World's leading travel agency
The Road to Damascus: A Transformational Encounter
Paul, a fervent and determined young man, was on a mission to stamp out the burgeoning Christian movement. With a resolute heart and a strong belief in the righteousness of his cause, he set out from Jerusalem with letters from the high priest, aiming to find and imprison any followers of the "Way" in Damascus. He was making his way towards the city, mentally preparing for the task at hand. For days he and his companions had journeyed, traveling from the ancient city of Jerusalem, through the rugged terrain, to this distant foreign city.
He was close now, nearing the end of his journey, anticipating success in his mission. As he approached the gates of Damascus, the city gleamed in the distance under the midday sun. He had never been to this city, but he knew it was home to a dangerous new sect—one that threatened to undermine the faith he held so dearly. He could almost taste the success that awaited him as he considered how this mission might raise his status back home.
However, fate had other plans. What happened next was completely unexpected—something that would change the course of his life forever. In the midst of his thoughts, a blinding light from heaven suddenly flashed around him, and Paul was thrown to the ground. Overcome by fear and confusion, he heard a voice calling his name. "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" The voice was unmistakable, and to his horror, it was the voice of Jesus, the very one whose followers he had been targeting.
As he lay there, trembling, Paul realized the truth of what was happening. The very person he had sought to destroy now stood before him, alive and speaking directly to him. His zealous anger and self-righteousness crumbled in that moment. The voice commanded him to rise and enter the city, where he would be told what to do next. For three days, Paul was blind, deprived of food and water, as he struggled with the weight of what had just occurred.
Meanwhile, in Damascus, a disciple named Ananias received a vision from the Lord. The Lord instructed him to go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and seek out a man named Saul from Tarsus. Reluctantly, Ananias obeyed, knowing the man he was to visit was the very one who had been persecuting the church. But God had a plan.
Paul’s journey, once aimed at destruction, was now a path of transformation. The encounter on the road to Damascus marked the beginning of a radical change, one that would turn Saul, the persecutor, into Paul, the apostle and missionary. This unexpected encounter would not only change the trajectory of Paul's life but would also change the course of Christian history forever.