(a) Discuss Saul's experience on his way to Damascus.
Explanation
(a) Saul, a persecutor of the Church asked the high Priest for letters of introduction to the synagogues at Damascus so that if he found any one belonging to the way, he could arrest and bring him to Jerusalem. As he approached Damascus, he saw a great light, fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why you persecute, me?" "Who are you Lord", Saul asked and the voice replied, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. Immediately, he became blind and was led to Damascus, where he remained without food for three days. In Damascus, there was a disciple called Ananias who was sent by God to the house of Judas in Straight street enquire of Saul of Tarsus.
The Lord said that Saul was praying and in a vision, he had seen Ananias laying his hands him, so that he might receive his sight. But Ananias protested saying that he had heard from many about " this man how much evil he had done to the saints at Jerusalem, and how he got authority from the chief priests to bind all who came upon thy name."But, the Lord described Saul as a chosen instrument to carry the name of Jesus to the Gentiles and Kings and the Sons of lsrael. Ananias obeyed the Lord and came to Saul and, addressing him as "brother Saul", he told him that the Lord Jesus who appeared to him on the road had sent him that Saul might regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes and he regained his sight. Saul then arose and was baptized and he ate some food and became strong.
(b) The significance of Saul's experience or encounter with Christ to future life are:
(i) Saul was transformed, from being a persecutor of the Christians to a defender of Christianity.
(ii) It also changed him from his former devotion to the law to a complete devotion to Jesus Christ.
(iii) Saul became an apostle the Gentiles and from then on, the early church enjoyed peace.
(iv) Saul became a sufferer for the early church as Lord had predicted.