Acts 9:19-25 CSB
And after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some time. [20] Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: "He is the Son of God." [21] All who heard him were astounded and said, "Isn't this the man in Jerusalem who was causing havoc for those who called on this name and came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?" [22] But Saul grew stronger and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. [23] After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, [24] but Saul learned of their plot. So they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him, [25] but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall.
Colossians 2:8-9 CSB
Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ. [9] For the entire fullness of God's nature dwells bodily in Christ,
The Son of God
Have you ever seized a passage in the Bible and held it so firmly you argued every angle—only to have the Holy Spirit later reveal a larger, deeper truth? Perhaps that “aha!” moment came mid-sermon, in a quiet hour of Bible study, or through a word from a spiritual friend God placed in your life. Those are the moments we look back on and realize how fiercely we defended ideas we didn’t yet fully understand. As Christians, humility is essential; we know that pride goes before a fall, and we are called to be meek witnesses to the Truth, not arrogant owners of it.
Consider Saul’s journey. As a zealous Pharisee, he persecuted the very Gospel he would later proclaim. Yet when he encountered the risen Lord on that road, he didn’t cling to his old certainties out of pride. He admitted he was wrong, turned in radical repentance, and allowed that same boldness to fuel his new message. Even years later, Paul never hid his past; he used his former errors to authenticate the glorious truth he had finally embraced.
In Damascus, Saul stayed with the disciples for a season, immediately preaching in the synagogues that “Jesus is the Son of God.” His listeners were understandably astonished. This was the man who had come determined to destroy the church and silence the name of its Lord. Now, he stood as its champion, insisting with scholarly precision that Jesus is the promised Messiah.
When God-given wisdom silences our debates, those who refuse to hear often try to shut the messenger down. Indeed, the Jewish leaders in Damascus grew so confounded by his logic that they conspired to kill him.
Saul’s core message never wavered. It is the same truth he later wrote to the Colossians: that the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ. Jesus is not just a good teacher or a prophet; He is the fulfillment of every Old Testament promise—the long-awaited Son of God. However, even spiritual knowledge can breed a dangerous pride. We can start feeling superior, as if our understanding gives us the right to a higher seat. God detests that attitude, for it warps a servant’s heart into that of an overlord.
Throughout Paul’s life, God permitted trials to keep him humble and anchored in his dependence on grace. In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul catalogs these hardships, specifically recalling his escape from Damascus—not in a chariot of fire, but in a common basket lowered through a hole in a city wall to flee his enemies.
Even the great Apostle had to endure these “low moments” so he would never forget his total dependence on the Lord. Many Christians are caught off guard by struggle, as though suffering were a stranger to the faithful. We often ask, “Why me?”—but perhaps, as we look at the life of Paul, the better question is, “Why not me?”
It is easy, in the middle of hardship, to turn inward and nurse our grievances. Yet those same trials may be the very instrument God uses to sand down our pride and fit us for humble service. When we shift our gaze from what we have lost to what we have been given in Christ, gratitude replaces complaint. A grateful, humble heart is the only kind of heart the Lord can truly use to tell others the Good News.
Reflection Questions
- Saul had to admit he was wrong about Jesus before he could be used by Him. Is there a “certainty” or a piece of pride you are holding onto that might be blocking your spiritual growth?
- Why do you think God chose to have Saul escape in a basket rather than protecting him in a more “miraculous” or dignified way? What does this teach us about humility?
- When you face opposition or “plots” against your faith today, is your first instinct to argue and win, or to rely on the Lord’s strength and the help of your fellow believers?
Prayer
Father,
We thank You that the fullness of Your nature dwells in Christ and that He is truly the Son of God. Forgive us for the times we have allowed our knowledge to turn into pride or our zeal to turn into arrogance. Sand down the rough edges of our hearts through the trials we face, and help us to see every struggle as an opportunity to grow in humility. Like the disciples in Damascus who helped Saul, give us a community of believers we can rely on. May our lives always point back to Your grace and never to our own strength.
In Jesus’ Name.
Amen.
