It must have been a tiresome journey. The distance from Jerusalem to Damascus is roughly, and given the mode of transport of the day, doubtless took about 4 days.
The crucifixion of that strange 'malefactor' had not had the intended effect. Far from forever silencing the followers, now some of the priests had started to 'cross the floor'. Rumors of His resurrection could not be quelled. How frustrating. So Saul seethed with anger, and had gotten authority to go to Damascus, to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. The end justified the means.
Historical sources claim Saul was of diminutive for, about feet tall. Dynamite comes in small packages, it really did, in the life of Saul. Interestingly, even the name Paul, in the Roman language, meant small.
On he journeyed, doubtless with such an imposition of authority. On the fourth day, there is was, in the distance! In his account to XXXXX, this must have been around midday, and maybe it is as true for him, as was said of the Papacy in the middle Ages, his noonday was Damascus' midnight. What commotion news of his approach caused the Christians in the city, only Heavens know. But how things were going to turn a macabre turn, Saul had no idea. Keep reading.
History estimates his year of birth around ####, and tucked in that little details is a great truth. Saul was a contemporary of Christ! Did they ever meet? Scripture leaves that to our imagination. Maybe they did, but most likely they did not. Probably the bigoted Saul never supposed the Son of a carpenter worth his time. Having been educated at XXXX, and transferred to XXXX, to sit at the feet of Gamaliel meant that Saul was so esteeemed, and to be distracted by such a One whose dress even had 'no seam', would be stooping so low. The tradition of the Jews took precedence, and his one aim was to safeguard it. At all cost. The Messiah would definitely come out of an esteemed house. Not this.
Two instances before our Chapter of Discussion, Saul was only mentioned twice. (XXXXXX).
So on Saul and his entourage proceeded towards Damascus, then it happened.
It definitely was no optical illusion, as his peers, although seeing nothing, heard the voice.
"Paul, why persecutedst me?"
God is a communicating God. We might He have destroyed that man in a flash, but as one said, God has two hands, one of justice, and the other of mercy.
"Who are you Lord?", "I am Jesus, whom you persecute."
So Christ identifies Himself so much with His followers, that injury to one, is injury to Him.
"What would you have me to do, Lord?"
God has never designed that He does everything, so He delegates.
"Go into the city, to the house of one Judas, and it shall be told you what you should do."
The church is the Lord's appointed agency for the salvation of man, so to it directed He Saul.
How the news was to be received, Luke left it to our imagination. How Judas was convinced to receive Saul, Luke left it to our imagination. But in Judas' home, we find Saul. Whether the men who accompanied him there also had a change of heart, Luke left it to our imagination. So much catching up, the saved shall have to do!
The Street called Straight can still be found in Syria. Stretching 1.5 kilometers, somewhere in there, was the house of Judas.
On the other side of town, lay a man, and a familiar voice he heard,
"Ananias", "Yes, Lord?"
VERSE
How Ananis addressed Paul pitches a high note on Christian brotherhood,
"Brother Paul...."
And so the man of Tarsus was changed from Saul to Paul, and God is still in the business of changing men and women.
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