Paul's Salvation Story

Acts 22

6 “As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
8 “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked.
“And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene,[c] the one you are persecuting.’ 9 The people with me saw the light but didn’t understand the voice speaking to me.
10 “I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’
“And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.’
11 “I was blinded by the intense light and had to be led by the hand to Damascus by my companions. 12 A man named Ananias lived there. He was a godly man, deeply devoted to the law, and well regarded by all the Jews of Damascus. 13 He came and stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And that very moment I could see him!
14 “Then he told me, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak. 15 For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard. 16 What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’

This is Paul’s conversion account in his own words. So many well-intentioned people want to claim that Saul of Tsarus (who later changed his name to Paul), was “saved” on the road to Damascus. But read what Paul says. On the road, he had an encounter with Jesus, and was instructed to go into the city, “and there you will be told everything you are to do.” He obeys those instructions, and when Ananias comes to see him in Damascus, Paul’s sight is restored, he is told that he will be an Apostle to the Gentiles, and he is instructed in verse 16 to get up, be baptized, having his sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.” I guess that whole baptism thing really IS part of the salvation process, now isn’t it?