Bold Transformation

Acts 9:19–25 (NASB95) 

19and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, 20and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, “Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” 22But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ. 23When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket. 

After his dramatic conversion, Saul’s early ministry in Damascus is marked by significant events that highlight his transformation and commitment to the Gospel. Following his physical recovery, Saul spent time with the disciples in Damascus, integrating into the Christian community. He immediately began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues, boldly declaring that Jesus is the Son of God. This rapid shift from persecutor to preacher astonished many, as they questioned whether this was the same man who had sought to destroy Christians. Saul’s growing spiritual strength enabled him to confound the Jews in Damascus, effectively proving that Jesus is the Christ. However, his bold proclamation provoked opposition, as the Jews plotted to kill him. With the help of his disciples, Saul escaped through an opening in the city wall, lowered in a basket under the cover of night. 

Saul’s transformation from a zealous persecutor to a fervent proclaimer of Christ underscores the redemptive power of God’s grace. His immediate spiritual empowerment and ability to preach with authority demonstrate the work of the Holy Spirit in equipping him for ministry. Saul’s central message, affirming Jesus as the Son of God, reflects the Christological focus of his mission and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. The opposition he faced highlights the cost of discipleship and the reality of suffering for the sake of the Gospel, a theme that would define much of Saul’s later ministry. Additionally, the role of the Christian community in aiding Saul’s escape emphasizes the importance of mutual care and support within the body of Christ. 

Saul’s early ministry reflects key aspects of Jesus’s own ministry, underscoring the continuity of Christ’s work through the Church. Both commenced their public ministries by teaching in synagogues, utilizing Scripture to validate their divine missions (Luke 4:16–21; Acts 9:20). Similar to Jesus, Saul encountered immediate opposition from Jewish leaders who aimed to silence him (John 11:53; Acts 9:23). They also both faced dramatic escapes from death threats—Jesus avoided an attempt to throw Him off a cliff in Nazareth (Luke 4:29–30), while Saul was lowered in a basket through the city wall (Acts 9:25). These parallels emphasize the shared mission of proclaiming the Kingdom of God and the inevitable resistance encountered by those who fulfill this mission. 

Here is a question I’d like to ask you today. Are you allowing your past to hold you back from the future that God has for you? Saul’s story reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. Are you allowing fear of opposition, in any form, to prevent you from speaking truth to others? 

Blessing, 
 
Ryan Goodnight