The story of Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus is one of the most dramatic accounts in the New Testament. Prior to his encounter with the risen Christ, Saul (who also went by the Roman name Paul) had been a fierce persecutor of the early Christian church. But Jesus intervened directly in Saul’s life and utterly transformed him from an enemy of the faith into one of its greatest advocates.
This radical transformation is summed up in Jesus’ words to Ananias in Acts 9:15: “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 children of Israel.'”
So what does it mean that Saul/Paul was a “chosen vessel” or “chosen instrument” of Christ? Let’s explore this phrase and its significance for Saul’s life and mission:
1. It underscores God’s sovereignty in salvation
The first thing to note is that Saul was not seeking Christ when he was converted. In fact, he was actively working against the interests of the gospel. As the passage recounts, “Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2).
Saul was zealously devoted to stamping out the Christian movement, yet God intervened and turned his greatest enemy into his greatest spokesperson. This demonstrates the sovereignty of God in salvation – it is ultimately God who chooses and draws people to himself.
John 6:44 says “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” Acts 9 shows this happening in dramatic fashion in Saul’s life. His conversion was not something he planned or initiated; it was a divine appointment ordained before he was even born (Galatians 1:15).
2. It signals Paul’s authority and calling as an apostle
The fact that Paul was personally selected by Christ gives him enormous authority as an apostle. Paul did not take on this role by his own initiative – Christ himself appointed Paul to be his “chosen instrument.”
In Galatians 1, when Paul is defending his authority against those who wished to discredit his apostleship, he points back to his direct commissioning by Christ:
“But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles…” (Gal. 1:15-16).
Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus authenticated him as an authoritative messenger called directly by God. He was hand-picked by Christ to be his representative. This calling is what gave Paul assurance and confidence to preach the gospel message with boldness (Eph 3:7-12).
3. It signals a turning point in the spread of the gospel
Saul’s conversion also marked a major turning point for the mission of the church. Prior to this, the early church had been hesitant to spread the good news of Jesus beyond the Jewish people. But Paul was specifically called to bring the gospel to the Gentiles – the non-Jewish, pagan nations of his day.
Look again at Acts 9:15 – “…he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.”
Paul testified repeatedly that he had been commissioned by God to preach Jesus to the Gentiles. In Acts 13:46-47, he quotes from Isaiah 49:6 which foretold that the Messiah would be “a light for the Gentiles.” Under Paul’s leadership, the gospel message began to break barriers and gain traction in the wider non-Jewish world.
4. It highlights God’s grace in redeeming sinners
Paul’s testimony is a striking example of God’s grace and the depth of Christ’s love for sinners. Paul admits that he was formerly “a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent” who “acted ignorantly in unbelief” (1 Tim. 1:13).
Yet the risen Jesus personally intervened to save Paul and transform him into an apostle. This shows that there is no sin too great for God to forgive. No enemy is beyond the reach of God’s grace. As Paul later wrote:
“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” (1 Timothy 1:15)
Paul knew his redemption was completely undeserved. He was shown mercy so that Christ might “display his perfect patience” and so Paul could be an example to others of God’s immense grace and forgiveness (1 Tim. 1:16).
5. It fuelled Paul’s passion for missionary work
Once Paul encountered the risen Christ on the Damascus road, his life’s mission was completely transformed. No longer fueled by hatred and violence, Paul overflowed with passion to make Christ known among the nations.
Paul travelled thousands of miles under grueling conditions to spread the gospel across the Roman Empire. He yearned to preach Christ wherever he had not yet been named. He wrote:
“Thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (Romans 15:20-21).
Paul was gripped by Christ’s personal call on his life. He was utterly committed to fulfill the purpose for which he had been set apart by God. The Damascus road encounter launched Paul into a lifetime of missionary endeavour.
6. It serves as a pattern for Christian conversion
While Paul’s conversion was dramatic and unique in some ways, it also serves as a pattern for what it means to be saved. Saul was going about his life in rebellion against God. Yet Jesus broke through with irrefutable truth and grace. This brought Saul to a point of surrender, repentance and faith.
The essential ingredients we see in Saul’s conversion remain normative for anyone who comes to Christ:
– Illumination – His spiritual eyes were opened to see Jesus as Lord and Messiah.
– Conviction – He was convicted of his sin and rebellion against God.
– Repentance – He repented, turning away from his sin.
– Faith – He surrendered his life by placing faith in Jesus and his work.
– Regeneration – He was born again with a new nature and set apart by the Spirit.
– Lordship – His life was no longer his own; now Jesus was his Lord.
Paul’s conversion shows the drastic change of heart and allegiance that characterizes a true believer. His testimony has been repeated in the lives of millions since.
7. It launched the most influential career in church history
A strong case can be made that Paul (apart from Jesus) was the most influential figure in the history of Christianity. Trained as a scholar of the Hebrew scriptures, fluent in Greek, uniquely called as an apostle – Paul was strategically positioned to shape the fledgling Christian movement.
Though he authored only 13 of the 27 New Testament books, Paul’s biblical contributions alone warrant his significance. Key theological concepts like salvation by grace through faith originate with Paul. His missionary journeys established Christianity in strategic epicenters like Ephesus and Corinth.
Along with the original apostles, Paul provided structure and organization for the early church. His spiritual influence permeates nearly all streams of Christian faith today. Both Catholic and Protestant reformers sought to reclaim Paul’s teachings during their respective movements.
There is no doubt the ministry of the apostle Paul radically altered the course of Christian history. And this staggering legacy traces back to Paul’s divine calling first hinted at in Acts 9.
8. It is a testimony to God’s power and sovereignty
When reflecting on his conversion, Paul frequently pointed back to it as evidence of God’s sovereign purposes:
“But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone” (Galatians 1:15-16)
Paul highlights God’s work in setting him apart, calling him, and revealing Christ to him. His dramatic conversion was decisive proof that God is able to break in, intervene, change the human heart, and steer the course of history according to his will.
Luke recounts the conversion story three separate times in Acts (Ch. 9, 22, 26) – underscoring its importance not just for Paul but for the church. It serves as a constant reminder that God can save anyone – and use anyone – to build his kingdom and make his name known.
As Paul would later reflect, “I worked harder than any of them – yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (1 Cor. 15:10). His calling as a “chosen vessel” shaped the remainder of his days.
9. It formed the foundation for Paul’s theology of grace
Paul’s Damascus road experience deeply impacted his understanding of the gospel of grace. He knew he was saved purely by God’s initiative and underserved, unmerited favor.
This formed the bedrock of “Pauline theology” – his teachings about salvation that permeate the New Testament. Passages like Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,” reflect Paul’s understanding of his own redemption.
When Paul reflected on his former life of religious zeal without Christ, he concluded that all his efforts were worthless apart from God’s grace (Phil. 3:7-9). Paul never got over the grace that interrupted his life and transformed him in an instant. This fueled a theology built on grace alone.
Paul’s letters consistently drive home the good news that sinners are justified not by works but by grace through faith in Christ. As the “foremost” recipient of God’s grace, Paul was uniquely equipped to articulate these revolutionary ideas.
10. It assures believers of God’s steadfast love and purpose
Paul saw his own conversion while en route to persecute followers of Christ as the ultimate proof of God’s steadfast love and saving purpose:
“You know that I was once a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy … Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the foremost” (1 Tim. 1:13, 15).
If God could save Paul – an aggressive enemy of the gospel – then no one is beyond the reach of His love. Paul’s testimony is a source of great assurance for all believers. Just as Christ called Paul from darkness into light, so He is able to redeem anyone and use them powerfully in His kingdom.
As Paul reflected, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Tim. 1:15). His own story gives compelling evidence that this is true.
So in summary, the Damascus road encounter launched Paul into a lifetime of ministry. As a “chosen vessel,” his dramatic conversion highlights God’s sovereignty, grace, and power. Paul embraces his calling to preach Christ to the nations with joy and thanksgiving.
His letters have instructed and inspired the church for 2000 years since. And it all traces back to that decisive moment when the risen Christ arrested Paul in his tracks and utterly rerouted his life.
Paul’s pre-conversion zeal was channeled into God’s purposes. As a chosen vessel, Paul became the prototype of a faithful follower of Christ. His testimony continues to resonate as a profound example of God’s amazing grace.