1 CORINTHIANS 15.8: Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (ESV)
Saul of Tarsus, who later took the name Paul, was a fearsome opponent and combatant against Jesus and His followers. From his religious position in Jerusalem, he was like a totalitarian operative seeking to stamp out the early followers of Christ. He was enraged against them. The Book of Acts tells us that Saul agreed with the execution of Stephen, and Acts 9.1 describes Saul’s behavior by saying: “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, …” (ESV). And he writes in First Timothy 1.13 that he himself was formerly, “a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent” of Christ. Saul was a menace, fighting against Christ.
But herein is where Jesus demonstrated His love for even a man such as Saul. The love of Christ superabounded upon Saul and Jesus revealed Himself to him. And Jesus called Saul to carry out a special mission. And if Jesus could love Saul of Tarsus, He can love anyone, regardless of how offensive he or she may be.
Acts 9.1-19 tells the original account of the events pertaining to the revelation of Jesus to Saul. It is commonly referred to as Saul’s, “Damascus Road conversion”. With light beyond the brightness of the sun, Jesus descended from heaven and showed Himself to Saul, thus blinding his eyes. Jesus called him by name and Saul did an amazing thing. Saul, through the course of this event, chose to embrace Jesus in his heart, addressing Him as, “Lord”. And Saul at that moment obeyed Jesus and became a follower of Him.
Right then and there, Saul gave up his former life of power, prestige, and ruthlessness so that he could embrace Jesus as his Lord. Saul may have formerly believed that the followers of Jesus were wrong and harmful, but he changed his mind. Saul had it all to lose, and he gave it all away.
As the New Testament reveals to us about Saul’s life thereafter, and as he later became known as, “Paul” in Acts 13.9, Saul the hunter became Paul, the one abused and the one plotted against. He became Paul, a person interned and imprisoned. He became Paul, the one who endured famine and hardship. He was targeted for assassination. In 1 Corinthians 4.13 Paul writes about himself and his associates, “We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.” (ESV)
How in all the world could Saul, then later Paul, reverse his course of life so dramatically, calling people to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and to do so with such conviction and certainty? It was by the absolute reality of the risen Jesus Christ that lived in Paul, which began with Jesus revealing Himself to him on the Damascus Road.
Paul’s testimony of the resurrected Christ in verse 8 above calls out to us. Paul was killed by the Roman Empire, because he was not willing to deny Jesus. He couldn’t deny Jesus. He knew for certain that Jesus had been raised from the dead.