Saul’s mission was about to come to an abrupt end. As he and his men neared the bustling city of Damascus, their journey would soon take a surprising turn. All at once, a blinding light came quickly from out of the sky. The object overtook them before they had time to react to its incursion into their comfort zone.
Its piercing rays immediately surrounded them and quickly knocked them to the ground. The light was brilliant, and its effulgent rays completely engulfed Saul and the soldiers. He groped around, as its brilliance had blinded the men. The light now surrounded him and his fellow travelers, as it flashed around them. They shielded their eyes, but the light penetrated their eyelids, and for a moment it seemed to burn into their skulls.
By some accounts, a buzzing sound could be heard. Others had reported nothing at all. But one man’s story remained the same. Saul had heard a voice. It came from within the flaming UFO. It was the voice of a man. Saul of Tarsus seemed to recognize the presence. "Who is this, Lord?" The response would change his life forever. This calm, gentle voice asked, “Saul, Saul…why do you persecute me?"
Just as quickly as it had appeared, the light had vanished. It arose from its position over the earth and quickly sped off into the distance, fading from view. The men arose from the dry, arid soil. They began dusting themselves off. They looked around for any sign of what had taken place. There was nothing there. One man continued to grope the hard, parched earth. It was Saul. His eyesight had not returned! The close encounter with the UFO had left him completely blind. So blind, in fact, that the men had to lead him by the hand to the nearest town, which was Damascus.
This was a modern rendition of a historical event. I have taken the poetic license to alter its text in order to translate it into modern terms. Here is the text, taken from "The New Testament" of the HOLY BIBLE. It is the story of Saul, going to Damascus, who is called by Christ to follow the way.
Image courtesy of Biblical Archaeological Society
"And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven; he fell to the earth, and heard a voice that said to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do persecutest thou me?’ And he said, 'Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.’ And he trembling and astonished said, ‘Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?’ And the Lord said unto him, ‘Arise, go into the city and it shall be told thee what thou must do.’ And the men, which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing [no one]. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man; they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus." Acts Chapter 9 verses 3-8 (HOLY BIBLE)
Saul of Tarsus was on a mission. This man was full of zeal for God and he was going to Damascus, to persecute Christians. Biblical text says that "As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word." What is interesting here was that those that were "scattered abroad" were not discouraged from spreading the conversion of both Jews and Gentile to Christianity. Their stories were a powerful witness to the signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth that underscored their belief in this dynamic, living God.
Jews that had converted to the Christian movement continued undaunted, even under the penalty of Hebrew laws. They were facing imprisonment, torture and death. Despite the risk to their safety and at great peril, the followers of "the way" continued teaching and sharing their life changing experiences. Those that were converted were often censured from their friends and family, but this did not dissuade them either. This fact surely must have angered Saul of Tarsus.
In one instance, Biblical text says, "By the hands of the Apostles of Christ were many signs and wonders wrought amongst the people." This angered the Sadducees. While the apostles were teaching in the temple while in the Holy City of Jerusalem, historical text indicates that the high priest “rose up, and all of those that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees) and were filled with indignation" at the sight of this. They arrested the Apostles of Christ and threw them into the “common prison."
Now these prisons were impenetrable, making any form of escape virtually impossible. Jesus had other plans, contrary to what the high priest had ordered. The Acts of the Apostles says, “The angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, ‘Go, and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.’" And so they did, the very next morning.
The HOLY BIBLE indicates that this "angel of the Lord" was the messenger for Jesus Christ. Other translations indicate that this was none other than Christ himself. (See reference #1) It was the very same angel of the Lord that had spoken to Moses from within a flaming, effulgent UFO that appeared behind a shrub in the burning bush UFO incident. “A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto myself. Him shall you hear" Exodus 14:19When the high priest had called the council, and all of the senate of the children of Israel, they asked the officers to bring them forth from the prison. They reported back that when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison where they had left them. They returned and told the council and the high priest that “The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within." The apostles had been taught by Christ and were followers of the way. These men were later found in the temple, teaching as Christ had instructed them to do once He had released them from the “common prison."
They seized the Apostles and brought them before the council. “’Did we not straightly command you that ye should not teach in this name? And behold, you have filled all of Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.’ Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said ‘we ought to obey God rather than men…and we are witnesses unto these things" (-Acts chapter 5). The Jews were “cut to the heart," and “took counsel to kill them." One man of the council stood up and commanded that the apostles be given some space. His name was Gamaliel. This man was well versed in Mosaic Law. He was also a Pharisee, known as “a doctor of the law." He had a stellar reputation with his people, and was often consulted on difficult matters such as these.
He said "Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nothing: But if it be of God you cannot overthrow it; lest you haply be found even to fight against God." It was the decision of the high priest and the council to whip the apostles of Jesus Christ and loose them from their captivity. After their flogging, the apostles were set free. They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer the stripes of persecution. And once again, they returned to the work that Christ had instructed them to do. The HOLY BIBLE says “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."
Saul was well versed in the Mosaic Law. Saul was also student of the Hebrew scholar, Gamaliel. He knew that Christianity was heresy and treason, and was punishable by death. Combined with this knowledge of Hebrew laws, he was also a Roman citizen, which entitled him to certain legal rights under the laws of Rome. “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem" -Acts 9:1-2