What happened after Saul encountered Christ?
Acts 9:1-8 recounts the story of Saul’s encounter with the Lord, but Acts 9:9-19 explains what happened as a result of it.
After seeing Christ, when Saul opened his eyes he could see nothing. The men traveling with him had to lead him by the hand into Damascus. “And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank” (Acts 9:9).
There was a Christian of distinction in Damascus, much respected by the Jews for his irreproachable life and great virtue; his name was Ananias. Christ appeared to this holy disciple and commanded him to go to Saul, who was then in the house of Judas at prayer. Ananias, commanded by the Lord, laid his hands on him, and “immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized and took food and was strengthened” (Acts 9: 18-19).
Pope St. John Paul II comments on this event,
“The central element of the whole experience is the fact of conversion. Destined to evangelize the Gentiles ‘to turn them from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may obtain the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 26:18), Saul is called by Christ, above all, to work a radical conversion upon himself. Saul thus begins his laborious road of conversion that will last as long as he lives, beginning with unusual humility with that ‘what must I do, Lord? And docilely letting himself be led by the hand to Ananias, through whose prophetic ministry it will be given to him to know God’s plan.” (Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, Jan 25, 1983)
