The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-04-01

life, and with all our hopes for the
world to come, that the mind is de-
lighted to dwell upon II, and we are
eager to learn or imagine all it's de-
tails. The conversion Of Saul was like
the call of a second Abraham. .
It is difficult to guess what was the
appearance of Saul's company on that
memorable occasion. We neither
know how he travelled nor who his
associates were, nor where he rested
on the way, nor what road he follow
ed from the Judean to the Syrian cap
ital." Thus write Conybeare & How
son in their life of st. Paul.
Saups Conversion.
The account of Sauls conversion is
given by himself in the twenty-sec-
ond and twenty-sixth chapters of Acts,
as well as here in the ninth chapter by
Luke. All three chapters should be
studied together. 1t was at the noon
hour when a bright light shined upon
him. II was above the brightness of
the MONDAY sun. Those present saw
the light but did not see any one, nor
did they seem to understand what was
said Paul heard and saw Jesus. The
very one in whom he had no faith
now speaks to him. The conversation
is as follows: Jesus asks, saul Saul,
why persecutest thou me?' Paul asks,
who art Thou, Lord?" Jesus replies,
81 am Jesus whom thou persecutest
but rise and enter the city and it shall
be told thee what thou must do"
1t seems from this conversation as
Luke records it that the purpose of
Jesus appearance to st. Paul was to
convince him of the truthfulness of
the disciples claim that Jesus was the
Christ, and thus check his opposition
to the church. But Paul tells us that
Jesus appeared unto him to make him
an apostle. Whatever was necessary
nized as a Christian and to be freed
from his sins, Jesus did not deem il
necessary personally to tell him. 1t
was left for a human voice to declare
that The commission had been left
with man. 1t is interesting to note
here again that according to CONVEX
sions in acts human agencies as well
as the Divine is necessary God has
committed to man the task of bring
ing Him to bring other men into the
realm of the saved.
Thus Paul is brought to believe in
the divinity of Jesus. He tells us that
he asked Lord what wilt Thou have
me to dO?' And being told to go into
the city, he is led to the home of one
Judas, who lived on the street called
Straight. Here for three days did he
mediate. The awfulncss of his &C
tons upon upon his mind. The guilt
of his conduct was evident While in
this disturbed state of mind, God per-
mitted him to see in a vision the COM
ing of a disciple to him whose name
was Ananias who would restore his
sight and reveal to him the will OF
Jesus as given in the Gospel.
Up to this time Pauls conversion
was not complete He did believe and
during these three days of fasting he
certainly did repent, and he had also
confessed to Jesus, but, as yet. he
seemed not to be free from his sins
His conversion was not complete then
until he had Obeyed the Lord in bap.
| tism. This is made clear by the state
ment: And now why Earliest thou
Arise, and be baptized and wash away
thy sins. calling on the name of the
Lord (22:l6). And he arose and was
baptized, "and the river of Damascus
became more to him." says ConybearC
a. Howson than all the water of Ju.
dab had been"
AnaniaS.
Ananias was a great disciple He
was not an apostle. He is not after.
ward mentioned except in this con,
nection. But he was a true and faith
full follower of our Lord. He may
have thought that Paul was a dan
gerous man and needed to be assured
by God that Paul was now a believer
before he would go TO him as a min
lister of the Gospel. But the fact thai
he was asked to go is honor enough
Little did he know the effect of Paul's
conversion upon the world 1t may
so happen than any believer i'm the
Lord here in Maysville will be used O
God to turn forces now opposing tn,
cause into channels that will be o.
mighty help to our Lord the Christ
Will be willing to use the opportunity
when it comes?
Prosecuting Jesus.
According to Jesus words, any gooC
act or kindness shown TO any disciple
is likewise shown to Christ. SO here
again He reveals His close relation t
the church, by saying that i'm perse
cutting the disciples ii is as If Jesus
were being personally prosecuted lie
those both In and without the churcl