The Conversion of St. Paul - Week 1

Acts 7:54-8:3;9:1-30

Note: The study related to these questions may be found at Catholic Exchange. Please go to their site for the complete material concerning this study. Below are my thoughts on the questions presented for the given study (Please see disclaimer at bottom).

Saul Persecutes the Church

Read Acts 7:54-8:3; 9:1-2
1. From just these few verses, list everything you can observe about the type of personality Saul had.
(a) Saul was bold, fearless, zealous and judgemental in his persecution of the Church and in his consent to Stephen's death. Paul also had pride and a venemous temper which he used to not only persecute the Church in Jerusalem, but also in all of Israel.

2. Think about people who behave in this zealous way. What are some possible motivations for this kind of behavior? What do you think Saul's motivation was?
(a) Possible motivations for zealous behavior can be anything from brainwashing, advancement within a particular group, emotions, to an actual conversion to God. (b) Paul's motivation stemmed from his place among the pharisees and his desire to continue up through their ranks.

3. Why is it important to discern the motives people have when they oppose us?
(a) It is important to understand one's underlying motivation to then see how best to approach them with the Good News of Christ's Resurrection.

An Encounter with Jesus

Read Acts 9:3-9
4. Look at vs. 4. Describe the tone of the question that Jesus put to Saul.
(a) The tone is accusatory.

5. When Saul asks the Lord, in vs. 5, Who are you, Lord? he isn t using the word lord as we do in reference to Jesus the Lord. He's using it as a term of respect. Look carefully at how Jesus replies to this question. What, if anything, do you find unusual about it?
(a) Jesus does not reply that He is God and therefore should not be persecuted, but instead simply replies that He is Jesus and is being persecuted. Of interest is that here we see Jesus intimately associating Himself with the members of His Church, who comprise His Body:

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. (1 Cor 11:16-17, RSV)

For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. (Eph 5:23, RSV)

Jesus accuses Saul, not of persecuting His Church, but of persecuting Him.

6. Knowing what you know about Saul's personality, what do you think it was like for him to be led by the hand to Damascus, unable to see?
(a) This must have been a humbling experience.

7. Most of us expect to experience joy, not humiliation and darkness, when Jesus draws near. Why do you suppose it happens like this sometimes? Has it ever happened to you?
(a) This may happen as a means to remove any pride that stands in the way of a true relationship with Christ. (b) Yes, though I don't seem to learn from God's patient instruction.

Saul Encounters the Church

Read Acts 9:10-19a
8. What was the reaction of Ananias to the Lord's directive to him?
(a) Ananias, understandably, reacts with fear:

But Anani'as answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon thy name." (Acts 9:13-14, RSV)

However, Jesus made it clear that it was Anani'as who must go as it was he whom Paul had seen in a vision.

9. How does Jesus describe the mission that Saul is to have? What, in Saul's background, would equip him to fulfill such a mission? Why do you think suffering will be a part of it?
(a) Jesus describes Saul's mission as follows:

But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." (Acts 9:15-16, RSV)

(b) The very traits that made Saul a great persector of the Church will also allow him to become one of it's greatest missionaries. His zeal, determination, and knowledge of Scripture will all play a role. Even Saul's pride will be of use, but only in-so-much as this is pride for God and His message and not pride in Saul's own accomplishments. (c) In order to walk with Christ and achieve His ultimate gift of salvation, one must also walk with Christ in His suffering for our redemption. Suffering is not something we are to be ashamed of or to avoid, but rather to embrace and to give glory to God for our suffering that we may in some way help in His remptive work. This is a concept that unfortunately does not get a lot of attention these days, but is found throughout the teachings of Christ and His Apostles:

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. (Rom 5:3-5, RSV)

and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Rom 8:17-18, RSV)

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered abuse suffered for the Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked to the reward. (Heb 11:24-26, RSV)

For one is approved if, mindful of God, he endures pain while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it, if when you do wrong and are beaten for it you take it patiently? But if when you do right and suffer for it you take it patiently, you have God's approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. (1 Pet 2:19-21, RSV)

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same thought, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer by human passions but by the will of God. (1 Pet 4:1-2, RSV)

But rejoice in so far as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. (1 Pet 4:13, RSV)

Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will do right and entrust their souls to a faithful Creator. (1 Pet 4:15-16, RSV)

Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you. (1 Pet 5:9-10, RSV)

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. (2 Tim 2:3, RSV)

As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry. (2 Tim 4:5, RSV)

10. When Ananias enters the house and speaks to Saul, how do we know that he was able to overcome the fear of Saul he felt initially? What do you suppose he saw when he looked at Saul? (Note: See vs. 9.)
(a) We know that Anani'as overcame his fear of Saul in that he addresses Saul as "brother". (b) He must have seen a weakened, contrite man, not the greatly feared persecutor of the Church.

11. Ananias told Saul he would regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit (vs. 17). How was the first thing accomplished? How about the second?
(a) Saul regained his sight when something "like scales fell from his eyes". (b) Saul received the Holy Spirit by Anani'as laying hands on Saul and then by baptism.

12. Think about the sequence of Saul's conversion. First, the experience on the road to Damascus, then the three days blind, then the arrival of Ananias and the recovery of sight and baptism. Surely Saul's total conversion could all have been accomplished right at the beginning, when he saw the Lord. Why do you suppose it happened this way instead?
(a) In order to give Saul time to reflect on what had happened to him on his way to Damascus and in order to appreciate the opportunity that God has given him.

13. The Catholic Church understands herself to be an incarnation, both human and divine. How does this episode from Acts demonstrate that?
(a) We see the work of the Holy Spirit in both Anani'as and in Saul. Also, we see that Jesus directly associates Himself with the Church by his accusation of Saul.

A Life Re-Directed

Read Acts 9:19b-30
14. Do you see any of the old Saul in the new?
(a) We see the boldness of the old Saul as well as his zeal and fearlessnes. Also, we see his keen understanding of Scripture.

But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. (Acts 9:22, RSV)

15. How did the apostles first react to him?
(a) The apostles at first did not trust Saul.

16. Who broke the ice? (Read also Acts 4:33-35 for background information on this man.)
(a) Barnabas vouched for the sincerity of Saul's conversion.

And with great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made to each as any had need. Thus Joseph who was surnamed by the apostles Barnabas (which means, Son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field which belonged to him, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. (Acts 4:33-37, RSV)

17. In what ways did the prophecy of Ananias get fulfilled?
(a) The prophecy God spoke to Anani'as was fulfilled in that Saul did indeed become God's "chosen instrument" and carried the name of God to "the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel". Saul also had to suffer for this. We see in the Scriptures that Saul was threatened with death several times. He was stoned and left for dead, imprisoned, shipwrecked, and later sent to his death to Rome.

18. Taking Saul as an example, what can we say about how the call of God to us, especially in apostolates, is personal?
(a) Our God to call is indeed personal because God personally created us for some task. Not all are called to do the same thing, but this does not mean that one is necessarily more valuable than another. We must remember that we are all a part of the Body of Christ.

For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Rom 12:4-8, RSV)

Read Chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians

Disclaimer: I do not wish to present myself as an expert in either theology, history, or scriptural interpretation. I am merely someone who is attempting to answer the call of Christ. The ultimate authority and interpreter of scripture is our Holy Catholic Church. If at any point I deviate from the teachings of the Church, please correct me, alfredo@nevarez.net, as this is my shortcoming and in no way meant to be an expression of my views superceding those of the Church founded by Jesus Christ.

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Alfredo Nevarez
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