Sunday, August 16 — Knocked Down, Sent Out
Everything this week has been building to a dusty road outside Damascus, where the last man anyone expected to change met the God who changes everyone.
Acts 22:3-15 — KJV
3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. 4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. 5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. 6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. 7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. 9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. 10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. 11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. 12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, 13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. 14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. 15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
Acts 22:3-15 — WEB
3 "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are today. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, 5 as also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and traveled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished. 6 As I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon suddenly a great light shone around me from the sky. 7 I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' 8 I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.' 9 "Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they didn't understand the voice of him who spoke to me. 10 I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' The Lord said to me, 'Arise, and go into Damascus. There you will be told about all things which are appointed for you to do.' 11 When I couldn't see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus. 12 One Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' In that very hour I looked up at him. 14 He said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. 15 For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.'
Explanation
Here is the moment the whole week has been walking toward. Paul is standing before a hostile crowd in Jerusalem, on trial for his life, and he tells his story. He begins with his credentials — trained under Gamaliel, the finest teacher of his day, zealous for God, blameless by the law. This is the Pharisee we met on Wednesday, the man with the perfect résumé.
Then he tells the truth about what that zeal produced: he persecuted "this way unto the death," dragging men and women off to prison. He was on the road to Damascus with official letters in hand, ready to do more of the same, when the light stopped him cold. Notice the question the risen Jesus asks: "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Not "why persecutest thou my people" — me. Jesus so identifies with His church that to strike them was to strike Him.
Saul's answer is the beginning of everything: "Who art thou, Lord?" And "What shall I do, Lord?" The man who had all the answers suddenly has only questions, and he's asking the right One. That's what conversion looks like — not becoming smart enough to find God, but being found by Him and finally listening.
Then comes a beautiful, ordinary detail. God doesn't finish the job with lightning. He sends a man named Ananias, who walks up to the church's worst enemy and calls him "Brother Saul." Grace came to Saul through a person willing to obey. And the commission is clear in verses 14 and 15: God has chosen you to know His will, to see the Righteous One, and — here it is — to be "his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard."
That's the whole week in one line. The fountain of life on Monday, grace reaching a persecutor on Tuesday, the résumé counted as loss on Wednesday, the merciful God on Thursday, the new creation on Friday, the weight of sin lifted on Saturday — all of it converges here. Saul the Pharisee becomes Paul the Christian, and immediately he's sent to all the world.
And that's the invitation for us too. You don't need a Damascus-road light show. You need to ask his two questions and mean them: "Who are You, Lord?" and "What shall I do?" However far gone you think you are, the God who commissioned His enemy has a place for you and a witness only you can give. What you've seen and heard of His mercy — that's your assignment.
Thought for the Day
The God who changed you is sending you out.
Reflection Question
What have you seen and heard of God's mercy that someone else needs to hear from you?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You met Saul on the road and made him new, and I know You can do the same with me. I ask his questions and I mean them: Who are You, and what would You have me do? Thank You for the people, like Ananias, who called me brother when I didn't deserve it. Send me out as Your witness, to tell what I have seen and heard. Amen.
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