The resurrected Jesus, our Lord and Savior, had a purpose for Paul. “Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.” Paul was not born a saint, ready to serve God’s purpose for his life. No, he was lost in his sin. He was spiritually so blind that he stood at the site of Stephen’s martyrdom, giving his approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him (20).

Our Lord forgave him his sins. What peace he must have had in his once tormented soul! He might have seen in his dreams the image of the saint, Stephen, bleeding profusely while being stoned. Paul later wrote, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1).

Paul was compelled by God’s love and grace of forgiveness of his sins to obey Jesus’ world mission command (21). He was once a lost sinner, but the resurrected Christ made him “a light for the Gentiles” (Isaiah 49:6).
Application: Father, I was once a lost sinner. What amazing grace that you forgave me my sins through the blood of your Son! May I always be guided by your love and grace of forgiveness of my sins that I may know what I should do for my life. Amen.
One Word: “Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles”