In this episode, we see Paul defending his God-given apostleship to the Gentiles and the gospel of the grace of God. In Galatians chapters 1 and 2, Paul explains how his unique gospel of grace was received by direct revelation from Christ and not from the twelve apostles. Paul later meets privately with James, Peter, and John, and he presents his message of justification by faith alone, apart from the law. After the Jerusalem church leaders come to understand Paul’s special calling as the apostle of the Gentiles, they agree that Paul go to the nations with the gospel of grace, while they continue with their kingdom message to the Jews. This historic agreement underscores that Paul is our apostle today, and that understanding this transition is essential for correctly applying Scripture to our lives.

The Apostle Paul’s life was truly remarkable. He was called by God to be the apostle to the Gentiles, in which he suffered much, labored hard, and traveled far, all to make the gospel of grace known to lost souls. This message examines how God sovereignly called this former violent persecutor of the church by His grace on the Damascus Road, separating him from Judaism and sending him to the Gentiles with a brand-new gospel—justification by grace through faith alone—which came directly to him “by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” This established Paul’s independent apostleship and unique ministry to the nations, while also calling believers today to be ambassadors for Christ.

The Apostle Paul was once the enemy of the followers of Christ, but after his sudden conversion on the road to Damascus, believers there showed Paul great grace and mercy, and even saved his life. This lesson retells the dramatic early days of Saul’s ministry in Damascus—marking the first step in God’s turn from Israel to the Gentiles—where he preaches boldly in the synagogues that Jesus is the Christ, enraging the Jews who plot to kill him. But the very believers he once hunted lower him in a large basket through a window in the city wall, providing for his narrow escape. Paul learns that true apostolic life is marked by total dependence on Christ’s grace.

This episode recounts Acts 9:1-9 and the dramatic conversion of Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus, where this fierce persecutor of Jewish believers is suddenly struck by a bright light and hears the risen Lord Jesus ask, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” Trembling and astonished, Saul learns it is Jesus, Whom he has been persecuting. This event marks the dawning of the age of grace: the chief of sinners is saved apart from the law or Israel’s program, becoming the apostle to the Gentiles with a unique heavenly ministry and gospel of grace through faith alone.