How does this verse connect with Acts 9:3-6 about Paul's conversion? The Verses Side-by-Side “to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood.” 3 “As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’ 5 ‘Who are You, Lord?’ Saul asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied. 6 ‘Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’” The Divine Initiative • Both passages spotlight God’s sovereign action—Saul was not searching for Christ; Christ intervened. • Galatians stresses God “was pleased” to reveal His Son; Acts narrates the very moment that revelation burst upon Saul. • The heavenly light (Acts 9:3) embodies the spiritual unveiling Paul recalls in Galatians 1:16. Revelation, Not Human Instruction • Galatians emphasizes Paul did not “consult with flesh and blood.” • Acts records no human evangelist on the road; Jesus Himself confronted Paul. • This direct encounter fulfills Isaiah 60:2-3, where the Lord’s own light rises on those in darkness. From Persecution to Proclamation • Galatians links the revelation to Paul’s Gentile mission (“that I might preach Him among the Gentiles”). • Acts 9:15 (spoken to Ananias) confirms the same purpose: “He is My chosen vessel to carry My name before Gentiles.” • The change is immediate—persecutor becomes preacher, underscoring 2 Corinthians 5:17. Unity Across Paul’s Testimonies • Acts 22:14-15 and 26:15-18 echo the same elements: divine appearance, personal commissioning, outreach to nations. • Paul’s later letters—1 Timothy 1:12-16, Ephesians 3:8—reaffirm the grace first shown in Acts 9 and expounded in Galatians 1. Key Themes Paralleled – Sovereign grace: God chooses and calls (Galatians 1:15; Acts 9:15). – Christ revealed as living Lord (Galatians 1:16; Acts 9:5). – Personal transformation leading to global mission (Galatians 1:16; Acts 9:20, 22). – Direct divine authority rather than human appointment (Galatians 1:11-12; Acts 9:6). Takeaway Truths • Paul’s Damascus-road encounter is the historical event behind the theological statement in Galatians 1:16. • The same Jesus who blinded Paul with light now lived “in” him, empowering his ministry. • Scripture presents a seamless harmony: narrative (Acts) and epistle (Galatians) together testify that genuine conversion is God-initiated, Christ-centered, and mission-focused. |
    |