476-478 :Saul Becomes A Christian
Not only did Saul consent to Stephen's death but he was directing heavy persecution against the church in Jerusalem, entering into every house and dragging out men and women to put them into prison.
Breathing out threats of slaughter against the disciples of the Lord,
Saul went to the high priest and asked from him letters to the synagogue in Damascus so that
if he found any who followed Christ's way, whether they were men or women,
he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
But as he journeyed, approaching Damascus, suddenly there shone around him a light from heaven, and he fell to the earth
and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
And he said, "Who are you, Lord?"
And the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you persecute."
Then he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do you want me to do?"
And the Lord said to him,
"Arise and go into the city, and shall be told what you must do."
The men who journeyed with stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no man.
Saul arose from the earth, and when he opened his eyes, he could see no man.
But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus named Ananias.
And the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias."
And he answered, "Yes, I am here, Lord."
The Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the street called Straight,
and ask in the house of Judas for a man called Saul of Tarsus.
For he is praying and has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand
upon him that he might receive his sight."
Then Ananias said, "Lord, I have heard from many people about this man and how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.
And here he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all that call upon your name."
But the Lord said to him, "Go your way, for he is chosen by me to carry my name to the Gentiles,
and kings, and the children of Israel.
For I shall show him how greatly he must'suffer for my name's sake."
Ananias went his way and entered the house, and putting his hands on Saul,
said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus who appeared to you on the road as you came,
has sent me that you might receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Immediately it was as if scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight at once,
and arose and was baptized.
When he had eaten, he was stronger,
and he stayed on for some days with the disciples who were in Damascus.
He began preaching in the synagogues that Christ is the Son of God.
And all who heard him were amazed,
and said, "Is this not he who destroyed those who called on Christ's name in Jerusalem,
and came here in order to bring them bound to the chief priests?"
But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded his foes who lived in Damascus,
by proving that Jesus was indeed the Christ.
After many days had passed, they plotted to kill him.
But Saul knew that they were lying in wait for him,
and that they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
So the disciples took him by night and let him down over the wall in a basket.
And when Saul came to Jerusalem, he joined the disciples there.
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