The riotous crowd in Jerusalem was now quiet, listening to Paul as he spoke to them from the steps of the fort. (Acts 22:2f.)
Paul told them how he had obtained permission from the High priest and religious Council in Jerusalem to arrest people who believed in Jesus Christ as the only “Way” to God. He had then set off for Damascus to do that, and “bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.” (verses 4-5.) Paul, previously known as Saul, told them, “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’
“‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied. (verses 6-8.)
This apparition of Jesus changed Saul’s attitude completely! Now he knew that Jesus really was alive from the dead, and being the unique Son of God in Heaven, He should be obeyed, not opposed! So, instead of wanting to carry out the High Priest’s orders against Jesus’ followers, Saul found himself asking JESUS, “What shall I do, LORD?”!
“Get up … and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything …” (verses 10-11.) When in Damascus a preacher named Ananias came to tell him about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (verses 12-16.)
GOD had not PREACHED from Heaven to Saul, when he had seen that apparition of Jesus. God has left His work of preaching to ordinary people. (1stCorinthians 1:20-31.) God spreads His Gospel by the lives of those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Saviour, as they go and share their good news with others. (Acts 10:42-43. John 17:20.) Saul was now eager to listen to Ananias tell him the Good News! As he listened his eyesight was restored! but, more important than that, he could now see something he had not been willing to see before! In his mind and heart, he now “saw”, and believed that Jesus was the only One who could forgive and save him. And that very day called on the name of the Lord, and had his “sins washed away”. (verse 16. Acts 13:38-39. 26:18.)
The crowd continued listening to Paul, until he told them that God later sent him to preach “to the Gentiles” (verses 18-21.) Then they erupted into a screaming, angry mob again. “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!” they shouted. (verses 22-23.)
They did not want to believe that God would be interested in anyone except Jews! Nor did they want to believe that Jesus was the only Priest who could take away their sins. (Hebrews 7:23-28. John 1:29.)
I hope YOU will “see” what Saul saw when Ananias preached to him - not an apparition of Jesus, but what is more important, to SEE and understand that Jesus is the only Priest you need today! Have you asked HIM to wash away your sins?
Read Acts chapter 22, verses 4-23.
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