Paul’s Radical Conversion: From Persecutor to Proclaimer

A light and voice from heaven—and a Pharisee who persecuted Christ's church became the apostle who would be one of its dominant voices. Through the centuries, including the present day, Paul was engaged heartily—genuinely and vigorously—for the Lord. Some secular historians have written that he was "the most important person after Jesus in the history of Christianity." We Christians don't need hierarchies. We know, understand, and thank God for Paul.

Unforgettable Beginning

Saul started for Damascus on a wicked errand. He had a list of Christ's followers and permission to "bring them bound" to Jerusalem. Saul, "trembling and astonished," immediately committed to Christ. Heavenly intervention is not usually so dramatic; but centuries of Christians need to remember this one.

Saul descended into helplessness. Having seen Christ's glory and heard his voice, Saul was blinded, thus led by hand to the city where he had planned his mischief. In his blindness, physical and mental, he prayed and fasted for three days. Every needful thing had been prepared, and his prayers were answered.

Ananias, a disciple of Christ living in Damascus, had a vision of where to go and who to find. The Lord assured the startled Ananias, "He is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel." The Lord warned, "I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake."

Saul accepted the change heartily for the Lord. Restored sight, the Holy Ghost, baptism, some food—and he was ready to go. After spending days with the Damascus disciples, he was in the synagogues where he "confounded the Jews . . . proving that this is very Christ." Called to focus on gentiles, he began using the Roman form of his name, Paul.

A New Man

Paul often referred to becoming "a new man," which, "after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:22-24). He counseled, "Put off the old man with his deeds" (Colossians 3:10). Everything should be done heartily to the Lord. Christ must be the center of all their lives and director of all they should do—as He was for Paul.

Writing to new men, Paul described "the renewing of your mind" to discern the "good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2). Paul knew about good minds; he had a powerful one. A widely-read psychotherapist-author, Ann Steiner, referred to Paul as "born again, with a new heart, a new attitude, and a new life." She described him as "so strong in himself, so 'righteous.'"

Where Paul could go, he went; where he couldn't, he sent letters. He advised Philippian followers (4:6-7), "By prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." He promised, "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Historians have written,

Paul’s letters reveal a remarkable human being: dedicated, compassionate, emotional, sometimes harsh and angry, clever and quick-witted, supple in argumentation, and above all possessing a soaring passionate commitment to God, Jesus Christ, and his own mission . . . They constitute one of history's most remarkable personal contributions to religious thought and practice.

A New Life

Being born again in everything he cared about—his love for and service to Christ and to those he was bringing to Christ—Paul's life had to be adapted to make this possible. As Christians we read about environmental and human-generated dangers, tortures, injuries, deprivation, abuse, and other adventures. We feel his frustrations along with his intense devotion.

A world-acclaimed Christian leader from Africa, Edward Dube wrote,

As I read the book of Acts and Paul’s epistles, I am amazed at how Paul was driven by love and gratitude in serving, teaching, and testifying of Jesus Christ. How can such a person serve with such love and gratitude, especially considering his great sufferings?

For example, "Paul’s letter to the Philippians . . . when he was bound in prison, is a letter of overwhelming joy and rejoicing and encouragement to all of us, particularly in this difficult time of uncertainty. We all need to take courage from Paul.

He suggested,

While we look at Paul’s service, we are inspired and uplifted by our own “Pauls” in our day, who also serve, teach, and testify with love and gratitude amidst the challenges they face in their lives and in the lives of their loved ones.

With everything Paul was doing and having done to him, he still had to earn his living. Being a tent maker, he continued to make tents. Researchers suggest that since tent leatherwork is quiet, he might have conversed/taught while doing it. They've noted that although sometimes Paul and his followers were comfortable, they were often hungry and cold. Sometimes converts helped with necessities.

Paul preferred to look to the future, forgetting past trials and frustrations (see Phlippians 3:7-8). He wrote, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Always pressing forward heartily for the Lord, Paul proclaimed often,

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ . . . I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. (Philippians 3:7-8)

Paul's life spent heartily for the Lord was the highest level of dedication. Near the end of his life, from prison in Rome, he wrote, "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Today's Transforming Christians

Today's Christians continue to learn about change and renewal from Paul's activities and his writing.

Bible Study as Center of Paul-Like Change

On Christianity.com, Vivian Bricker wrote of the importance of renewing our minds by studying the Bible: reading, meditating, and applying it in our lives. She advised, "This is the only way we can renew our minds and truly turn away from the teachings of the world . . . [and] transform our minds into conformity with the truth of God's Word." She used the phrase "talk back to the lies of the world."

Ms. Bricker admitted, like Paul, that turning away from the old individual to become a new one can be difficult, but is essential to become Christ's disciple. The old must be cast off to become the new. She has been through this change; she shared her experience. Paul used the word "dung"; she used "empty promises" of the world's lies." Ms. Bricker is a strong advocate of Paul's determination to live heartily for the Lord.

She prayed fervently for God's help in mind renewal. "God will help you because He wants all believers to be transformed by the renewing of their minds to the truth of His Word."

Paul-like Change Around the World

From California, USA.

The overpowering light, the Savior's voice, and instant blindness left no question in Paul's mind that his life was changing—fast. Active Christian leader Alexander Dushku noted that some devout Christians today wonder why they do not have such displays.

He explained that most people receive personal divine light, not in overwhelming manifestations, but as rays when needed. Some common rays incude (a) peace coming on your mind, (b) a "settled feeling in your mind and heart telling you to do something, (c) a Bible passage that seems to speak to your soul, as if God put it there for you (and you realize He did), (d) a "powerful sense of light and warmth as you pray," assuring you of God's love. One or two may not send you immediately into Damascus, but "together they can become a light that the darkness of doubt cannot overcome."

From Germany.

A heartily enthusiastic worldwide Christian youth advocate, used the term born again in describing the kind of change experienced and preached by Paul. As a very young German child during and after World War II, Dieter Uchtdorf experienced a lot of ugly old things needing to become new.

His total rebirth came when he, with his family, embraced a Christian church with lifelong devotion. Like Paul, they accepted God's grace heartily, committed themselves, and never looked back. As an adult, Dieter Uchtdorf advised,

Reach out to Heavenly Father. God will extend His love toward you, and His work of rescue and transformation will begin. . . . Over time, you will recognize His hand in your life. You will feel His love. And the desire to walk in His light and follow His way will grow with every step of faith you take.

From Finland.

Christian leader and church administrator Dale G. Renlund lived in Europe as a teenager, where he was sometimes tormented by prejudice. As an adult, he lived "in various countries across the world," where he saw "the ugliness of prejudice and discrimination suffered by those who were targeted because of their race or ethnicity." Paul and his followers encountered the "dung" of prejudice everywhere they went, often accompanied by violence,

Dale Renlund spoke of "the sacrifices of God," which he identified in terms of heart and spirit.

A broken heart and contrite spirit prompt us to joyfully repent . . . [and] as we do so, we receive the Savior's cleansing, healing, and strengthening power . . . We also learn to love mercy the way that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ do."

From Ireland (England and Saudi Arabia)

"Stretching and refining experiences of mortality" are words Patrick Keron used for tests, trials, and growth like we encounter throughout the acts and letters of Paul. Patrick Kearon expanded his explanation, as Paul might have expanded it, with goals and values they can share: "The chance to use our God-given moral agency to choose Him, to learn and grow, to make mistakes, to repent, to love God and our neighbour."

He wants us to know that in becoming new "we have aspects of our natures to change . . . [that] with His grace, those are within our reach, not beyond our grasp." God's plan for us is our progression—heartily. Paul never wrote to his followers to preserve who and what they had been.

Patrick Kearon, who has lived in diverse countries and cultures, has spoken heartedly about reaching out to refugees worldwide and and to victims of abuse. He has stressed the Savior's "call to personal progression, to transformative faith in [Him], to a mighty change of heart."

Paul was called to take Christ' gospel throughout distant places to "gentiles" who would not have received it without him. He was warned in Damascus of ways he would suffer, but none of the suffering stopped Paul. His work has become the basis of much of our Christian teaching and practice over centuries—blessing us still. How thankful we need to be for inheriting all that Paul has heartily given us.