Saul, a pharisee and son of a pharisee, was intent on ridding the world of the Christian faith. He testified against many of them, sending them to prison or even to their death. But on the Damascus road he heard the voice of his God in a blinding light, "Saul, why do you persecute me?"
Mick Quirk, in his talk on Sunday evening during the Hesed service at the Avenue Centre, examined how Saul, Christianity's greatest opponent, was transformed into Paul, the apostle, its greatest exponent. Assuredly, this experience had come "out of the blue" and was the work of the Holy Spirit, but there had been other revelations to lead Saul to revise his allegiance.
Mick said: "I believe Saul found himself in many situations when he met with the testimony of Christians, and the more it impressed him, the angrier he became."
This is borne out by the words of God to Saul during his Damascus Road vision as reported in Acts 26: "It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
Stephen, for example, when he was being stoned to death, had prayed forgiveness for the attackers whose coats Saul was holding. Stephen's face shone and he seemed to see heaven. In this way, "every one of the saints Saul had persecuted had shone a light into his heart," said Mick. It is an example of the effect a godly life can have.
This Sunday's service takes place at the Avenue Centre, Tenby, at 6 pm. Visit http://www.hesed.co.uk">www.hesed.co.uk or telephone 01646 681805 if you would like to find out more - or just turn up!