Acts 26:12

Acts 26:12 says, Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, Paul told Agrippa about his experience on the road to Damascus. He was once again on his way to persecute Christians, under the authority of the high priest.  Before we became a Christian, we were on our way somewhere, and the very act of not accepting Christ as our Savior was in effect persecuting Him.  When we fail to believe He died for us, we crucify in vain Him in our life.  Paul was not content to just punish Christians where he was, but in his hatred for them he pursued them to other cities.  There are still people today who will go out of their way to persecute Christians.  Verse thirteen continues, At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.  On his way, Paul saw a great light at midday, brighter than the sun.  Those with him saw it also.  Verse fourteen states, And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutist thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." When they fell to the earth, Paul heard a voice speaking to him in the Hebrew tongue, saying, “Saul, Saul, why persecutist thou me?  It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks."  When we encounter Christ, it will be a personal experience. Those with Paul saw the bright light, but the Voice was for Paul alone. There may be times when many people are saved during the same time frame, but each will be saved because they encountered and accepted Christ individually.  Verse fifteen adds, And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.  Paul asked Who was speaking to him, calling Him Lord, and was told, "I am Jesus, Whom you persecute.”  When we come to Christ, we must acknowledge Who He is and our role in His death. Though I wasn't there at the physical crucifixion, I am just as guilty of nailing Him to the cross as those who were.  He died on the cross for everyone, but for my salvation personally, He died for me and because of my sins alone.  Salvation can be nothing but personal if it is to have effect in anyone’s life.  Verse sixteen continues, But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for 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.  Verse seventeen says, Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,  Paul said he was then told to rise and be a witness to these things and that he was to be a witness to the Gentiles.  Verse eighteen adds, 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.  Paul was to open their eyes, turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto God, that they might have an inheritance among those sanctified by God.  This is our task today.  We also are to bring people to the saving knowledge of God.