Bible Passage: Acts 9:1-22
Pastor: Joel Jenswold
Sermon Date: January 25, 2026

Bulletin – January 25, 2026

In the name of, and to the eternal glory of, Jesus,

Today we commemorate “The Conversion of St. Paul.”  This gives us the opportunity to linger over this thing called “conversion.”  Just what is “conversion”?  “Conversion” is what happens when a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ.  The word literally means a “turning around.”  A person who has been turned from unbelief to faith in Christ has been “turned around.”  They have been converted.

But just how big a deal is conversion?  Here is where we will find a mix of answers.  Is conversion my doing?  Is conversion God’s doing?  Or is conversion a cooperation between God and me?  And if it is cooperation, how much help do I need?  Do I need a little help, a little “boost”?  Is it a 50/50 effort?  Does God do 90% and I do 10%?

The story of Saul’s conversion before us today will help us with some of our questions.  Our text, and Scripture as a whole, teaches that conversion is a big deal.  It is not our doing.  It is not cooperation between us and God.  It is not the end result of deductive or inductive reasoning.  Conversion is God in action.  Conversion is nothing short of life coming from death.  The story of Saul’s conversion is the story of how Paul’s Life Ends…and Begins…on the Road to Damascus. 

            Our text allows us to gain a little insight into the life of this man named Saul.  There is no way to “sugarcoat” what Saul was all about.  Saul hated Jesus and he hated people who had been converted, people who trusted and followed Jesus.  Saul hated men who believed in Jesus.  Saul hated women who believed in Jesus.  Saul hated little boys and girls who believed in Jesus!

Saul was not just irritated by Christians; he believed the world would be a better place without them.  Our text tells us that Saul threatened Christians with torture and death!  And Saul was not all talk!  He was a man of action.  Our text tells us he had gone to the high priest in Jerusalem and secured from him permission and authority to travel to Damascus and arrest anyone who had converted to Christianity.  There is our man Saul!  So filled with hate!  What a life!

It was a life about to end.  It is about noon as Saul and his companions are nearing the city of Damascus.  Suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?  He asked, Who are you, Lord?  He replied, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. (v. 4-5)  Saul meets Jesus!  Jesus who suffered, died, and rose again.  Jesus, whose followers Saul was threatening and executing.  Jesus, against whom Saul was waging all out war.  Jesus had come to end his life!  Let’s not misunderstand.  Jesus didn’t come to kill him; he came to convert him.

Jesus sends Saul into the city.  There Saul sits for three days, blind.  In another part of town Jesus appears to another man in a vision, Ananias.  He instructs Ananias to go and place his hands upon Saul.  Ananias is suspicious.  Saul is known in Damascus as a “Terminator”.  The Lord assures Ananias this life has ended for Saul!  Jesus says, Go!  This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel.  Indeed, I will show him how much he must suffer for my name. (v. 15-16)  A new life had begun for Saul.  Saul would no longer try to stop all mention of the name Jesus.  He would now carry the sweet name of Jesus to distant lands, to kings! Saul would no longer be the preeminent persecutor of Jesus; he would now become persecuted for the name of Jesus!  Ananias discharges his duty.  He visits Saul.  He baptizes Saul.  Can you imagine the scene!  “Saul of Tarsus, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”  New life unleashed!  Immediately this new life is seen as Saul begins preaching Jesus as the Son of God and the Christ!

As we apply this lesson today, let’s appreciate Jesus’ words my chosen instrument (v. 15).  Jesus chose Saul; Saul did not choose Jesus.  Jesus is the last thing Saul would ever have chosen!  Saul hated Jesus!  Conversions happen because Jesus makes a gracious choice.  Jesus chooses poor, miserable sinners.  This is grace.  This grace was not lost on Paul.  Paul became the preacher of grace!  Of the times the word “grace” is mentioned in the New Testament, Paul is responsible for about 75% of them!  Paul would write to the Corinthians, By the grace of God I am what I am. (1 Corinthians 15:10)  You believe in Jesus because Jesus chose you!

Let’s also notice in this conversion story the risen Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and baptism.  The conversion of Saul happened by the power of the Holy Spirit working through the Good News of Jesus as it comes in Word and Sacrament.  Now, today, the risen Jesus does not flash a bright light, knock a person to the ground, and stand before them in resurrected glory.  But the crucified and risen Jesus is still seen in the bright-shining pages of the Bible.  And that news of the crucified and risen Son of God will stop a man in his tracks.  And the crucified and risen Jesus does come in the water and Word of baptism.  And the Holy Spirit still fills a man through Word and Sacrament.  This is still how conversions happen.  And Word and Sacrament still have the power to convert the toughest cases, the most hardened sinners.  Like Saul.  Like you.  Like me.

Finally, in every case, conversion is the story of life ending, and life beginning.  Conversions are the story of death to sin and self, and the beginning of a new life to God.  Again, this death-to-life reality was not lost on Paul.  To the Ephesians Paul would write:  God made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions. (Ephesians 2:5)  Of his end-of-life and new beginning, Paul would write to the Galatians:  I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)  Yes, friends, conversion is a BIG deal!  For Saul, for you, it is the end, and the beginning of life!  Amen.