We are reading the familiar story of the "Conversion of Saul" in Acts 9.
Saul was on his way to Damascus to stamp out the Christ movement there. He was struck to the ground by a great light and Jesus revealed himself to Saul. Saul was blinded temporarily by the great light and had to be led by the hand into Damascus.
Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were opened, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus (Acts 9:8).
Luke was very artistic in his writing. At first, Saul was breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord (Acts 9:1). In your imagination, Saul must have looked very detestable law-enforcer. Now, he looked more like a prisoner himself, being led by the hand into Damascus. What an irony!
Saul was on his way to Damascus to stamp out the Christ movement there. He was struck to the ground by a great light and Jesus revealed himself to Saul. Saul was blinded temporarily by the great light and had to be led by the hand into Damascus.
Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were opened, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus (Acts 9:8).
Luke was very artistic in his writing. At first, Saul was breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord (Acts 9:1). In your imagination, Saul must have looked very detestable law-enforcer. Now, he looked more like a prisoner himself, being led by the hand into Damascus. What an irony!
Ananias was a disciple in Damascus. Jesus appeared to him in a vision, instructing him to heal Saul so as to regain his sight. Naturally, Ananias would not expose his life to unnecessary dangers.
But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem;
and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon thy name." (Acts 9:13-14)
I am sure all of you know Jesus' answer.
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 sons of Israel;
for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." (Acts 9:15-16)
But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem;
and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon thy name." (Acts 9:13-14)
I am sure all of you know Jesus' answer.
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 sons of Israel;
for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." (Acts 9:15-16)
No Christian would cast any doubt on Christ's choice. Saul was chosen because he had a good credential. Immediately comes to our minds is his language ability. He knew several languages. He spoke to the Jews outside the Temple in Hebrew (Acts 21:40). He wrote many epistles to the churches he had established in koine Greek. As a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37), very likely Saul spoke Latin.
From the extensive quotations he made in his epistles, we can concluded that Saul was very learned in Judaism. This was how he testified for himself before the Jewish crowd outside the Temple.
I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as you all are this day (Acts 22:3).
However, knowledge alone is not good enough. Otherwise, why didn't Jesus choose Gamaliel under whom Saul received his Judaism training? Moreover, Gamaliel was more sympathetic towards the Christ movement, as shown in his defence for the apostles before the Jewish Sanhedrin (Acts 5:34-40).
So, what was so good about Saul? His passion for the truth.
From the extensive quotations he made in his epistles, we can concluded that Saul was very learned in Judaism. This was how he testified for himself before the Jewish crowd outside the Temple.
I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as you all are this day (Acts 22:3).
However, knowledge alone is not good enough. Otherwise, why didn't Jesus choose Gamaliel under whom Saul received his Judaism training? Moreover, Gamaliel was more sympathetic towards the Christ movement, as shown in his defence for the apostles before the Jewish Sanhedrin (Acts 5:34-40).
So, what was so good about Saul? His passion for the truth.
It was the first time the students of all four years took part together in the same seminar organized by the Holy Spirit Seminary College. It was about "Collaborative Ministry". The most impressive topic we went through was "Embracing Conflict". The worst thing a ministry can possibly meet is not conflict but indifference. Where there is conflict, there is life. You may find it only rhetorical. But think about it. Conflicts arise from differences in opinions, from clashes of values. Conflicts arise between the people involved because they care. Saul persecuted the Christ movement because he cared. He cared about the purity of Judaism. He could not tolerate heretics. His passion was commendable.
Do I care enough about the salvation of my parents, my friends and my students? Out of courtesy, I seldom bring up the topic in front of my parents and my friends, not wanting to embarrass them.
Do I care enough about the salvation of my parents, my friends and my students? Out of courtesy, I seldom bring up the topic in front of my parents and my friends, not wanting to embarrass them.
Domine, intellectum illumina, affectum inflamma. Amen.
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