Listening to God's VoiceSample

Example 3: Saul and Ananias Were Guided by Jesus’ Words

“Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And he said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’” (Acts 9:4-6)

Saul was fervently carrying out his mission: he wanted to imprison and preferably kill all the followers of Jesus. As he was on a journey to do so, suddenly a bright heavenly light appeared and a voice asked him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” That voice turned out to be from Jesus Himself. Completely upset, Saul had to break off his journey. “For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank,” we read. But that was not the end of the story. Jesus also spoke in a vision to Ananias, a faithful believer. After some hesitation, the latter obeyed Jesus’ command to go and tell Saul, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus’ direct words followed by the message Ananias delivered transformed Saul from a fierce adversary into one of the greatest missionaries in history. In the years that followed, countless people came to faith through his testimony and through his explanation of the Gospel.

Saul’s life was turned upside down by Jesus’ words. Have you had that experience, too? In what ways?

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