The story below is taken from the Acts of the Apostles and tells about St .Paul’s (Saul) conversion. It is very handy if you want to describe different religious experiences and how they might make you to start believing in a God. The story covers – Visions, Miracles and conversions all in one!
ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
9 Saul kept on threatening to kill the LORD’S followers. He even went to the high priest and asked for letters to their leaders in Damascus. He did this because he wanted to arrest and take to Jerusalem any man or woman who had accepted the LORD’S Way. 3When Saul had almost reached Damascus, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice that said, “Saul! Saul! Why are you so cruel to me?”
5″Who are you?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus,” the LORD answered. “I am the one you are so cruel to. 6Now get up and go into the city, where you will be told what to do.”7The men with Saul stood there speechless. They had heard the voice, but they had not seen anyone. 8Saul got up from the ground, and when he opened his eyes, he could not see a thing. Someone then led him by the hand to Damascus, 9and for three days he was blind and did not eat or drink. 10A follower named Ananias lived in Damascus, and the LORD spoke to him in a vision. Ananias answered, “LORD, here I am.”
11The LORD said to him, “Get up and go to the house of Judas on Straight Street. When you get there, you will find a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. Saul is praying, 12and he has seen a vision. He saw a man named Ananias coming to him and putting his hands on him, so that he could see again.” 13Ananias replied, “LORD, a lot of people have told me about the terrible things this man has done to your followers in Jerusalem. 14Now the chief priests have given him the power to come here and arrest anyone who worships in your name.”
15The LORD said to Ananias, “Go! I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for worshiping in my name.”17Ananias left and went into the house where Saul was staying. Ananias placed his hands on him and said, “Saul, the LORD Jesus has sent me. He is the same one who appeared to you along the road. He wants you to be able to see and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18Suddenly something like fish scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see. He got up and was baptized. 19Then he ate and felt much better.
Saul Preaches in Damascus
For several days Saul stayed with the LORD’S followers in Damascus. 20Soon he went to the Jewish meeting places and started telling people that Jesus is the Son of God. 21Everyone who heard Saul was amazed and said, “Isn’t this the man who caused so much trouble for those people in Jerusalem who worship in the name of Jesus? Didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them to the chief priests?”
22Saul preached with such power that he completely confused the Jewish people in Damascus, as he tried to show them that Jesus is the Messiah. 23Later some of them made plans to kill Saul, 24but he found out about it. He learned that they were guarding the gates of the city day and night in order to kill him. 25Then one night his followers let him down over the city wall in a large basket.
(Contemporary English Version)
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The story illustrates 3 different types of religious experience:
1. A Vision when Saul hears Jesus.
2. A Miracle when Saul is cured of his blindness.
3. When Saul converts from Judaism to Christianity due to his experiences.