In Acts chapters 9 and 22 and 26 it is told. What dramatically happened to Paul on the “Damascus Road” that epochal day long ago.

But in the Epistle to Galatians, though in shortened form, Paul tells it “in his own words.”

“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen …” Galatians 1:15-16a

It was God’s “pleasure” to save Paul!

The verb “pleased” is “eudokeo,” simply meaning “to esteem or think upon something” but always “with delight!”

I personally believe God is pleased with the salvation of every soul who trusts in Jesus’ Shed Blood! (Based partly on Ezekiel 33:11 … “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.”)

God was also “in charge” of Paul’s birth, physically speaking! He speaks of “God, who separated me from my mother’s womb.” Wow, God as Midwife!

Psalm 139 suggests that God “builds” every little human body, when he or she is still in the womb! One lexicon says of “separated” (in Greek “aphorizo”) “to mark off from others by boundaries.” Paul was “special” to God, even from birth! (Think of Jeremiah here too. “Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah 1:4-5, yes, pretty “special!”)

Astounding!

Then comes (immediately in the sentence, out Text) Paul’s second birth!

God … “called me by his grace.”

Just five words in English, the same in Greek for that matter … and the world is changed forever!

Paul the persecutor becomes Paul the Apostle!

Yes, God “calls” (“kaleo”) unto salvation.

Via His Holy Spirit.

We often refer to this phenomenon as “conviction!”

Which, when faith in Jesus is exercised, leads to “conversion!”

No further details here, in Galatians.

No emphasis even on Paul’s response, which was vital in the exchange!

“Who are Thou, Lord?”

As in Luke’s account of the event: “And as he (Paul) journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Acts 9:3-6

Oh yes … Faith!

“For by grace are ye saved through faith.” Ephesians 2:8

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31

“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

Jesus now: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24

Yes Brother Paul, we understand: “God called you by His grace!”

Then in today’s Text Paul even tells us WHY God saved him. Or at least part of the reason, a main part I suspect! The answer is twofold: “To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen.”

To show (“to reveal” is “apokalupto” meaning “to unveil”) JESUS to Paul!

Then to show (via “preaching,” the Greek word “evangelizing”) JESUS to the world, the lost world!

I’d say both goals were gloriously achieved!

God saves us to serve Him!

Wonderful!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

More tomorrow, the Lord willing.