With Power
Acts 26:12-14 “I was traveling to Damascus under these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests. King Agrippa, while on the road at midday, I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun, shining around me and those traveling with me. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?… (verses 12-18)
There are several accounts of Paul’s conversion in the book of Acts. One is an overview of the event written by Luke in chapter 9. Another is Paul’s own recounting of it as he stood before King Agrippa’s judgment seat. In Luke’s overview of the event we have a condensed portion of the conversation between Jesus and Paul. In Paul’s account we have a fuller dialogue.
In Paul’s recounting, Jesus appoints and commissions him as a servant witness to all the nations to take the gospel message to them.
The preaching of this gospel is the means that God uses to open blind eyes. He gives light where once there was darkness.
He delivers from the power of Satan and transfers us into the Kingdom of His Son. He grants forgiveness and a common share with all believers.
The gospel is the power of God to salvation. Paul knew this better than all men. Not only had he seen its transformative power in his own life, but he had seen it time and time again in the lives of those to whom he preached.
The Spirit was pleased to grant to Paul the privilege of seeing unknown numbers of people gathered into the kingdom.
Today, in this first sentence of the book of Romans we see Paul giving an overview of the entire letter by giving us a bird’s eye view of what the gospel is, what the gospel does, and who the gospel is all about.
Paul knew himself to be a servant of God, called as an apostle, set apart to the gospel.
His ministry benefited all the called of Jesus Christ- of whom we are apart. May we be ever thankful.
Because of grace,
Tim
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