The conversion of St. Saul

SkyWriting

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8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank...

18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

Has this ever actually happened to anyone, anywhere, ever?

John 8
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Ephesians 5:8
For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Matthew 5:14
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

 

miamited

Ted
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Hi skywriting,

You asked:
Has this ever actually happened to anyone, anywhere, ever?

Yes, it happened to Saul of Tarsus. I'm not sure what you're trying to infer by asking if such a thing has ever happened to anyone else. When God causes some physical thing to happen in this realm of His creating, He rarely repeats it. He created a chasm in a sea one time and that hasn't been repeated either. He caused a young woman to be pregnant without the introduction of sperm into her egg, and that hasn't happened again either.

Saul's conversion was of a miraculous nature so that we would have some evidence that he was one that God assigned that we should listen to. Saul's conversion is also a testimony to us that God will forgive any sin if we will repent and turn to Him.

God bless,
In Christ, ted
 
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splish- splash

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8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank...

18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

Has this ever actually happened to anyone, anywhere, ever?

John 8
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Ephesians 5:8
For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Matthew 5:14
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

I know of someone who once experienced problems with her vision, for months. She would see what looked like fog everywhere she went. Even around the house, she'd still see fog. The lady began to pray for healing and after a while, on one particular day she saw things fly out of her eyes yet she never saw where they ended. & before she knew it, her vision was was back to normal.
 
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Carl Emerson

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18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

Has this ever actually happened to anyone, anywhere, ever?

It obviously happened to Paul.

I had the privilege of leading a friend to Christ and at that moment he saw the sky and the trees in their beauty for the first time. He was in a new world.
 
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SkyWriting

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Hi skywriting,

You asked:


Yes, it happened to Saul of Tarsus. I'm not sure what you're trying to infer by asking if such a thing has ever happened to anyone else. When God causes some physical thing to happen in this realm of His creating, He rarely repeats it. He created a chasm in a sea one time and that hasn't been repeated either. He caused a young woman to be pregnant without the introduction of sperm into her egg, and that hasn't happened again either.

Saul's conversion was of a miraculous nature so that we would have some evidence that he was one that God assigned that we should listen to. Saul's conversion is also a testimony to us that God will forgive any sin if we will repent and turn to Him.

God bless,
In Christ, ted
I don't recall any repentance. Which verse is that?
 
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SkyWriting

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It obviously happened to Paul. I had the privilege of leading a friend to Christ and at that moment he saw the sky and the trees in their beauty for the first time. He was in a new world.

That is the tried and true method involving repentance and blind faith, two key ingredients in all conversions.
 
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SkyWriting

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Yes, it happened to Saul of Tarsus. I'm not sure what you're trying to infer by asking if such a thing has ever happened to anyone else.

Conversions are well documented events involving repentance and faith. Tens of thousands of people follow the models given in scripture on conversions and acts of faith. Abraham nearly killed his son as a model of faith. Some people handle snakes. Some speak in tongues. People take communion. People wash each others feet. People wear clothing from only one kind of material. They avoid meat on certain days of the week. They don't work on certain days. They have babies circumcised. They purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among them. They also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in their land.

People follow a lot of what they read, but nobody waits for Jesus to come blind them.

John 8
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
 
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miamited

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I don't recall any repentance. Which verse is that?

Hi skywriting,

Well, true repentance is manifest in action and differing world view. I don't think anyone would miss that Saul no longer persecuted believers in Christ and spent the remainder of his life preaching and spreading the gospel of Christ. You are correct that there is no verse where God's word 'tells' us that Saul repented, but there are several dozen pages that 'showed' us that Saul repented.

Conversions are well documented events involving repentance and faith. Tens of thousands of people follow the models given in scripture on conversions and acts of faith.

Yes, and Saul's is a conversion that happened differently than all of those, but, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, is certainly no less attested to than any of these ways in which you've mentioned. Moses saw a burning bush when he first came to know the true and living God. I wouldn't be looking for any burning bushes either.

God bless,
In Christ, ted
 
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SkyWriting

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Yes, and Saul's is a conversion that happened differently than all of those, but, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, is certainly no less attested to than any of these ways in which you've mentioned. Moses saw a burning bush when he first came to know the true and living God. I wouldn't be looking for any burning bushes either.

Many many people talk about a "burning Bush" in their lives.
And no end of people claim they would convert if Jesus would
appear to them.

Nobody repeats the absurd story of Jesus appearing,
then forcing them to believe by blinding them with darkness and no need for repentance or
even faith of any kind.

Yes, and Saul's is....certainly no less attested to than any of these ways in which you've mentioned.

It is thoroughly denied by the scripture below:

John 20:29

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please him,
for whoever would draw near to God must
believe that he exists and that
he rewards those who seek him.

2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 4:4
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.


John 12:46
I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

1 John 1
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ...

2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

John 1:4
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Colossians 2:9
For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

2 Corinthians 4:4
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

John 3:19-20
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

John 1:9
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Matthew 4:16
The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”

Psalm 36:9
For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.


And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Revelation 22:5
They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:6-7
If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Hebrews 1:3
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Titus 2:13
Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

1 Timothy 6:16
Who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

Colossians 1:19
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

Colossians 1:12-14
Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Ephesians 6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Acts 17:11
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

John 10:30
I and the Father are one.”

John 8:12-20
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. ...

John 1:7
He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.

John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Matthew 24:23-27
Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Prince of Darkness?)
(Prince of the Blind?)

Psalm 27:1
Of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

(Afraid of being blinded?)
(Joy in being blinded?)


I do accept Sauls analysis of his life:

1 Timothy 1:15
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
 
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SkyWriting

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Moses saw a burning bush when he first came to know the true and living God. I wouldn't be looking for any burning bushes either.

But the Full Armor of God doesn't come with scales for your eyes?

6a00e54eea6129883300e5503ddcf58834-800wi.jpg
 
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miamited

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Hi skywriting,

Well, it seems that you obviously have some issue with Saul's conversion. I hope that you're able to get it worked out. I've always found prayer and beseeching for the wisdom and knowledge of the Holy Spirit in such circumstances.

God bless,
In Christ, ted
 
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SkyWriting

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Hi skywriting,

Well, it seems that you obviously have some issue with Saul's conversion. I hope that you're able to get it worked out. I've always found prayer and beseeching for the wisdom and knowledge of the Holy Spirit in such circumstances.

God bless,
In Christ, ted
It was scripture that explained that Jesus doesn't blind people.
I learnt that when I was very young.
See also: AM#10
 
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SkyWriting

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He doesn't kill folks either...

Whoops I forgot Ananias...

Scripture is specific that he died naturally.
As well as his wife.

Acts 5:1-42
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it

To say God caused the death is reading an unspoken event.
 
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SkyWriting

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Hi skywriting,

Well, it seems that you obviously have some issue with Saul's conversion. I hope that you're able to get it worked out. I've always found prayer and beseeching for the wisdom and knowledge of the Holy Spirit in such circumstances.

God bless,
In Christ, ted

I've always found that reading scripture is the cure for pulpit sourced brainwashing.
 
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SkyWriting

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Are you suggesting they died of old age a few minutes apart and it was not related to having lied to God???

Stress. People experiencing Broken Heart syndrome can have sudden chest pains and other symptoms that could be caused by the heart's reaction to a surge of stress hormones. According to the American Heart Association, Broken Heart Syndrome can cause severe, short-term heart muscle failure and can be fatal.
When Lifelong Couples Die Together, It's Not Just Adorable — It's Science

Not Jesus.
 
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