This post was last updated on April 18, 2026

Day 7 (Year 2)

Paul First Could Not See, Then He Could See

“Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.” (Acts 9:8 NASB)

The Apostle Paul, whose Jewish name was Saul (c.f. Acts 13:9), received his mission from the Lord Jesus to open the eyes of people’s hearts. Before that, he had obtained letters from the high priest and was on his way to Damascus to arrest Christians (Acts 9:1-2). Outside the city, a great light suddenly shone on him, and a voice asked him, “Why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:3-6). After the heavenly voice spoke, he tried to open his eyes—but he could see nothing. This was Paul’s personal experience, deprived of his sight first, and then he saw the Lord in his heart.

When Paul encountered Jesus, his original plans were unexpectedly interrupted. Then, in solitude—and presumably through much prayer—he came to see the authenticity of Jesus. Before Paul’s personal experience with Jesus, he had first been zealous for the faith in the Old Testament, mistakenly believing that the faith centered on Jesus was in error. Then, the eyes of his heart were opened, and he realized Jesus as the supreme Lord. For him, this could be said to be the fruit of truly understanding the meaning of the Old Testament. In the book of Acts, it is recorded on multiple occasions after Paul’s conversion that he cited various Old Testament prophecies to prove that Jesus is the Christ. Thus, the opening of his inner eyes was caused by his genuine encounter with Jesus. In other words, when the eyes of our hearts are opened, we come to truly know Him and receive His guidance for our lives thereafter.

Paul, who had once been temporarily blinded through his encounter with the Lord Jesus, was commissioned by the Lord to open the eyes of others. He knew all too well how blind he had been when he misinterpreted the Old Testament, unable to see Jesus’ true face. After he had encountered Jesus, he knew that He is the only Lord. Jesus, with a sense of humor, may use a person’s past experiences, including our failures, to help us in carrying out His mission. Indeed, for Paul, the very place where he had fallen was the place where he stood up again. And the same thing holds for all believers. Likewise, we need the courage to face our failures honestly and to find Jesus within those very experiences. We can have a new and heavenly life by trusting in His guidance and strength.

Reflection questions:

1) Do you feel that you have genuine zeal for the true faith and a willingness to commit yourself wholeheartedly to God? If not, what do you think is the reason behind?

2) Have you had the courage to honestly face your own failures and resolve to find the Lord Jesus right there in those places to begin a new life in Him? If you lack courage, how would you rely on the Lord to build it up?