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I. In men like Paul no sooner is there a vision of truth than there is a new resolution for duty. Saul had seen a new sight. One look at that majestic and tender countenance changed his anger to repentance. But he did not spend much time in gazing at the radiant spectacle. It purposely vanished from him. He did not call his fellow travellers to admire it as a wonder; he looked instantly for some new work. Such tremendous exercises and convictions are not meant to end in mere emotion. So the convicted jailer, "Sirs, what shall I do to be saved?" So the young man, "What good thing shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And so the people, the publicans, the soldiers to John the Baptist, "What shall we do then?" It is the sincere cry of every earnest nature with a new and Christian view of life.

2. There is a supernatural element and there is a natural one in St. Paul's conversion; the one for our faith, the other for our imitation. After the first glow of religious interest there comes a period of suspended energy; sometimes of reaction; sometimes of miserable complacency — a looking back to see how far we have come; or sideways, to see who is coming with us. "Suffer me to go first and bury my father": "What shall this man do?" The strained sinews are relaxed. Here is the test of a true renewing. Can you survive that point of peril? If not, it is not a genuine work of the Holy Spirit. Your will was not converted, only your feelings; and as they are the transient, variable part of us, they are easily converted back again to falsehood and selfishness. Hence, the very question that belongs just there is this, "What wilt Thou have me to do?" How shall the better feeling pass into a better character? In the history, notice —

I. A PERSONAL CONCERN. "What wilt Thou have me to do?" — not "this man"; not people in general; not older or better people, but myself. To Saul it was no time for anything but personal feeling and acting. Conscience told him what the vision meant, and the voice confirmed the findings of conscience. No wonder that he cried out "trembling and astonished," as if there were no moment to be lost, and as if there were no other soul in the universe but himself before the Judge. To those, then, who have begun to inquire what they shall do, the first counsel is, Keep it before you as a personal concern. Do not try to throw your uneasiness off by saying you are no worse than your neighbours. Make no cowardly attempt to shift your responsibility upon others — whether society, your education, employers, tempters, or unfaithful religionists. Remember how many souls have missed their salvation by halting between a general interest and a particular consecration.

II. DOING THE FIRST SIMPLE DUTY; and for Christ's sake, because He has required it. Human judgments would, very likely, have expected something "comporting better with the dignity of the occasion." After such a supernal manifestation, surely life will not have to settle down into its tame uniformity again? Curiosity would expect some remarkable mission at once. Pride would suggest a sudden elevation into grand undertakings. But no; the first step must be plain and practical. The vision over, St. Paul must march on as before — outwardly as before — only with a changed errand and another heart. Above all, there must be no pause of indolence. "Arise, and go into the city," etc. After any spiritual excitement, or start forward, there is apt to come a contempt for familiar tasks. But see how the Scriptures rebuke this dangerous vanity; and how profoundly they interpret human nature. After that rapturous night when Jacob saw the splendour of heaven, and the angels of God, the next morning he arose, put together stones for a memorial, and went straight on his journey. Naaman expected some magnificent demonstration of miracle. But no; it was simply, "Go, bathe seven times in Jordan." "Too simple, too common," he said. Yet that was the way to health. At their first call, the fishermen that were to convert the world were not sent out with banners and trumpets. Drop your fishing nets and come after Me, in a quiet, obscure, daily doing of My hard work, and in due time you shall be kings and priests unto God! The healed leper was only to go home and tell what great things God had done for him. The "young man" was looking for some unprecedented sacrifice; but to go and increase his charity to those poor people he had seen so often was more than he could bear. No, the true self-sacrifice is not on high or in strange places. Back to the old scenes, the dull shop, the unsocial, unexciting day's work, the tedious routine of the office; but if you take with you the new Spirit, which has beamed upon you in your blessed hour, then all the dull task work will be transfigured in that light. Go straight to the nearest, plainest duty, and "it shall be told thee" there, in the opening path of Providence, what thou shalt dc next.

III. SILENT SECLUSION AND MEDITATION. Observe how effectually the apostle was shut up to himself. First, a blindness, then three days of absolute privacy, fasting, thinking, afterwards three years in Arabia. He needed this cooling air of stillness and loneliness. His passions had been fiery, terribly tempestuous. Not long before he had taken a ferocious delight in Stephen's martyrdom; and now, sitting at the feet of that Jesus, he had that scene to remember. Food enough for meditation! Like the outward form of the Master, that old life must die, and lie "three days" hid in a sepulchre, before the new created man could be "risen with Christ." There is a lesson for us of this bustling age in that strong, penitent man, fasting, repenting, shut in his dark room, thinking, praying. When the deepest springs of life are moved by any grand experience we cannot speak: we ought to be still. Even nature, whenever she discloses to us her grander scenery, shuts our lips. After that call from heaven the apostle longed for silence, and it came. Such seclusion is sometimes our salvation. Every real renewal is a winepress that must be trodden alone.

IV. SUBMISSION TO A VISIBLE RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY. Ananias, a representative of the Church, was sent to encourage him, and to introduce him to the Church. If Paul's strong nature needed guidance and help, our weak ones need it no less. What Ananias and the miracle and the heavenly voice were to him, one Book and the ministry and the ordinances are to us. This sounds very commonplace, I know. Visions are more exciting, ecstasies more transporting, sentimentalists will say it is uninteresting; pseudo-spiritualists will say it is formal; novelty seekers will say it is old fashioned. But remember, the supposition now is that you are in earnest about making yourself a Christian man, and are willing to take the practical, sensible means. One of these, a chief one, is a study of the Bible — the textbook of the Christian knowledge. Whenever it is displaced, Christian character loses richness and depth. One reason why our modern religion is superficial, weak, irreverent, is that the intimacy with that nourishing inspiration declines. Nor can you separate the Bible from the Church. Our busy society has so little in its influence that is really spiritual — it offers so few helps to a weak soul struggling to maintain a Christian conversation — that we do all need to replenish our inner light and love and strength from supernatural and sacramental fountains.

V. THE APPEAL TO CHRIST BY PRAYER. St. Paul spoke first, not to himself, not to Ananias, not to any friend on earth; it was, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" There is no such thing as growth in a holy life without communion between the heart and Him. For every perplexity and despondency, a fresh supplication: "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" and He will show us. He has promised that He will. "Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find."

(Bp. Huntington.)

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KJV: And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

WEB: But rise up, and enter into the city, and you will be told what you must do."