[Paul continues to describe his conversion.] “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. 14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’
17 “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ 21 And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
22 Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” 23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. 25 But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” 27 So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” 29 So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.
I’m listening to a John Grisham novel about a lawyer (surprise!) who is in jail for his very indirect involvement in a major money-laundering scheme. A federal judge has been murdered and the lawyer knows who did the murder. He’s working on a deal to be released from jail if he fingers the killer. And he has laid out a number of conditions for naming the guilty man. The deal won’t go forward in this legal saga unless he has an ironclad agreement signed by the Attorney General of the United States. Only that will seal the deal for revealing the killer’s name.
There is a minor legal drama going on here between Paul and the Roman soldiers into whose custody he has been remanded. It has to do with Paul’s near brush with flogging, and his seeming offhanded question, to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” That sets in motion a whole different chain of events. He will not be flogged. Luke tell us that “those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.”
So much for the legal drama.
This is a subset of a greater drama being played out as Paul makes his defense before the crowds of people who want to do away with him. And as Paul makes his defense, he is also part of an even greater drama of God’s call and claim on his life. For Paul isn’t just defending himself. He is witnessing to God’s work in his life and offering the people the opportunity to rethink their own place in the divine drama of God’s redemption and our salvation.
As Paul describes the events around his conversion, he tells the people about Ananias, who is sent to the then-blinded Paul. He describes Ananias’ conversation with him and includes this call to be baptized. It’s one thing to be struck down and blinded. It’s another to learn that it is Jesus who has done this to you. It is even more important to be healed of your blindness. But the deal isn’t sealed until Paul agrees to Ananias’ urging: “Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.”
There are those who wish to call people to faith, and believe that the key to confirming one’s conversion is to say a Sinner’s Prayer. While it may be a good thing to say such a prayer, it’s clear that baptism is the manner in which one’s conversion is completed and salvation has been received. Baptism seals the deal.
We who have been baptized have been sealed with the Holy Spirit and connected with Jesus’ death and resurrection. Our salvation has been secured. Thanks be to God!
David Bahn - Reflections 
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