As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38 Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” 39 Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.”40And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:
22:1 “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”
2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:
3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly 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 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me.10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ 11 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.
Dr. Aho was my homiletics Professor. His nickname was the Jeweler. He was such a craftsman, able to fashion such a beautiful and elegant sermon outline, and adorn it with the jewels of Law and Gospel. And he was a godly man. One of a half-dozen or fewer that I could attach Jesus’ assessment of Nathaniel: A true man in whom there is no guile (cf. John 1:47).
I recall early in my preaching career, struggling to come up with an outline for a Christmas message on John 1:1-14. When I finished I had a serviceable outline. But it was just that. True. But not creative. Textual but not elegant. Then I happened upon a sermon study on that text which Dr. Aho had provided for our school’s theological journal. His outline: The Word Became Flesh. I. What a mystery. II. What a blessing! Alive. Rich in meaning. True. Elegant. The jeweler had done his work so well.
Then came the sermon he delivered which I remember to this day. It was during a difficult and tumultuous time at our seminary. Two professors had taken aim at each other during the chapel services two days apart. Dr. Aho preached on 1 Corinthians 12, Every Christian Counts. It was like oil on the waters. It was calming. It was refreshing. It lowered the temperature of the faculty strife.
1 Corinthians 12 is about spiritual gifts and the body of Christ. I mention this because of Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Jesus asked, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Saul (who would become Paul when he began his missionary work among the Gentiles) wasn’t persecuting Jesus. He had died, risen from the dead and ascended to heaven. But Saul was persecuting Jesus’ followers. And they are the body of Christ.
We take that idea too lightly. We dismiss our identity as Christians being the body of Christ. When people attack Christians they are attacking Jesus. When people persecute faithful Christians, they persecute Jesus. It’s interesting to me that Peter (“you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church”) speaks of the church as being built of living stones (1 Peter 2:5). Paul speaks of the church as the body of Christ.
Just as Peter’s encounter with Jesus and his naming as Rock-Man would lead Peter to speak of a living-stone building, Paul’s encounter with Jesus’ question: “Why are you persecuting me?” will shape his understanding of the church. We are the body of Christ. Redeemed. Sanctified. Saved. Enlightened. Gifted. Holy. One body, working together for the sake of each other and the blessing of many.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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