From Saul To Paul: A Religious Conversion

However, in the third, he is not in a religious place, but puts a lot more emphasis on religion when he tells his story to the king. He tells of his religious ways and how they have changed which he only does in this telling. He puts a much larger emphasis on his strict Jewish upbringing. He tells the king how he "belonged to the strictest sect of our religion and lived as a Pharisee" (Harper Collins Study Bible, Acts 26.5).
             The next section of Paul's conversions I will cover are the characters of each conversion and the part that they play in the story. There are not too many characters in each of the stories of Paul's conversion. However, those who are mentioned, are key players in the conversion of Paul or had something to do with his incarceration. He also has some important interaction with the citizens. As each conversion story is told, you can see how Paul tells his story to those who will listen and as each new story arises more people learn of him, each time those people hear of Paul and his ways he gains more power and prestige. .
             Saul, who would later become known as Paul, is the fist character introduced in Acts 9.1-22. Then Saul briefly meets with the high priests to acquire letters to all of the synagogues in Damascus. His plan was to bring back all of the writers of the letters that he might run into along the way, so that they may be punished for their beliefs. The next character introduced is Jesus. While Saul is on his way to Damascus, a light suddenly surrounds him from heaven. Following this, Jesus speaks to him saying, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me" (Harper Collins Study Bible, Acts. 9.4)? Then Jesus proceeds to tell Saul to enter the city and receive further instructions there from him. Saul's men, who were riding with him, were all astounded because they too heard the voice but did not see anyone speaking. Afterwards, the men led Saul to Damascus because he could no longer see due to the bright light.