Acts 9:17-31
So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
Years ago I sought the help of a Christian counselor. His name is Bruce and he was a powerful influence in my life, and his ministry to me literally did change my life. I remember two different comments by others regarding this experience. One said, “You’re really brave going to see Bruce.” I learned that another had spoken about me saying “He’s really changed.”
In regard to the first comment, I had no idea how brave I was being – even though it turned out to require far more courage to complete the process than I had initially realized. As far as really changing, I must simply allow the comment to have been true. I was not aware of a major personal transition.
Saul would need great courage to complete the work that God had in store for him. In fact, Jesus had already told Ananias, “I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (Acts 9:16) And his life will have been dramatically transformed. It would not be either quick or easy. But it would come.
The dramatic transformation would come through a lightning strike, a blindness, a healing, and time. And people were amazed. Can this be the same one who had made havoc with us? Is this for real? On top of that the Jews were out to kill him. Doubters on one side. Killers on the other. What kind of transformation is this? Isn’t life supposed to get better when God transforms us into something better?
The pathway will not be an easy one. But Saul will be delivered. He will be encouraged. He will serve faithfully. God’s kingdom will grow. The church will multiply. Perhaps we will play a role in someone’s transformation. Maybe we’re being transformed. This is the good and gracious work of Jesus for our good and the blessing of many.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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