NOTES for Act 9:4-5

With what pain these words must have been spoken to Saul: 'Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting Me?' The Lord is saddened to see His 'chosen vessel' directing all his efforts toward fighting Him. God had chosen Saul for His service, it appears, long before, and kept waiting for him finally to come to Him. He saw Saul, as He sees every other disciple, long before the first meeting with him (see the story of Nathanael's calling - John 1:43-49), so at this meeting the Lord is not 'getting acquainted' with a person as if He had never known him.

Meeting the Lord, a person suddenly realizes that he has been seen and heard, that the One who seems not to know him personally is deeply concerned with what he does and how he thinks. Christ, appearing to Saul, simply speaks to him sadly about the fact that what is in his heart does not bring God joy. And this personal address, this address by name, proves enough for mighty Saul to be broken and soon cease to exist - the 'old man' Saul becomes the 'new man' Paul (see Eph 4:22-24). Thus God's purpose for Saul-Paul is fulfilled.

But each of us is precious to the Lord in our own way. As the apostle Paul will later write about this: 'God arranged the members, each one in the body, as He chose' (see 1 Cor 12:12-18). And the Lord has a purpose for each of us - and each of us is called to strive with all our strength toward its fulfillment.