Immanuel Lutheran Church, Mankato
St. Paul—His Life and Letters
A Comparsion of Paul's Conversion Accounts

APPENDIX I: A COMPARISON OF PAUL’S CONVERSION ACCOUNTS

Acts 9:1-19

1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

2 and asked letters from him to the syna-gogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jeru-salem.

3 And as he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.

4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"

5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."

6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" And the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.

8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a certain disciples at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord."

11 So the Lord said to him, "Arise, and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.

12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight."

13 Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.

14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bring all who call on Your name."

15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.

17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

19 And when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

Acts 22:4-16

4 I persecuted this Way to the death, bind-ing and delivering into prisons both men and women,

5 as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.

6 Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, sud-denly a great light shone around me.

7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"

8 So I answered, "Who are You, Lord?" And He said to me, "I am Jesus of Naza-reth, whom you are persecuting."

9 Now those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me.

10 So I said, "What shall I do Lord?" And the Lord said to me, "Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do."

11 And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

12 There one, Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testi-mony with all the Jews who dwelt there,

13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, "Brother Saul, receive your sight." And at the same hour I looked up at him.

14 Then he said, "The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.

15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.

16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

Acts 26:12-18

12 While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

13 at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun shining around me and those who jour-neyed with me.

14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" It is hard for you to kick against the goads."

15 So I said, "Who are You, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus, whom you are perse- cuting.

16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.

17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you,

18 to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive the forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me."