“Last of all, as to one abnormally born, He also appeared to me.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:8‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Jesus did not visit Saul during the days leading up to Pentecost, but roughly a year later. Paul was the man chosen by God to take His message out to the Gentiles, the non-Jews. We have no record of Jesus and Paul crossing paths, but after Jesus’ death, Paul found a passion, fire, and determination to persecute the church and have several Christians killed. God love the passion Paul had, but he was directing it in the wrong direction. So God appeared to him on the road to Damascus. 

“Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? ” 

“Who are You, Lord? ” he said. 

“I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting,” He replied. “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 

The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. Then Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:1-9‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/act.9.1-9.hcsb

 Paul now has blinders on both his physical and spiritual eyes. In three days Ananias will show up and remove both.

“But the Lord said to him, “Go! For this man is My chosen instrument to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name! ” 

So Ananias left and entered the house. Then he placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you can regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 

At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. And after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some days.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:15-19‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/act.9.15-19.hcsb

Paul’s learning to be the best Pharisee had him blinded to the truth according to the old testament. He was discipled by one of the best but in the wrong direction. 

“He continued, “I am a Jewish man, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel and educated according to the strict view of our patriarchal law. Being zealous for God, just as all of you are today,”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭22:3‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/act.22.3.hcsb

According to the Jewish traditions He had every right to boast in his history, but God step in and humbled him.

“although I once also had confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:4-6‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/php.3.4-6.hcsb

Paul had to reform his theology, belief, in Jesus and God. He took time away from people in the wilderness to not be influenced by people but by God. 

“But when God, who from my birth set me apart and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me, so that I could preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone. I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who had become apostles before me; instead I went to Arabia and came back to Damascus. Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to get to know Cephas, and I stayed with him 15 days.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:15-18‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/gal.1.15-18.hcsb

So now today, we have young people leaving the church without a solid foundation and we stick them in the world to work, study and live. We send them off to worldly universities to learn, but they don’t lean from God, but people who do not learn from God. The two to five years spent at the universities should be spent learning from God, giving them a solid foundation. I was fortunate to find a ministry that imparted the word of God and biblical life to me during college. Instead of our young people finding God in their early years they are finding the pleasures of sin. Our parents and churches need to be doing a better job of pointing our kids to God and His word and less to the pastor and people.

Discipleship goes both ways. Either we will train people toward God or away from God. Let us do a better job pointing people toward God.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/act.1.8.hcsb

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:19-20‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/mat.28.19-20.hcsb