Brother Saul

Acts 9:17-18
And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

Reflective Questions
What if the person you feared the most was the very one God had plans to use to change the world? What if the person you wrote off as too far gone was God’s chosen vessel?


Context & Background
Before Saul became Paul, the renowned apostle and church planter, he was a zealous Pharisee committed to protecting Judaism from what he believed was heresy. Saul of Tarsus was born into a devout Jewish family, a Roman citizen by birth (Acts 22:28), and educated under Gamaliel, a highly respected rabbi (Acts 22:3). He was passionate about the Law, steeped in the traditions of the elders, and deeply nationalistic. To Saul, followers of Jesus—later called Christians—were dangerous heretics who threatened the purity of the Jewish faith.

By the time we meet Saul in Acts 9, he had already made a name for himself as a fierce persecutor of Christians. He was present and approving at the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:58–8:1). This act seems to ignite an even deeper fervor in Saul. He launched an aggressive campaign against the church, “breathing threats and murder” against the disciples (Acts 9:1). With the high priest's blessing, he set out for Damascus, a city roughly 150 miles northeast of Jerusalem, intending to arrest any believers he found and bring them back to Jerusalem in chains.

This journey was not merely a business trip. It was a declaration of war against the early church. Saul's very presence caused believers to scatter in fear. He was the embodiment of religious zeal turned violent, a man fully convinced that he was doing God's will by stamping out the Jesus movement. And yet, God saw something more. The sudden appearance of a blinding light and the voice of Jesus Himself stopped Saul in his tracks. This was not just a physical interruption, but a spiritual collision. The light of Jesus exposed Saul's misguided passion, and in an instant, the hunter became the hunted—pursued by grace, not wrath.

The days following this event were pivotal. Blinded and humbled, Saul fasted and prayed. God then called an unlikely servant, Ananias, to go minister to Saul. Ananias hesitated—understandably so. Saul was infamous. But God had chosen Saul for a divine mission: to be a vessel to carry His name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel (Acts 9:15).
This moment in Damascus is a turning point not only for Saul but for the entire history of Christianity. The one who once tried to destroy the church would soon be used by God to build it more than anyone in his generation.

This lesson reminds us that God doesn't just stop us in our tracks; He reroutes our entire purpose. Saul went from religious terrorist to missionary titan. That kind of radical transformation is only possible by the mercy and power of God.


God Convicts in Mercy
When Jesus stopped Saul on the road, He did it not to destroy him, but to redirect him. Conviction isn’t meant to crush us; it’s God’s invitation to change. God could have ended Saul’s story there on the road, and it would’ve been a just ending. But grace chose a different path. Grace chose transformation. This teaches us that conviction is not condemnation—it’s an opportunity for correction and redirection. Saul’s experience proves that even the most hardened heart can be softened when God speaks.

Many young adults wrestle with their pasts—decisions they regret, paths they’ve wandered. But Saul reminds us that our history doesn’t disqualify us from God’s plan; it prepares us for it. His blindness was not just physical—it was symbolic of a greater spiritual awakening. When God reveals His light, He is offering us clarity, not punishment. Like Saul, we may find ourselves flat on our backs, dazed by the reality of who we’ve been. But in that moment, the question that matters most is the one Saul asked: "Lord, what do You want me to do?" That humble posture of surrender is the beginning of everything new.

Reflect: Where has God interrupted your life to offer mercy instead of judgment? Are there hidden parts of your life He’s calling into the light?


God Speaks Through Others
God could have given Saul a complete spiritual roadmap in one dramatic vision. But He didn’t. Instead, He involved a man named Ananias—a seemingly minor character in Scripture, but an essential part of Saul’s transformation. This is significant: God uses people—flawed, fearful, faithful people—to communicate His will. Ananias had every reason to hesitate. He had heard about Saul’s brutal reputation. Imagine God telling you to walk into the home of someone who’d been arresting and possibly killing your friends. Yet, Ananias obeyed. He faced his fear and called Saul “Brother.” That one word bridged a chasm of fear, doubt, and division. It affirmed Saul’s new identity. It welcomed him into the family of faith.

God may be calling you to be someone’s Ananias. Maybe it’s a classmate, coworker, or even a former enemy. Someone who desperately needs grace, but no one’s willing to risk getting close. Sometimes our greatest ministry isn’t found in the pulpit but in a quiet conversation, a kind greeting, or an unexpected visit. At the same time, we must also be humble enough to receive truth from others. Saul didn’t reject Ananias. He listened. He submitted. He was healed through community.

Reflect: Who has God placed in your life to guide you? Who might He be calling you to speak truth and healing to today?


God Will Use You in Ministry
Transformation always leads to mission. Saul didn’t take a sabbatical after his conversion. He didn’t wait to be “perfect.” As soon as he could see again, he began preaching that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 9:20). What’s powerful is that God didn’t wait until Saul had all the theological pieces in place. He started where he was, with the experience he had. His transformation was his testimony. And yours is too.

God doesn’t only use preachers or missionaries. He uses the faithful friend, the college student willing to pray with someone, the young professional who lives with integrity at work. Ministry is less about a title and more about obedience. If you feel disqualified, remember Saul. He called himself the “chief of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15), yet he became a cornerstone of the early church. Your pain, your past, your brokenness—they can become your platform for God’s glory.

Every Saul needs an Ananias. And every Ananias plays a part in launching a Paul. You never know how your obedience could alter someone’s eternity.
Reflect: What story has God written in your life that you can share with someone else? Are you delaying your ministry because you’re waiting to “feel ready”?


Application

• At Work: Like Saul, many people around you may be spiritually blind. Instead of avoiding them, ask God how you can be an Ananias—bringing hope, healing, or just a kind word.
• In Relationships: Sometimes the people we fear or avoid are the very ones God is trying to reach through us. Be open to unlikely assignments.
• In Ministry: Stop waiting to be perfect before you serve. Your testimony, your obedience, and your compassion are powerful tools in God’s hands.

God can take a murderer and turn him into a missionary. What can He do with your story?


Action Step
This week, ask God to show you one person you’ve written off—someone you think would never follow Jesus. Pray for them daily. Then, take a step to encourage or connect with them. You might just be their Ananias. And if you're struggling with your own transformation, take Saul's posture. Get honest. Get humble. Ask, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then do it.


Prayer
Thank You for Your mercy that meets me even when I’m running in the wrong direction. Just like You stopped Saul, stop me when I need redirection. Convict me in love. Change me in Your truth. Help me to see people the way You see them—not as problems but as potential. If You could use someone like Saul, then surely You can use me. Remove the scales from my eyes. Let me hear Your voice clearly. Fill me with the Holy Spirit. Make me bold like Ananias, willing to go wherever You send me, even to the hard places. Use my story for Your glory. And when I struggle to believe in myself, remind me that You don’t call the qualified—You qualify the called. In the name of Jesus, amen.