person he was. When we become Christians we become instruments for God's glory. Our purpose is now to glorify God in all we do.

We must accept all whom God accepts

Ananias must have been pretty scared to meet Saul the persecutor. Despite this he obeyed God's request and sought him out. Other disciples took Saul in and spent time with him.

We are called to do the same. Imagine if a mass-persecutor came to faith in you church - would you accept them too?