Saul first appears in Acts 8 having approved the first killing of a follower of Jesus named Stephen. Stephen was falsely accused and brought before the Sanhedrin where he gave a very bold and courageous sum up of the old testament that revealed Jesus. He then looks up and sees Jesus standing at the right hand of God and speaks about it. Not only that, but the people stared at him because his face looked like that of an angel. Stephen speaks of his vision and everyone in the room becomes furious to the point that they rush him and drag him outside the city where they stone him. After this stoning a great persecution broke out and Saul was a part of it.
Saul with his gifts, passion and drive for taking action begins to destroy the church. “Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. “ Acts 8:3
In Acts 9:1-2
“Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.”
Saul goes to the high priest who has the greatest authority and asks to be sent on a mission with a letter that endorsed him. Saul is a man with great zeal for God. He has no problem coming up with ideas and following through with them. He on his own accord takes the initiative to imprison these people who “seem” to be opposed to everything the Jews believe. It’s on this mission to Damascus that Saul finds out he is actually fighting against God rather than fighting for him.
Acts 9:3-9
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
Saul has this epic encounter with Jesus that begins his revelation and insisted into the kingdom of God which the law and the prophets spoke about. Saul regains his sight when a man named Ananias lays his hands on him. Saul spends several days with the disciples in Damascus and goes at once to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
It’s not strange that Saul went at once to preach about Jesus. He had been taking massive amounts of action based upon what he was convinced was true. When his convictions were redirected so were his gifts. With the same passion and zeal, he built up the church instead of breaking it down. He would go to distant lands, gather people together, speak to those in high positions and preach about Jesus.
All Saul needed was to be pointed in the right direction, and off he went. From Saul to Paul.