“OPEN THEIR EYES!”

 Acts 26:12-18                          (ESV)

Paul Tells of His Conversion

“[12] “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. [13] At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. [14] And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting ME? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ [15] And I said, ‘Who are YOU, LORD?’ And the LORD said, ‘I AM JESUS WHOM you are persecuting. [16] But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, [17] delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you [18] to “OPEN THEIR EYES”, so that they may TURN FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT and from the power of Satan to GOD, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in ME.’”

Paul (formerly known as Saul) WAS known as someone who was educated in the law and things of “this world” to a degree that set him apart from others in his surroundings.  In Philippians 3 he writes who he WAS before JESUS, but then JESUS “OPENED HIS EYES” to SEE THE THINGS OF GOD rather than what Satan was displaying to him.  

In verse 15-18, JESUS, the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES, says to Paul, ‘I AM JESUS WHOM you are persecuting. but rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—TO WHOM I AM SENDING YOU to “OPEN THEIR EYES”, so that they may TURN FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT and from the power of Satan to GOD, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in ME.’  

JESUS MUST “OPEN THEIR EYES” before ANY of us can SEE, otherwise Saul would have remained persecuting members of The Way!  Unless the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES has CHOSEN us before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4), we are BLIND and cannot SEE TRUTH!