The story of the conversion of Saul started with his bitter aggression against the nascent church, which has a humble but glorious beginning. The Pentecost experience soaked the disciples with the power of the Holy Spirit and gave them a courage they had never known before. They bore witness with passion for the Crucified. Not even the belligerent attempts of the Jewish authorities to stop them could deter them. Their witnessing was richly blessed. The number of new members swelled considerably, while the Lord was confirming their work with signs and wonders: shackled souls were set free, demons were sent out of their victims, numerous people were healed of different diseases and many others received internal healing.
Great Persecution
It was, therefore, a very demoralizing experience for the disciples when the great persecution began. With the death of Stephen, it seemed more like the Lord had forgotten his promise: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Mat. 28:20). It was probably generally believed that the devil was about to stop the work of the Holy Spirit. But it was the Lord doing his work and accomplishing his promise according to his infinite wisdom. His ways are often mysterious, the reason faith is fundamental in the service of the Lord. Though we may not understand the way he leads, it is necessary we trust him.
The persecution was crucial because against the Lord‘s injunction, “You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samar′ia and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8), the disciples remained just in Jerusalem and had no concrete plans to proclaim the Good News outside Jerusalem. Yet it was necessary they go beyond their native comfort zone and preach the gospel as Jesus instructed them. But they were not even thinking about that yet.
An Instrument
The Lord therefore decided to handle it in His own unique way. He made Saul His instrument of forcing the disciples out of Jerusalem to spread the Good News, as He instructed them. Saul took it upon himself to annihilate the Christians and end the story of the gospel message, so he thought. His activities brought great dread in Jerusalem and many members of the believing community fled. “They were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samar′ia, except the apostles” (Acts 8:1).
However, they were not fleeing from the faith. They were rather, inadvertently, on the mission of sowing the seed of the gospel. They witnessed to the power of the cross and the resurrection of their Lord as they fled. Some found themselves in Judea, some in Samaria and some traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. Philip, for instance, found himself in Samaria and converted many to the Lord. That was what pulled Peter and John (more orthodox Jews) outside Jerusalem, for the first time, for the mission of Christ. They went to Samaria and baptized the newly converted Samaritans in the Holy Spirit.
Open the Door
This was how the Lord used persecution to force the early disciples to open the door of salvation to many other people outside Jerusalem, with Saul, the enemy of the gospel, as his agent, via negativa. Trust the Lord even when you do not understand. He always knows the way.
After this had been accomplished, the Lord ‘arrested’ Saul and transformed him into Paul to be his missionary to the Gentiles. He knew his awesome personality: Saul had passion for God. He was learned and multi-lingual, broad-minded and versatile. He was daring, endowed with wisdom, and had wit. No apostle could have fit better into this mission to the gentiles as Paul. The book of the Acts of Apostles and the New Testament epistles provide rich evidence of the Lord’s wise choice of this great missionary. His ways are indeed not our ways. You can trust his decisions!
