Where In The Bible Will I Find:

When Saul Of Tarsus Was Saved?

The conversion of Saul is found in the ninth chapter of Acts. As the apostle Paul, he reviewed what took place in his conversion in the twenty-second and twenty-sixth chapters of Acts. Saul was on his way to Damascus for the purpose of arresting Christians and bringing them bound back to Jerusalem (Acts 9:2).

When he came near Damascus there shined around about him a light from heaven (Acts 9:3). He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, "…Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me" (Acts 9:4). Saul then asked, "Who art thou Lord?" The Lord answered, "…I am Jesus whom thou persecutest…" (Acts 9:5).

Saul, who was trembling and astonished, then asked the most important question in the world: "What wilt thou have me to do?" As the gospel has been placed in the hands of earthen vessels (II Cor. 4:5-7), the Lord told him to arise and go into the city, and there he would be told what he must do (Acts 9:6). Saul became blind and had to be led by the hand into Damascus. He was there three days without sight and neither did eat nor drink. There was a disciple in Damascus by the name of Ananias which the Lord sent to Saul to tell him what to do (Acts 9:6-11).

Ananias was leery of Saul because he knew of his persecution of Christians. However, the Lord assured Ananias that Saul was a chosen vessel (Acts 9:13-15). Ananias then went to Saul, restored his sight, and told him what to do to be saved (Acts 9:17-18). According to Saul (later when he became the apostle Paul), Ananias had said to him, "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).

Therefore, Saul's conversion is plain. He was NOT saved on the Damascus road, but it was in Damascus when he obeyed the Word of God, as the Lord had said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…" (Mark 16:16), which Ananias told him to do. Remember, the Lord Himself had said to Saul, "…Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do" (Acts 9:6). It was in the city their that he was told what to do in order to be saved and NOT on the road to Damascus.

Ananias told him what to do, he did it, and was saved. It would indeed be a strange conversion if Saul actually had been saved in the midst of the light on the road to Damascus. If that was the case, Saul himself did not know it, for he asked the Lord what he must do; and too, Jesus did not know it, for He told Saul to go into the city and there he would be told what to do. Ananias also did not know it for he told Saul what he must do in order to be saved. NO! Penitent Saul was saved when he arose and was immersed in water to wash away his sins, as commanded by the Lord in Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38. Baptism put him IN Christ (Gal. 3:27), and he was added by the Lord to His church (Acts 2:47).