the church； which He has made a channel of light to the world。
When； in the midst of his blind error and prejudice； Saul was given a
revelation of the Christ whom he was persecuting； he was placed in direct
communication with the church； which is the light of the world。 In this case
Ananias represents Christ； and also represents Christ's ministers upon the
earth； who are appointed to act in His stead。 In Christ's stead Ananias
touches the eyes of Saul； that they may receive sight。 In Christ's stead he
places his hands upon him； and； as he prays in Christ's name； Saul receives
the Holy Ghost。 All is done in the name and by the authority of Christ。
Christ is the fountain； the church is the channel of communication。
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Chapter 13
Days of Preparation
After his baptism； Paul broke his fast and remained 〃certain days with the
disciples which were at Damascus。 And straightway he preached Christ in the
synagogues； that He is the Son of God。〃 Boldly he declared Jesus of Nazareth
to be the long…looked…for Messiah； who 〃died for our sins according to the
Scriptures； 。 。 。 was buried； and 。 。 。 rose again the third day；〃 after
which He was seen by the Twelve and by others。 〃And last of all；〃 Paul
added； 〃He was seen of me also； as of one born out of due time。〃 I
Corinthians 15：3； 4； 8。 His arguments from prophecy were so conclusive； and
his efforts were so manifestly attended by the power of God； that the Jews
were confounded and unable to answer him。
The news of Paul's conversion had come to the Jews as a great surprise。 He
who had journeyed to Damascus 〃with authority and commission from the chief
priests〃 （Acts 26：12） to apprehend and persecute the believers was now
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preaching the gospel of a crucified and risen Saviour； strengthening the
hands of those who were already its disciples； and continually bringing in
new converts to the faith he had once so bitterly opposed。
Paul had formerly been known as a zealous defender of the Jewish religion
and an untiring persecutor of the followers of Jesus。 Courageous；
independent； persevering； his talents and training would have enabled him to
serve in almost any capacity。 He could reason with extraordinary clearness；
and by his withering sarcasm could place an opponent in no enviable light。
And now the Jews saw this young man of unusual promise united with those
whom he formerly persecuted； and fearlessly preaching in the name of Jesus。
A general slain in battle is lost to his army； but his death gives no
additional strength to the enemy。 But when a man of prominence joins the
opposing force； not only are his services lost； but those to whom he joins
himself gain a decided advantage。 Saul of Tarsus； on his way to Damascus；
might easily have been struck dead by the Lord； and much strength would have
been withdrawn from the persecuting power。 But God in His providence not
only spared Saul's life； but converted him； thus transferring a champion
from the side of the enemy to the side of Christ。 An eloquent speaker and a
severe critic； Paul； with his stern purpose and undaunted courage； possessed
the very qualifications needed in the early church。
As Paul preached Christ in Damascus； all who heard him were amazed and said；
〃Is not this he that destroyed
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them which called on this name in Jerusalem； and came hither for that
intent； that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests？〃 Paul
declared that his change of faith had not been prompted by impulse or
fanaticism； but had been brought about by overwhelming evidence。 In his
presentation of the gospel he sought to make plain the prophecies relating
to the first advent of Christ。 He showed conclusively that these prophecies
had been literally fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth。 The foundation of his
faith was the sure word of prophecy。
As Paul continued to appeal to his astonished hearers to 〃repent and turn to
God； and do works meet for repentance〃 （Acts 26：20）； he 〃increased the more
in strength； and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus； proving that
this is very Christ。〃 But many hardened their hearts； refusing to respond to
his message； and soon their astonishment at his conversion was changed into
intense hatred like that which they had shown toward Jesus。
The opposition grew so fierce that Paul was not allowed to continue his
labors at Damascus。 A messenger from heaven bade him leave for a time； and
he 〃went into Arabia〃 （Galatians 1：17）； where he found a safe retreat。
Here； in the solitude of the desert； Paul had ample opportunity for quiet
study and meditation。 He calmly reviewed his past experience and made sure
work of repentance。 He sought God with all his heart； resting not until he
knew for a certainty that his repentance was accepted and his sin pardoned。
He longed for the assurance that Jesus would be with him in his coming
ministry。 He emptied his soul of
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the prejudices and traditions that had hitherto shaped his life； and
received instruction from the Source of truth。 Jesus communed with him and
established him in the faith； bestowing upon him a rich measure of wisdom
and grace。
When the mind of man is brought into communion with the mind of God； the
finite with the Infinite； the effect on body and mind and soul is beyond
estimate。 In such communion is found the highest education。 It is God's own
method of development。 〃Acquaint now thyself with Him〃 （Job 22：21）； is His
message to mankind。
The solemn charge that had been given Paul on the occasion of his interview
with Ananias； rested with increasing weight upon his heart。 When； in
response to the word； 〃Brother Saul； receive thy sight；〃 Paul had for the
first time looked upon the face of this devout man； Ananias under the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit said to him： 〃The God of our fathers hath
chosen thee； that thou shouldest know His will； and see that Just One； and
shouldest hear the voice of His mouth。 For thou shalt be His witness unto
all men of what thou hast seen and heard。 And now why tarriest thou？ arise；
and be baptized； and wash away thy sins； calling on the name of the Lord。〃
Acts 22：13…16。
These words were in harmony with the words of Jesus Himself； who； when He
arrested Saul on the journey to Damascus； declared： 〃I have appeared unto
thee for this purpose； to make thee a minister and a witness both of these
things which thou hast seen； and of those things in the which I will appear
unto thee； delivering thee from the people；
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and from the Gentiles； unto whom now I send thee； to open their eyes； and to
turn them from darkness to light； and from the power of Satan unto God； that
they may receive forgiveness of sins； and inheritance among them which are
sanctified by faith that is in Me。〃 Acts 26：16…18。
As he pondered these things in his heart； Paul understood more and more
clearly the meaning of his call 〃to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through
the will of God。〃 1 Corinthians 1：1。 His call had come； 〃not of men； neither
by man； but by Jesus Christ； and God the Father。〃 Galatians 1：1。 The
greatness of the work before him led him to give much study to the Holy
Scriptures； in order that he might preach the gospel 〃not with wisdom of
words； lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect；〃 〃but in
demonstration of the Spirit and of power；〃 that the faith of all who heard
〃should not stand in the wisdom of men； but in the power of God。〃 1
Corinthians 1：17； 2：4； 5。
As Paul searched the Scriptures； he learned that throughout the ages 〃not
many wise men after the flesh； not many mighty； not many noble； are called：
but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise；
and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things
which are mighty； and base things of the world； and things which are
despised； hath God chosen； yea； and things which are not； to bring to nought
things that are： that no flesh should glory in His presence。〃 1 Corinthians
1：26…29。 And so； viewing the wisdom of the world in the light of the cross；
Paul 〃determined not to know anything；
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。 。 。 save Jesus Christ； and Him crucified。〃 1 Corinthians 2：2。
Throughout his later ministry； Paul never lost sight of the Source of his
wisdom and strength。 Hear him； years afterward； still declaring； 〃For to me
to live is Christ。〃 Philippians 1：21。 And again： 〃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； 。 。 。 that I may win Christ； and be
found in Him； not having mine own righteousness； which is of the law； but
that which is through the faith of Christ； the righteousness which is of God
by faith： that I may know Him； and the power of His resurrection； and the
fellowship of His sufferings。〃 Philippians 3：8…10。
From Arabia Paul 〃returned again unto Damascus〃 （Galatians 1：17）； and
〃preached boldly 。 。 。 in the name of Jesus。〃 Unable to withstand the wisdom
of his arguments； 〃the Jews took counsel to kill him。〃 The gates of the city
were diligently guarded day and night to cut off his escape。 This crisis led
the disciples to seek God earnestly； and finally they 〃took him by night；
and let him down through the wall； lowering him in a basket。〃 Acts 9：25；
R。V。
After his escape from Damascus； Paul went to Jerusalem； about three years
having passed since his conversion。 His chief object in making this visit；
as he himself declared afterward； was 〃to see Peter。〃 Galatians 1：18。 Upon
arriving in the city where he had once been well known as 〃Saul the
persecutor；〃 〃he assayed to join himself to the disciples： but they were all
afraid of him； and believed not that he
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was a disciple。〃 It was difficult for them to believe that so bigoted a
Pharisee； and one who had done so much to destroy the church； could become a
sincere follower of Jesus。