Stroll through Scripture for April 19, 2026

Based on Acts 9:1-19a

The Narrative Lectionary moves us from Jesus and his resurrection to Paul’s conversion and encounter with Jesus.  There are some significant things to make note of in this story.  First, Saul and Paul are the same name.  Saul is the Hebrew form and would have been used with Hebrew speakers.  Paul is the Greek version, which he would have used with the Gentile audience.  And given that he would end up being the Apostle to the Gentiles, we hear his name as Paul most often.  His name didn’t change.  Who he spent time with did.  This matters in the sense that what we see in the name change is his focus on these Gentile communities and connecting with them.  

Second, it is believed that Acts is authored by the same person who wrote the Gospel of Luke.  Luke’s focus is on Jesus being the salvation for all people, especially the marginalized of society.  How fitting that one of the chief evangelizers of the faith would be the same person who persecuted people in the faith.  The message is that even Jesus makes room ever for someone who has caused harm – there is hope for all. 

Third, after Saul’s encounter with Jesus, we hear that he could not see.  The men who were with him led him by hand to Damascus.  And then there’s this little detail – “For three days he was without sight and neither ate nor drank.” (vs. 9).  This is a not-so-subtle reference to Jesus being in the tomb.  What we have in Saul’s conversation is a type of death and resurrection.   His old life dies, and there is a time before new life begins to ensure that the old life is dead.  His three days without sight match Jesus’ three days in the tomb of darkness.  

One of the interesting parts of the story is Ananias, the man whom the Lord chooses and sends to open Paul’s eyes through baptism.  God sends Ananias to a street called “Straight.”  This is symbolic of Paul being taken onto the straight path where his eyes will be opened – a new beginning in a new life.  

Ananias seems to be afraid in the passage, although we don’t hear that specifically.   However, it would make sense, given what he knows about Saul.  God hears Ananias’s concern and addresses it and Ananias continues his journey, finds Paul, lays hands on him to return his sight, and baptizes him.  

The key point here is that to get to new life, something in the old life must die off.   And it is not a pleasant process.  Often this life, death, resurrection cycle comes with a cost, and it leaves us in a situation in which we are not in control.  I think that’s on purpose. If we still had some kind of control left, we would make the conversion process more difficult and less complete.  New life in Jesus means we are not in control anymore.