9 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. road to Damascus. Whilst originally used in a spiritual context, the phrase also refers to other types of sudden conversion. Others believe Jesus meant that it was futile to try to oppress the church. First, most believe that Paul was speaking of himself and his Damascus road experience, in which case this was not an out of body experience. The recognition that Jesus is the Christ marked the point of Saul’s conversion, and the end of his persecuting anger. Conversion is best described in the New Testament in the Letters of St. Paul, and with good reason - no one experienced a more dramatic conversion than St. Paul on the road to Damascus! Saul’s "religion" was keeping him from "relationship"with Jesus Christ. 9 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 synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Moreover, although there is a discrepancy between Acts 9:7 and Acts 22:9 about what those accompanying Paul experienced (9:7 says that others heard a voice whereas 22:9 says that they did not, but saw a light), the testimony does seem to imply some objective experience involved suggesting it was not a subjective vision or hallucination on Paul’s part. And this blindness proved that what he had seen was not a mere hallucination. The Damascus Road experience was indeed an unusual encounter Paul, while still a Pharisee persecuting the early Church, had on the road to Damascus. The Damascus Road experience is arguably the most important event in the life of the Apostle Paul. And he judged his own past in the light of his new convictions. Paul felt deep remorse and grief for he realized the error of his ways. A closer look at the words. CONVERSION. Saul was doing that when he came to his relationship with Christ and it turned his whole life around, this experience on the road to Damascus. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. One explanation is that he was plagued with guilt, doubt, and frustration making him psychologically fit for such a conversion experience [3]. 15:3-8; Gal. Conversion is the heart of the Christian experience. Consider his appeal in Galatians: “For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ” (1:11-12). There is no sense of guilt and doubt in him. 1. an experience that completely changes the way that you think about something. The phrase "road to Damascus" is an English idiom that means an important point in a person's life where a great change of ideas or beliefs takes place (usually a reversal of some pre-existing ideas or beliefs). Learn more. What’s the history behind changing the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around … Change your default dictionary to American English. What does the Bible mean when it says God rested in Genesis 2:2? Also, the men who were on the road with Saul "stood" (Acts 9:7 below) speechless, which means that they were on foot; since a group can travel only as fast as its slowest member, having had companions on foot counters the speculation that Saul rode a horse to get to Damascus faster. James Bishop, South Africa, graduate Multimedia, Brand Marketing (CBC), Theology, Psychology, TESOL. Your road to Damascus is an experience you have that you consider to be very important and that changes your life. Some people receive Christ in an instant dramatic way, while others experience a gradual quiet transformation like Nicodemus. The letter gave him power to arrest any who belonged to “the Way,” or the followers of Jesus Christ. Let’s take a closer look to see. They maintain that without an actual encounter with Jesus, Paul’s conversion cannot be adequately explained or accounted for. The original description comes from the Bible. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.” (22:6-13). The way of Paulus is a parable. There’s an old saying that goes something like this… God takes care of fools and babies. Paul originally had believed that Jesus of Nazareth had disregarded the law of God and had taught His disciples that it was of no effect. Home » Sabbath » What is the Damascus Road experience? Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus has inspired some to explain it away on naturalistic grounds. This divine message suggested that Paul’s conscience had been vigorously resisting the appeals of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:1). 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me. If there Paul experienced forgiveness, reconciliation, and renewal, then this could serve as the foundation for his doctrine of salvation and even his eschatology. 1. road to Damascus - a sudden turning point in a person's life (similar to the sudden conversion of the Apostle Paul on the road from Jerusalem to Damascus of arrest Christians) Thus Paul’s very gospel in nuce depends to a considerable extent on the revelation that he experienced at that time” [2]. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary) road to Damascus (plural roads to Damascus) ( idiomatic , often attributive ) An important point in someone's life where a great change, or reversal , of ideas or beliefs occurs. The phrase “Damascus Road experience” is a phrase used to describe a dramatic conversion like the one Paul had (Acts 9:1–9; Acts 22:6–11 and Acts 26:9–20). The Spirit of God illuminated his mind and he was able to recall the Messianic prophecies that applied to Jesus of Nazareth. James Bishop is from South Africa. But after his conversion, Paul saw Jesus as the One who had come to save the world and uplift His Father’s law. You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard” (Acts 9:14,15; Acts 26). Paul was most certainly a confident individual devout in his commitment to his Pharisaic disposition (Phil. Jesus himself appears to Rabbi Saul and confronts him with the truth of … ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. 63:9). For unexpectedly, a bright light from heaven flashed on him and his companions, causing them to fall the ground (Acts 9:3,4). In a new light, he saw that at the crucifixion type had met anti-type. ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. Road To Damascus experiences are those in which a person has a sudden insight that radically changes their beliefs. The phrase “Damascus Road experience” is used to describe a conversion which is dramatic and startling. It is possible to trace even more of Paul’s theology back to the Damascus Road experience. Skepticism Over Paul’s Damascus Road Experience. It goes on … It’s in reference to the conversion to Christianity of the apostle Paul while literally on the road to Damascus from Jerusalem. 1 God prepared Ananias by a vision to visit Saul. And Jesus spoke to Saul, asking him, “Why do you persecute me?” (Acts 22:70). A sudden, radical change in attitude, perspective, or belief. He has aspirations to teach Religious Studies and World Religion. Posted by Smokey Stover on January 06, 2009 at 15:53. Paul was “opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth” (Acts 26:9) and in “raging fury,” he planned “threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1). Road to Damascus refers to a sudden turning point in one’s life. Intro: Suppose Osama Ben Laden, Sadaam Hussein, or another famous terrorist leader was reported to have been converted to Christ. 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