Even the most antagonistic enemies of the gospel can be saved.  A well-trained Pharisee named Saul terrorized the early Christian church.  He watched as Stephan was stoned, holding other people’s coats so they could have a better throw.  He raided meetings and homes, dragging followers of “the Way” to prison.  He took his fervor on the road, traveling to Damascus to round up believers there.  But God had other plans for him.

In the miraculous conversion described in Acts 9.1-19, a light from heaven flashed and blinded Saul, he was knocked to the ground, and the voice of Jesus spoke to him.  While blind for three days, he had a vision of a man named Ananias laying hands on him so he would regain his sight.  When Ananias showed up, the prophetic vision event happened for real, and Saul was healed and baptized. 

Saul immediately began proclaiming the central truth that Jesus is the Son of God.  And he “confounded” the Jews by proving that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. Saul knew the Law and the Prophets better than most; he had been well trained; he proves to be an excellent debater.  But his best asset was the knowledge gained from meeting the risen Christ and receiving the Holy Spirit. 

The Jews of Damascus were perplexed and then angry that the havoc-maker of Jerusalem had changed; at the same time Christians were fearful of subterfuge.  But the change was real and Saul, later called Paul, became the chief evangelist to the gentiles.   His Pharisee training and Roman citizenship were helpful, but his letters to the churches made it clear that the only important thing was Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2.2).