按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Crucified One。 Upon the soul of the stricken Jew the image of the Saviour's
countenance was imprinted forever。 The words spoken struck home to his heart
with appalling force。 Into the darkened chambers of his mind there poured a
flood of light； revealing the ignorance and error of his former life and his
present need of the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit。
Saul now saw that in persecuting the followers of Jesus he had in reality
been doing the work of Satan。 He saw that his convictions of right and of
his own duty had been based largely on his implicit confidence in the
priests and rulers。 He had believed them when they told him that the story
of the resurrection was an artful fabrication of the disciples。 Now that
Jesus Himself stood revealed； Saul was convinced of the truthfulness of the
claims made by the disciples。
In that hour of heavenly illumination Saul's mind acted with remarkable
rapidity。 The prophetic records of Holy Writ were opened to his
understanding。 He saw that the rejection of Jesus by the Jews； His
crucifixion； resurrection； and ascension； had been foretold by the prophets
and proved Him to be the promised Messiah。 Stephen's sermon at the time of
his martyrdom was brought forcibly to Saul's mind； and he realized that the
martyr had indeed beheld 〃the glory of God〃 when he said； 〃Behold； I see the
heavens
116
opened； and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God。〃 Acts 7：55；
56。 The priests had pronounced these words blasphemy； but Saul now knew them
to be truth。
What a revelation was all this to the persecutor！ Now Saul knew for a
certainty that the promised Messiah had come to this earth as Jesus of
Nazareth and that He had been rejected and crucified by those whom He came
to save。 He knew also that the Saviour had risen in triumph from the tomb
and had ascended into the heavens。 In that moment of divine revelation Saul
remembered with terror that Stephen； who had borne witness of a crucified
and risen Saviour； had been sacrificed by his consent； and that later；
through his instrumentality； many other worthy followers of Jesus had met
their death by cruel persecution。
The Saviour had spoken to Saul through Stephen； whose clear reasoning could
not be controverted。 The learned Jew had seen the face of the martyr
reflecting the light of Christ's gloryappearing as if 〃it had been the
face of an angel。〃 Acts 6：15。 He had witnessed Stephen's forbearance toward
his enemies and his forgiveness of them。 He had also witnessed the fortitude
and cheerful resignation of many whom he had caused to be tormented and
afflicted。 He had seen some yield up even their lives with rejoicing for the
sake of their faith。
All these things had appealed loudly to Saul and at times had thrust upon
his mind an almost overwhelming conviction that Jesus was the promised
Messiah。 At such times he had struggled for entire nights against this
conviction； and always he had ended the matter by avowing his belief
117
that Jesus was not the Messiah and that His followers were deluded fanatics。
Now Christ had spoken to Saul with His own voice； saying； 〃Saul； Saul； why
persecutest thou Me？〃 And the question； 〃Who art Thou； Lord？〃 was answered
by the same voice； 〃I am Jesus whom thou persecutest。〃 Christ here
identifies Himself with His people。 In persecuting the followers of Jesus；
Saul had struck directly against the Lord of heaven。 In falsely accusing and
testifying against them； he had falsely accused and testified against the
Saviour of the world。
No doubt entered the mind of Saul that the One who spoke to him was Jesus of
Nazareth； the long…looked…for Messiah； the Consolation and Redeemer of
Israel。 〃Trembling and astonished；〃 he inquired； 〃Lord； what wilt Thou have
me to do？ And the Lord said unto him； Arise； and go into the city； and it
shall be told thee what thou must do。〃
When the glory was withdrawn； and Saul arose from the ground； he found
himself totally deprived of sight。 The brightness of Christ's glory had been
too intense for his mortal eyes； and when it was removed； the blackness of
night settled upon his vision。 He believed that this blindness was a
punishment from God for his cruel persecution of the followers of Jesus。 In
terrible darkness he groped about； and his companions； in fear and
amazement； 〃led him by the hand； and brought him into Damascus。〃
On the morning of that eventful day； Saul had neared Damascus with feelings
of self…satisfaction because of the confidence that had been placed in him
by the chief priest。 To
118
him had been entrusted grave responsibilities。 He was commissioned to
further the interests of the Jewish religion by checking； if possible； the
spread of the new faith in Damascus。 He had determined that his mission
should be crowned with success and had looked forward with eager
anticipation to the experiences that he expected were before him。
But how unlike his anticipations was his entrance into the city？ Stricken
with blindness； helpless； tortured by remorse； knowing not what further
judgment might be in store for him； he sought out the home of the disciple
Judas； where； in solitude； he had ample opportunity for reflection and
prayer。
For three days Saul was 〃without sight； and neither did eat nor drink。〃
These days of soul agony were to him as years。 Again and again he recalled；
with anguish of spirit； the part he had taken in the martyrdom of Stephen。
With horror he thought of his guilt in allowing himself to be controlled by
the malice and prejudice of the priests and rulers； even when the face of
Stephen had been lighted up with the radiance of heaven。 In sadness and
brokenness of spirit he recounted the many times he had closed his eyes and
ears against the most striking evidences and had relentlessly urged on the
persecution of the believers in Jesus of Nazareth。
These days of close self…examination and of heart humiliation were spent in
lonely seclusion。 The believers； having been given warning of the purpose of
Saul in coming to Damascus； feared that he might be acting a part； in order
the more readily to deceive them； and they held themselves
119
aloof； refusing him their sympathy。 He had no desire to appeal to the
unconverted Jews； with whom he had planned to unite in persecuting the
believers； for he knew that they would not even listen to his story。 Thus he
seemed to be shut away from all human sympathy。 His only hope of help was in
a merciful God； and to Him he appealed in brokenness of heart。
During the long hours when Saul was shut in with God alone； he recalled many
of the passages of Scripture referring to the first advent of Christ。
Carefully he traced down the prophecies； with a memory sharpened by the
conviction that had taken possession of his mind。 As he reflected on the
meaning of these prophecies he was astonished at his former blindness of
understanding and at the blindness of the Jews in general； which had led to
the rejection of Jesus as the promised Messiah。 To his enlightened vision