Paul’s Experience on the Damascus Road

When we discuss the fact that we “hear God,” we are considering what God fundamentally communicates about the plan of salvation and how we can obey it.

Of course, God “speaks” through his creation (Ps. 19:1; Rom. 1:20). But this general revelation of God does not specify how we can be saved from our sins. It is through specific revelation that God communicates his redemptive purpose to us.

Let’s consider the question above by making several biblical observations.

How does a person learn about Paul’s experience on the Damascus road? We learn about it from Acts, chapters 9, 22, and 26. Isn’t it interesting that one would appeal to the Scriptures to demonstrate that we “hear from God” without the Scriptures?

Paul’s encounter with the Lord qualified him to be an apostle (Acts 1:22; 1 Cor. 15:8). The apostles’ testimony is recorded in the New Testament, and when we read what the inspired apostles wrote, we can understand the gospel of Christ (Eph. 1:1; 3:4).

Paul saw the risen Lord on the road to Damascus. The resurrection is conclusive proof that Jesus was, and is, the Son of God. Consider this singular point about this event. Can we believe in the resurrection based on the testimony of Scripture alone, or must the Lord appear to us personally to prove that he was raised from the dead? John 20:30-31 states that reading about Christ’s miracles can produce faith.

Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus was a unique demonstration of the resurrection of Jesus. Paul realized that Jesus was the promised Messiah and that he was raised from the dead. He was God’s “chosen vessel” to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, to kings, and to the children of Israel (Acts 9:15). His conversion attests to the authenticity of Christianity.

Although Paul saw the risen Lord, the Lord did not directly communicate to him what he needed to do to be saved. Christ told him to go into the city. It would be told to him what he must do (Acts 9:6). When Ananias came to Paul, he told him, “Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Although Paul saw Christ on the road to Damascus, he was still lost three days later, needing to have his sins washed away. The vision, therefore, was limited in purpose.

Paul’s experience does not prove that God speaks directly to you and me. In fact, his conversion demonstrates the proposition that God speaks through human agency for the salvation of men and women, through the inspired scriptures and the preaching of the message. The Lord communicated the requirements of the gospel for Paul’s salvation through Ananias.

Paul taught that Scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, so that we may be “complete, furnished completely unto every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17, ASV). The written word of God contains all that we need in order to be faithful servants of God.

God’s word is no ordinary book. It is powerful when spoken and read. It is the revelation that God gave, authenticated, and now providentially preserves, so that men and women can learn the need and means of salvation. It is powerful (Heb. 4:12). When we read it (Eph. 3:4), we will better understand God’s great plan of salvation.

Paul’s experience proves that he saw Jesus, the risen Savior. That is what it proves. Notably, Paul never appealed to his Damascus Road vision to demonstrate that God speaks directly to people, apart from the Word. With consistency, the apostle refers to the word of Christ as the means by which faith is developed (Rom. 10:17; Eph. 6:17).

When the Lord appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus, he obviously had a special purpose. It was, indeed, a unique situation. Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus reveals several things. It is one of the post-resurrection appearances, being the only reasonable explanation for the conversion of such a hostile persecutor of Christianity. Likewise, it was Paul’s qualification to be an apostle.

The conversion of Paul also demonstrates that the preaching of the word is God’s chosen means of communicating the gospel of salvation (1 Cor. 1:21). If you are waiting for a “Damascus road experience,” open your New Testament and listen to the risen Lord. There it will be told to you what you need to do.