Saul went blind for three days. When he opened his optics once again, zero looked the same to him, literally and spiritually.

Meanwhile, Saul was nevertheless breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any at that place who belonged to the Mode, whether men or women, he might take them equally prisoners to Jerusalem. 3Equally he neared Damascus on his journeying, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the basis and heard a phonation say to him, "Saul, Saul, why exercise yous persecute me?"

five"Who are yous, Lord?" Saul asked.

"I am Jesus, whom you lot are persecuting," he replied. 6"At present go upwards and get into the city, and you will be told what yous must do."

viiThe men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the audio only did non run into anyone. 8Saul got upwards from the basis, but when he opened his eyes he could see cypher. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9For iii days he was bullheaded, and did not eat or drink annihilation.

10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!"

"Yes, Lord," he answered.

11The Lord told him, "Go to the firm of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a homo named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."

thirteen"Lord," Ananias answered, "I accept heard many reports virtually this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14And he has come up here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who telephone call on your name."

15But the Lord said to Ananias, "Become! This homo is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16I will testify him how much he must endure for my name."

17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his easily on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as yous were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could meet again. He got upward and was baptized, nineteenand after taking some food, he regained his strength.

NIV Acts 9:1-18

With today's technology, when a previously visually handicapped person is given the ability to come across for the showtime time, for the start few moments, they are absolutely amazed. They discover information technology difficult to stop looking at the spectacle that nosotros take for granted.

Sometimes when I realize this, I wonder what it was really like for Saul when "something like scales fell from [his] optics, and he could meet once again." I call back that to him the colors would have seemed and so vivid that he wouldn't have believed he never noticed them earlier.

Saul undergoes a dramatic change in this chapter of the Acts, going from a persecutor of the disciples to existence filled with the Holy Spirit. Like in Shakespeare's "King Lear", literal blindness leads to spiritual insight.

He begins metaphorically bullheaded to the Discussion. When his physical sight is taken away he experiences God. When his sight is returned again, Saul gets it back along with a new outlook on everything.

His suffering and previous state wasn't for naught either. God says to Ananias, "[Saul] is my called instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel." Because this previous enemy to the Gentiles has been brought to know God, his testimony to his faith and his bulletin to them stands as all the more powerful.

Disabilities and setbacks tin let the Lord to reveal to you new and wonderful things! All encouragement from your sister in Christ: ~Gloria

(they/them/theirs) artist-activist, writer, & decolonizer: living out in voluntary simplicity & dear community. wellesley college '20 View all posts past Gloria Dominicus (孙诗嘉)