You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard” (Acts 9:14,15; Acts 26). My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me. Aspirations to teach Religion Studies, World Religion, Philosophy of Religion. Also road to Damascus experience. 1. an experience that completely changes the way that you think about something. The conversion of Paul has been depicted by many artists, including Albrecht Dürer, Francisco Camilo, Giovanni Bellini, Fra Angelico, Fra Bartolomeo, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, William Blake, Luca Giordano, Sante Peranda, and Juan Antonio de Frías y Escalante. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do” (Acts 22:10). It was ultimately the overwhelming experience Paul and Acts says he had of […]. This page is also available in: हिन्दी (Hindi). Change ). Noun road to Damascus (idiomatic) An important point in someone's life where a great change, or reversal, of ideas or beliefs occurs. Your road to Damascus is an experience you have that you consider to be very important and that changes your life. (3) And as he journeyed. Why do you persecute me?’ “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. The Road To Damascus is a Road To Safety and Refuge Not only did the road to Damascus experience turn out to be a road to safety and refuge for me, I believe with my whole heart that someone was probably saved from my foolishness as well. In one passage the author of Acts describes Paul’s encounter as follows (speaking from the first-person perspective of Paul), “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. The Greek word for “hear” in both Acts 9:7 and 22:9 is akouo. 2007 , Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, addressing the CPAC in March. At first, Ananias was reluctant to visit Saul (Acts 9:13, 14) for he knew of the trouble the persecutor had caused and of the purpose of his mission to Damascus. ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. 3:6). Thus Paul’s very gospel in nuce depends to a considerable extent on the revelation that he experienced at that time” [2]. Bible Based. Conversion is best described in the New Testament in the Letters of St. Paul, and with good reason - no one experienced a more dramatic conversion than St. Paul on the road to Damascus! The Damascus Road experience was indeed an unusual encounter Paul, while still a Pharisee persecuting the early Church, had on the road to Damascus. Some people receive Christ in an instant dramatic way, while others experience a gradual quiet transformation like Nicodemus. 15:3-8; Gal. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Paul’s Damascus Road conversion from persecuting Pharisee to Jesus follower has typically enjoyed Christian apologetic value. In deep agony, Paul “was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank” (Acts 9:9). But such an objection faces insurmountable difficulties in light of the testimony and what we know of Paul. ( Log Out /  The way of Paulus is a parable. 10:40). Other expressions, such as Christ as the “power of God” (1 Cor. 9 Then () Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked () letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases Turning points & deciding moments be at a crossroads idiom But the Lord assured him that Paul was selected to proclaim the truth to the Gentiles and that he will suffer much for God (Acts 9:15, 16). Theologian Donald Hagner explains this experience as, “The greatest impact on this remarkable man… was an encounter with the risen Christ that took place as Paul was on his way to persecute the Jewish Christians in Damascus. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: First, most believe that Paul was speaking of himself and his Damascus road experience, in which case this was not an out of body experience. He is a graduate in Creative Brand Communication and Marketing (CBC), and in Theology (majoring in psychology). It has long been used figuratively, sometimes put … This is the British English definition of Damascus.View American English definition of Damascus. road to Damascus n. a religious conversion; a revelation, especially about one’s self; in other figurative uses, denoting a change in attitude, perspective, or belief. The Lord identified Himself with His disciples and their sufferings. Bishop's Encyclopedia of Religion, Society and Philosophy, Apostle Paul’s Reception of Revelation and Tradition  – Bishop's Encyclopedia of Religion, Society and Philosophy, Follow Bishop's Encyclopedia of Religion, Society and Philosophy on WordPress.com. James obtained his BTh with cum laude, and is currently pursuing his postgraduate in Religious Studies. Let’s take a closer look to see. For unexpectedly, a bright light from heaven flashed on him and his companions, causing them to fall the ground (Acts 9:3,4). Saul of Tarsus (aka Saint Paul) is said to have been smitten on the road to Damascus (had some sort of fit/ stroke/ attack) which resulted in his conversion to Christianity. Your Question (required) Would you like this question answered on our show? It is hardly possible… (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary) Paul originally had believed that Jesus of Nazareth had disregarded the law of God and had taught His disciples that it was of no effect. The letters authorized Saul, if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, to bring them bound to Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:1-2). 1 1:24) and “the Lord of glory” (1 Cor. road to Damascus (plural roads to Damascus) ( idiomatic , often attributive ) An important point in someone's life where a great change, or reversal , of ideas or beliefs occurs. Others believe Jesus meant that it was futile to try to oppress the church. James is currently researching alternative and emergent religions in South Africa. James Bishop is from South Africa. A Damascene moment means therefore a sudden change of heart, or revelation. Conversion on the Road to Damascus. Home » Sabbath » What is the Damascus Road experience? This story is so important to early Christianity that it is repeated several times in Acts (9:1-9; 22:6-11; 26:12-18) and in Paul’s own letters (1 Cor. Conversion is the heart of the Christian experience. This encounter also greatly influenced Paul’s theology and Christology. Some people receive Christ in an instant dramatic way, while others experience a gradual quiet transformation like … Paul's vision, in the city of Damascus is much more likely as venue than on the road to Damascus. Michelangelo's The Conversion of Saul is housed in the Cappella Paolina of the Vatican Palace. It is hardly possible to overemphasize the significance of this encounter not only in the life of Saul [Paul’s former name] the Pharisee but also for the theology he was to develop, and even for the Christian church of future centuries, which would come to treasure his letters as divinely inspired Scripture alongside what later came to be called “the Old Testament” [1]. If there Paul experienced forgiveness, reconciliation, and renewal, then this could serve as the foundation for his doctrine of salvation and even his eschatology. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around … Change your default dictionary to American English. Ananias laid hands on Paul and the latter was healed from blindness, filled by the Holy Spirit, and got baptized (Acts 9:15–16, 19; 22:12–16). Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. That should end the matter. Paul was “opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth” (Acts 26:9) and in “raging fury,” he planned “threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1). The phrase "road to Damascus" is an English idiom that means an important point in a person's life where a great change of ideas or beliefs takes place (usually a reversal of some pre-existing ideas or beliefs). He was convinced he was in the right and this motivated him to stamp out early Christianity from the historical record. Acts states that those around Paul also witnessed it: “The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone” and it also had an effect on Paul himself: Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! The term refers to the biblical story of Paul, who converted from Judaism to Christianity while traveling the road to Damascus (Book of Acts, chapter 9). Consider his appeal in Galatians: “For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ” (1:11-12). Second, Paul tells people that this is possibly a vision. Paul's life-changing experience on the Damascus Road led to his baptism and instruction in the Christian faith. Many people receive Christ in a life-changing, instantaneous experience, although many others describe their conversion as more of a gradual understanding of … 1:11–16) making this hardly an obscure event. Paul had been blinded by the dazzling heavenly light (Acts 22:11). There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.” (22:6-13). Although he claims to have had other revelatory experiences (2 Cor. It seems probable that Paul’s reference to Christ as the “image [eikōn] of God” in 2 Corinthians 4:4 (“the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God”) and Colossians 1:15 (“he is the image of the invisible God”) draws on the Damascus Road experience. There’s an old saying that goes something like this… God takes care of fools and babies. View all posts by James Bishop. And Jesus added, “it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” (Acts 26:14). The Damascus Road experience is arguably the most important event in the life of the Apostle Paul. (see upcoming show time) YesNo. And the Lord answered, get up … ‘and go into Damascus. He has aspirations to teach Religious Studies and World Religion. For He affirmed “he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye” (Zech. Sep 3, 2019 | ... this does not mean that monetary stimulus has the capacity to promote growth and raise inflation — if anything, post-2008 monetary policy experience provides an acid test of this asymmetry in policy effectiveness. That's where we … The conversion of Saul is a striking evidence of the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit to convict men of sin. There is no sense of guilt and doubt in him. This experience does rest in some objective encounter. Moreover, although there is a discrepancy between Acts 9:7 and Acts 22:9 about what those accompanying Paul experienced (9:7 says that others heard a voice whereas 22:9 says that they did not, but saw a light), the testimony does seem to imply some objective experience involved suggesting it was not a subjective vision or hallucination on Paul’s part. Also, the men who were on the road with Saul "stood" (Acts 9:7 below) speechless, which means that they were on foot; since a group can travel only as fast as its slowest member, having had companions on foot counters the speculation that Saul rode a horse to get to Damascus faster. And he judged his own past in the light of his new convictions. Do these two accounts of Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus present a Bible contradiction? Hagner articulates. Get our latest answers straight to your inbox when you subscribe here. Some interpret this as meaning Paul had pangs of conscience when persecuting the church. Paul, named Saul, was on his way to Damascus with a letter from the high priest of the temple and the council in Jerusalem. On the other hand, Paul himself tells the Galatians that after that vocational vision, "I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus" (Galatians 1:11-17). “Saul’s encounter with the risen Jesus on the Damascus Road obviously provides the initial impetus for Paul’s christology. And Ananias said to Paul, “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. ‘The Prime Minister explained his road to Damascus experience during his speech on January 28.’ Origin Mid 19th century with reference to the account of St Paul's conversion to Christianity while traveling to the city of Damascus on a mission (Acts 9). 2:8). The phrase “Damascus Road experience” is a phrase used to describe a dramatic conversion like the one Paul had (Acts 9:1–9; Acts 22:6–11 and Acts 26:9–20). Paul also sees apologetic value in his experience. ( Log Out /  Saul’s "religion" was keeping him from "relationship"with Jesus Christ. Prior to that moment, he had been called Saul, and was a Pharisee who persecuted followers of Jesus. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 63:9). road to Damascus (English)Origin & history From the Bible New Testament book Acts of the Apostles.Ch.9 Referring to the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, later known as the Apostle Paul, to Christianity while travelling to Damascus to persecute Christians. 1. road to Damascus - a sudden turning point in a person's life (similar to the sudden conversion of the Apostle Paul on the road from Jerusalem to Damascus of arrest Christians) […] important of these is his conversion experience on the way to Damascus to persecute Christians. “In all their affliction he was afflicted” (Isa. It led to the city of the sun god Samas and thus takes up the story of Orion, who, blinded, regained his sight on his way to the sun. It goes on … It’s in reference to the conversion to Christianity of the apostle Paul while literally on the road to Damascus from Jerusalem. Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus has inspired some to explain it away on naturalistic grounds. Now, he was persuaded that Jesus was the originator of the entire Jewish system of sacrifices. Intro: Suppose Osama Ben Laden, Sadaam Hussein, or another famous terrorist leader was reported to have been converted to Christ. And he finally, realized how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Redeemer of Israel. 12:1-10; 1 Cor. So, he immediately asked, “What shall I do, Lord? 9 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. Paul felt deep remorse and grief for he realized the error of his ways. Question: "What is the significance of Damascus in the Bible?" Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. And He also prepared Saul for a visit from Ananias (Acts 9: 12). —The route by which the persecutor and his companions travelled was probably that taken by the Roman road, which extended from Jerusalem to Neapolis (Sychar, or Shechem), thence to Scythopolis, and so by the shores of the Sea of Galilee and Cæsarea Philippi, and thence under the slopes of Hermon, to Damascus. In this encounter, Paul seems to have had intuitive knowledge that this was a divine encounter; he asks the question, “Who are you, Lord?” This divine presence was none other than Jesus (“I am Jesus”) who informs Paul that by persecuting the Christians he is actually persecuting Jesus the Lord. The Damascus Road: Saul Converted (). Acts 9:1-19 ¶“ 1 Saul kept breathing out threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. 2:9-10), the Damascus Road encounter is his most significant and he often appeals to it when defending his gospel/teachings. Saul’s experience on the Damascus Road proves that God is more powerful than any Terrorist. But after his conversion, Paul saw Jesus as the One who had come to save the world and uplift His Father’s law. This divine message suggested that Paul’s conscience had been vigorously resisting the appeals of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:1). He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues of Damascus. The Damascus Road experience is arguably the most important event in the life of the Apostle Paul. Summers and the Road to Damascus By Servaas Storm. In a new light, he saw that at the crucifixion type had met anti-type. Both experiences are genuine. Road To Damascus experiences are those in which a person has a sudden insight that radically changes their beliefs. ( Log Out /  Obtained BTh with cum laude, currently doing Masters (Religion Studies). If the first point was insufficient, this should be … And Jesus spoke to Saul, asking him, “Why do you persecute me?” (Acts 22:70). road to Damascus meaning: 1. Finally, he saw what his master, Gamaliel, had before suggested (Acts 5:39), that to persecute Jesus and His followers was to “fight against God.”. Editorial Note: From the biblical story of St. Paul, who converted from Judaism to Christianity while travelling on the road to Damascus. The phrase “ Damascus Road experience” is a phrase used to describe a dramatic conversion like the one Paul had (Acts 9:1–9; Acts 22:6–11 and Acts 26:9–20). Many apologists appeal to Paul’s experience as one strand in a cumulative case for affirming the historicity of the resurrection. He considered what was done to His children as done to Himself (Matt. the road to Damascus. Conversion of Paul the Apostle - Wikipedia 180 views What’s the history behind changing the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. Real Questions. This period was of soul searching and repentance. What does the Bible mean when it says God rested in Genesis 2:2? Whilst originally used in a spiritual context, the phrase also refers to other types of sudden conversion. Saul was doing that when he came to his relationship with Christ and it turned his whole life around, this experience on the road to Damascus. The counter was perhaps stimulated by sunstroke in Paul to produce the conviction that he had seen a vision of Jesus. English, Arabic (العربية), French (Français), Hindi (हिन्दी), Table of Contents CreationTen CommandmentsDefinitionMeaning This page is also available in: हिन्दी (Hindi)Creation We first read that God rested the Seventh Day of the week, when He created our 7-day…, This page is also available in: हिन्दी (Hindi)Second century Changing the Sabbath observance from Saturday to Sunday was a slow process that began before A.D. 150 and continued for three…, Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus. Answer: One of the oldest cities in the world, Damascus was, and still is, the capital of Syria.The oasis city sits on the edge of the Syrian-Arab desert about 130 miles northeast of Jerusalem and is said to be one of the most beautiful cities in all of western Asia. Jesus himself appears to Rabbi Saul and confronts him with the truth of … Paul's life-changing experience on the Damascus Road led to his baptism and instruction in the Christian faith. Skepticism Over Paul’s Damascus Road Experience. Saul! CONVERSION. The idiom comes from the Christian Bible (Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 9). James Bishop, South Africa, graduate Multimedia, Brand Marketing (CBC), Theology, Psychology, TESOL. road to Damascus. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. The phrase “Damascus Road experience” is used to describe a conversion which is dramatic and startling. Your road to Damascus is an experience you have that you consider to be very important and that…. Learn more. Road to Damascus refers to a sudden turning point in one’s life. One explanation is that he was plagued with guilt, doubt, and frustration making him psychologically fit for such a conversion experience [3]. 06, 2009 at 15:53 the life of the Lord answered, get up … and! 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