THE conversion of Saul of Tarsus to Christianity took place on the road to Damascus. Saul, who proudly styled himself "an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee" (Phil. 3:5), was an unlikely subject for conversion judged by his religious upbringing.
Saul, zealous for the welfare of his own faith, had asked the high priest at Jerusalem for letters to the synagogues at Damascus authorizing him to bind and bring to Jerusalem men and women who had adopted the teaching of the Nazarene. "Breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord" (Acts 9:1), he had taken the highroad to Damascus armed with ecclesiastical authority.
Suddenly, as he journeyed, a light shone round about him, and he heard a voice calling him by name. "Who art thou, Lord?" he asked. "And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks" (Acts 9:5). The spiritual experience blinded Saul. Helpless and humble, he was led into Damascus.
