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.
Over the years I’ve had the privilege of serving six different congregations. In each of those six churches there has been a cadre of mostly women who have served on the altar guild. These people have done everything from the incredible to the mundane. They have made beautiful banners, decorated for Christmas and Easter, cleaned up after communion, and prepared for communion each Sunday we would celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Whenever I’d show up for church the communion table would unfailingly be already prepared.
It’s that last part that I think of today when I read of Paul’s recounting of his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Jesus tells him, “there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.” It’s that phrase, “all that is appointed for you…” that gets my attention today. I’m thinking of what Paul will write to the Ephesian Church. “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, that God prepared in advance that we should walk in them.”
Paul knew of what he would write to the Ephesians. He knew that God had things for him to do – all lined up and prepared in advance. And he walked right into them and went the long distance of faithful obedience.
He was able to do that for at least two reasons. First it was God’s grace at work in him, with the power of the Holy Spirit, and with God’s good works prepared for them to do, all ready and set up for them. Some of those would be challenging, requiring suffering and pain. I’m thinking of the Philippian Jailer who was saved from committing suicide by Paul’s exclamation, “Don’t harm yourself. We are all here!” Then comes the witness to the church leaders in Jerusalem about the new Gentile believers and Paul’s witness to the Holy Spirit’s work in their lives and their subsequent acceptance into the fledgling church.
Next time you have an opportunity to do a good work, attach that to God’s grace, and his advance preparation for you to do the good thing. Paul was told about this after Jesus intervened and saved him from persecuting others and continuing on his path of self-destruction. Our rescue may be a bit less dramatic, but our calling is the same: walk in the good works that God has prepared for us to do – for his glory and our neighbor’s blessing.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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