Conversion of Saint Paul
Acts 9:1-22
January 25, 2026
Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The text that I have chosen for this morning’s sermon is the first reading from the book of Acts.
There’s a picture on Facebook that frequently reappears when things change rapidly and the caption is “Well, that escalated quickly!” What happened to Saul on the road to Damascus absolutely falls under the category of that escalated quickly. One minute he’s volunteering to travel 150 miles to arrest Christians and haul them back to Jerusalem for trial and the next he’s knocked off his horse, chastised by Jesus, and left blind. The man who had the authority of the High Priest must now be led to safety like a child.
One minute he’s certain about his faith, and then he’s not. He’s a zealous Jew doing God’s work. Until apparently, he wasn’t. Suddenly everything he thought was a lie was the truth and everything he knew was wrong, was right. For three days he sits in darkness. Reliving his decisions. Contemplating what this revelation meant for the future. Praying for answers.
Have you ever found your situation escalating quickly? It happens – a lot. One sin turns into two sins which turn into three sins and suddenly you’re wondering how you got where you are. Unlike Jesus who blinded Saul, it’s sin which blinds us. It blinds us to the danger of sin. It blinds us to Satan’s interference in our lives. It blinds us to God’s Law. The darkness of sin is real. You don’t think satan is going to lure you into the light, do you? Sin leaves us blind to God, so we lie in the darkness of guilt, shame, and usually more sin.
The glorious light of the risen Savior blinded Paul with the Law. “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Persecution of Christians is persecution of Jesus, and it was time for Paul’s coming to Jesus moment. Paul stands condemned for his hatred and sin. Until he hears the voice that brings sight to the blind. “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” The scales which covered Saul’s eyes are washed away by the Gospel. The one whom Paul was persecuting comes to him with forgiveness.
A voice was spoken over you and is still spoken over you! “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” In those words, with that water, you became a brother or sister in Christ with all other Christians. You’ve been moved out of the darkness of sin into Christ’s marvelous light. Even now, you need to return to your Baptism and say to yourself, “I am baptized.” I am baptized so my sins are forgiven. I am baptized so my sins became Christ’s sins. I am baptized so Jesus has taken my guilt upon Himself. I am baptized so my shame became my Lord’s shame. I am baptized so the darkness of sin and satan have zero power over me. I am a sinner but thank the Lord I am also a saint.
If you read Saul’s letters, you’ll find a man who is completely aware of his sins and failings. He knows that he falls short of God’s glory, he knows that without Jesus he would still be lost. He even confesses that the good he wants to do, he doesn’t, and the bad he doesn’t want to do, he does. Did Jesus know that Paul was going to have this struggle with sin? Of course, Jesus knew. But still Paul says that Jesus “had set me apart before I was born, and called me by his grace.” Before Paul was born, he was chosen by God. By God’s grace before the world was created, Paul was already saved by Jesus.
You are baptized, I am baptized, and still we sin. You do what you shouldn’t and don’t do what you should. You blind yourself with sin, those done purposely and accidentally. Through the Law Jesus asks you why you’re persecuting Him, rejecting Him, and not doing what He has chosen you to do. This didn’t come as a surprise to Jesus. He knows you’re going to sin, He knows that at times you’re going to prefer the darkness to light and He called you anyway! He chose you before you were born. Before the stars were created your name was written in the Lord’s Book of Life. Isn’t that wonderful? God has chosen you and He will never toss you aside and He’ll never leave you wallowing in the blindness of your sin.
Following his conversion, Paul was a different man. We went from a hateful persecutor of Jesus to an apostle of Jesus who, from a human standpoint, worked harder than any others. We honor him and his conversion because it’s through Jesus’ word, spoken and written by Paul that you know you are chosen. Through Paul’s letters you are reassured that your sins are forgiven. If God can change a guy like Paul, He can change a person like you.
You have been changed! The Gospel which changed Paul changed you. You have a new life. Jesus has transferred you from the darkness of sin into His eternal light, and darkness cannot overcome the Light. By the power of Jesus who you received in baptism, leave behind the works of darkness and turn your back on satan. He has chosen you just like He chose Paul and now you live as those chosen by Christ.
During those three long days of blindness, Paul was praying, confessing, and probably questioning. God answered his prayers by sending Ananias who was the voice who brought light. You too hear the voice that brings light. I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. That voice is the voice of Jesus, you has saved you from the blindness of your sins and opened your eyes with the Gospel, which is the forgiveness of your sins.
Amen
Now the peace which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen