First Glimpses

It is interesting that the story of Saul of Tarsus, the antagonist of Christ, begins after the stoning of Stephen, the martyr for Christ.  What makes it even more intriguing is the fact that Saul was present holding the coats of those who were throwing deadly stones at Stephen.  As the young martyr was dying this violent and undeserved death, he spoke two final words, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit...Lord, do not hold this sin against them."  (Acts 7:59-60).  What Stephen could not know and what Saul could not realize was that a seed was being planted which would change the face of the Jesus movement.    

The seed planted through Stephen's sacrifice took root in the cold heart of Saul and then like a young shoot breaking the surface of the soil, it broke the hard shell around the persecutor's soul.  The ninth chapter of Acts tells us about the new life that burst forth from Saul of Tarsus.  "Now as he (Saul) was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him."  (Acts 9:3)  It was the Eternal Light that brought forth all creation  (Genesis 1:3) and which prevailed against even the darkness of the soul. (John 1:5)   

When the scales had been removed from the blind eyes of Saul by the healing words of Ananias,  Paul would connect his new life with the death of Stephen.  In Acts 22:20 we hear Paul speaking, "And while the blood of your witness, Stephen, was shed, I myself was standing by and approving and keeping the coats of those who killed him."  Saul saw the stoning of Stephen and he also saw the about to die servant of Christ in a moment when "he gazed up into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 'Look," he said, 'I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!' " (Acts 7:55-56).  Saul saw more than he bargained to see that day.  He saw his first glimpse of who he was becoming through the grace of God.