Saul saw and spoke to Jesus on the road to Saul saw and spoke to Jesus on the road to Damascus.Damascus.

Then Saul, still breathing threats and Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. shone around him from heaven.

Then he fell to the ground, and heard a Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" And he said, are you persecuting Me?" And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads." So he, trembling against the goads." So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." you will be told what you must do."

Saul saw and spoke to Jesus on the road to Saul saw and spoke to Jesus on the road to Damascus.Damascus.

He was “blinded by the light.”He was “blinded by the light.”

And the men who journeyed with him And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. Damascus.

Saul saw and spoke to Jesus on the road to Saul saw and spoke to Jesus on the road to Damascus.Damascus.

He was “blinded by the light.”He was “blinded by the light.” ““He was three days without sight, and He was three days without sight, and

neither ate nor drank.” neither ate nor drank.”

And he was three days without sight, And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. and neither ate nor drank.

Saul saw and spoke to Jesus on the road to Saul saw and spoke to Jesus on the road to Damascus.Damascus.

He was “blinded by the light.”He was “blinded by the light.” ““He was three days without sight, and He was three days without sight, and

neither ate nor drank.”neither ate nor drank.” During those three days, he saw, in a vision, During those three days, he saw, in a vision,

a man restoring his sight.a man restoring his sight.

Now there was a certain disciple at Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." So the And he said, "Here I am, Lord." So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his on him, so that he might receive his sight." sight."

Saul saw and spoke to Jesus on the road to Saul saw and spoke to Jesus on the road to Damascus.Damascus.

He was “blinded by the light.”He was “blinded by the light.” ““He was three days without sight, and He was three days without sight, and

neither ate nor drank.”neither ate nor drank.” During those three days, he saw, in a vision, During those three days, he saw, in a vision,

a man restoring his sight.a man restoring his sight. He received his sight, and was baptized.He received his sight, and was baptized.

"Then a certain Ananias, a devout man "Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, came to me; and he stood and there, came to me; and he stood and said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that same hour I looked sight.' And at that same hour I looked up at him. Then he said, 'The God of up at him. Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you that you our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. One, and hear the voice of His mouth. For you will be His witness to all men of For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And what you have seen and heard. And now why are you waiting? Arise and be now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'"calling on the name of the Lord.'"

Immediately there fell from his eyes Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. baptized.

Saul saw Jesus, not as an essential part of Saul saw Jesus, not as an essential part of his conversion, but in order to qualify him his conversion, but in order to qualify him as a witness to the resurrection.as a witness to the resurrection.

"Then he said, 'The God of our fathers "Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. For you will be the voice of His mouth. For you will be His witness to all men of what you have His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.'"seen and heard.'"

Saul saw Jesus, not as an essential part of Saul saw Jesus, not as an essential part of his conversion, but in order to qualify him his conversion, but in order to qualify him as a witness to the resurrection.as a witness to the resurrection.

The restoring of his sight was not for The restoring of his sight was not for evidence of salvation, but for confirmation evidence of salvation, but for confirmation of the truth of what Ananias would tell him.of the truth of what Ananias would tell him.

Cornelius saw an angel, who told him to Cornelius saw an angel, who told him to send for Peter, who would tell him how to send for Peter, who would tell him how to be saved.be saved.

There was a certain man in Caesarea There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed generously to the people, and prayed to God always. About the ninth hour of to God always. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!"him, "Cornelius!"

And when he observed him, he was And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So he said to him, "Your prayers and your he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial alms have come up for a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa, before God. Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do." will tell you what you must do."

"And he told us how he had seen an "And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said angel standing in his house, who said to him, 'Send men to Joppa, and call for to him, 'Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, who will Simon whose surname is Peter, who will tell you words by which you and all tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.'"your household will be saved.'"

Cornelius saw an angel, who told him to Cornelius saw an angel, who told him to send for Peter, who would tell him how to send for Peter, who would tell him how to be saved.be saved.

Peter had a vision, from which he learned Peter had a vision, from which he learned that there was no longer a distinction to be that there was no longer a distinction to be made between Jews and Gentiles.made between Jews and Gentiles.

The next day, as they went on their The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. of the air.

And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter; And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." But Peter said, "Not so, kill and eat." But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean." And a voice spoke common or unclean." And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed you must not call God has cleansed you must not call common." This was done three times. common." This was done three times. And the object was taken up into And the object was taken up into heaven again. heaven again.

But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself am also a man." And as he up; I myself am also a man." And as he talked with him, he went in and found talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. Then he many who had come together. Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean." any man common or unclean."

Cornelius saw an angel, who told him to Cornelius saw an angel, who told him to send for Peter, who would tell him how to send for Peter, who would tell him how to be saved.be saved.

Peter had a vision, from which he learned Peter had a vision, from which he learned that there was no longer a distinction to be that there was no longer a distinction to be made between Jews and Gentiles.made between Jews and Gentiles.

““The Holy Spirit fell upon all those who The Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word” on this occasion.heard the word” on this occasion.

While Peter was still speaking these While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, "Can anyone Then Peter answered, "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" Spirit just as we have?"

This was not proof that they were saved, This was not proof that they were saved, however, for Peter still commanded them to however, for Peter still commanded them to be baptized in water.be baptized in water.

"Can anyone forbid water, that these "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" And he commanded them to be have?" And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days. they asked him to stay a few days.

This was not proof that they were saved, This was not proof that they were saved, however, for Peter still commanded them to however, for Peter still commanded them to be baptized in water.be baptized in water.

When Peter related these events to the When Peter related these events to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, they apostles and elders at Jerusalem, they concluded, “Then God has also granted to concluded, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”the Gentiles repentance to life.”

And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If therefore God gave them the same If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?" When they could withstand God?" When they heard these things they became silent; heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life." repentance to life."

Yes, there were miraculous elements in Yes, there were miraculous elements in several of the first century conversions, but several of the first century conversions, but these were not directly related to the these were not directly related to the salvation experience. salvation experience.

They all had to do with the fact that the They all had to do with the fact that the gospel was just beginning to be preached gospel was just beginning to be preached and needed to be confirmed. and needed to be confirmed.

Now that it has been confirmed, there is no Now that it has been confirmed, there is no longer a need for these miraculous longer a need for these miraculous elements.elements.