Conversion of Paul

The Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul is a feast celebrated during the liturgical year on January 25, recounting the Conversion of Saul of Tarsus, who after a record of brutalizing and persecuting Christians, converted to Christianity and became the apostle Paul. While on the road to Damascus (c AD 36) to annihilate the Christian community there, Saul said he was blinded by a brilliant light and heard the voice of Christ saying, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?...And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid, but they heard not the voice...." [Acts of the Apostles—] and as "extremely zealous for the traditions of [his] countrymen, and of [his] ancestors." [Epistle to the Galatians—] Saul had also distinguished himself during the trial of Saint Stephen, the first of the official Christian martyrs, when Saul had "watched over the robes of those who were stoning Stephen." [Acts of the Apostles—] [Acts of the Apostles—)] [Epistle to the Romans—]

Healing by Ananias

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Paul recounts the episode in a speech to a "crowd in Jerusalem" in their language, most likely Aramaic (see also Aramaic of Jesus). His companions saw the light but didn't understand or hear the voice. Ananias was said to be a "devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there." He stood over Paul and said: "Brother Saul, receive your sight!" and Paul's vision was restored. He added: "Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name." [Acts of the Apostles—]

Popular Usage

From the Conversion of Paul, we get the metaphorical reference to the "Road to Damascus" that has come to refer to a sudden conversion of thought or a change of heart or mind even in matters outside of a Christian context.

References in culture

The Renaissance Italian master Caravaggio painted two works depicting events from the conversion of Paul, "The Conversion of Saint Paul" and "Conversion on the Way to Damascus". 20th-century U.S. vocalist Bruce Springsteen authored an album titled "Blinded by the Light".

ee also

* Confession of St. Peter
* Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
* Calendar of saints
* Roman Catholic calendar of saints
* General Roman Calendar as in 1954
* Liturgical year
* Tabor Light
* Bath Kol

References

Notes and citations

Further reading

* Easton's Bible Dictionary originally published in 1897. (see listing "Paul")
* Jewish Encyclopedia (1901–1906)
* Ahahroni, Yohanan and Avi-Yonah, Michael. "The MacMillan Bible Atlas" (New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc. & Collier MacMillan Publishers, 1968, 1977).