“I Was Blind, But Now I See”
Ricci Johnson-Wilson
May 26, 2025
Last week, we read through Acts 7, discussing the catalyst that the increased persecution of the Church had after Pentecost on the expanding Revival. We concluded with the martyrdom of Stephen. We left off with the explosion that occurred in the early Church as they fled Jerusalem.
In Acts 8:3 the Bible tells us that Saul, “…shamefully treated and laid waste the church continuously [with cruelty and violence]; and entering house after house, he dragged out men and women and committed them to prison.” Saul, who was already pursuing those in the city, is about to begin his three-year rampage against the Church.
In spite of his treatment of the early Church, if I had the privilege to meet anyone in the Bible, Paul is in my top three. (Paul is the Greek form of Saul.) Moses and King David are the other two. I love Paul, his humility, his pursuit of Christ when his eyes were finally open grip my heart deeply. His unwavering stance to bring the Church out of darkness and compromise with the world, and take them, all who would, into a place of maturity in God touches me beyond description.
So, here we are, it’s been about three years between the events of Acts 8 and Acts 9. Saul—who will soon be known as Paul, the Apostle—has been laying waste to those who are of “the Way”. (Acts 9:2 uses this term) This is used to describe the early Christians five times in the book of Acts. These are those who confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and died like a thief on the Cross taking upon Himself our sins. He was then laid in a tomb and rose again on the third day victorious over sin and death. He revealed Himself to the Apostles, then 500 others, prior to His ascension, and Paul further says in 1 Corinthians 15, lastly, to him, as “one born out of due time.” (1 Corinthians 15:1-8)
Acts 9:1-8 “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Paul is enraged, he likely feels this is a righteous anger given to him by God. One that justifies ending the lives of all those who he would see as threatening the purity and righteousness of the Law and the Prophets, and/or the traditions of Judaism. He felt the future of Judaism was at stake and his mission in life was to protect and preserve it. The more he gathered and tortured the Christians, even putting them to death to quash this heresy, the more determined he becomes to continue his path of death and destruction. He is a Pharisee who sat under the esteemed Gamaliel! He is defending God and protecting others from this terrible heresy that claims that Jesus is the Son of God.
He is not the only one who feels this way; to receive letters to travel from city to city requires a vote of all 70 of the Sanhedrin. Gamaliel, whose wisdom to withhold punishment to the Apostles literally spared their lives back in Acts 5 is now among those who vote to grant Saul the right to pursue the Christians in such a manner.
Paul was aggressive in his tactics, he, in his many, very transparent testimonies of his conversion said the following:
Galatians 1:13-14“3 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14 and profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.”
And he admitted in Acts 26:11 as he retells this account that one of his greatest regrets was compelling the Christians to blaspheme God in the synagogue.
“And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.”
And, in Acts 22:4 he admits this was unto death:
“And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.”
So, to say that Saul’s inner drive to extinguish Christianity from the earth would not be an exaggeration. And at this time in history, the Sanhedrin still had the authority to execute punishments of not only imprisonment, and 39 lashes, but they could sentence them to death. Saul became the spearhead of the movement. His conversion is truly remarkable, and he does not bury the truth or hide from his past as he describes it.
Acts 9:3-9
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus:
Damascus was about 130 miles from Jerusalem, a six to seven-day journey north. Damascus was the capital of Syria with over 100,000 citizens. It was one of the oldest, continuously inhabited cities of the ancient world. According to Josephus, Damascus was founded by Uz, the grandson of Shem. We learn in Genesis 14 that Abraham pursued the 5 kings to Damascus to rescue his nephew Lot. This was, and is, an ancient city!
A significant population of devout Jews lived here. In addition, a segment of the Christians forced to flee Jerusalem after Stephen was martyred, travelled to, and settled in Damascus. Saul, in his zeal, is headed here to put a stop to what he considers to be heresy!
Continuing on…
Acts 9:3b-9
“and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.”
Let this passage sink in. Can you imagine seeing and hearing that the rampage you have been on to wipe this disease of Christianity from the face of the earth, was in and of itself, a deception? You were wrong? That the people you have been pursuing were truly followers of the long-awaited Messiah?
Saul’s entire life was spent studying the Scriptures, and as he looked up and saw the Messiah, and heard His voice, he must’ve come to the revelation that all of that knowledge he’d gained meant nothing because it never penetrated his heart. Paul’s encouragement in Ephesians 1:18 to “pray that the eyes of your understanding will be enlightened” comes from his own experience of being in darkness. He knows what it feels like to have so much knowledge in your head and to come to the realization that your heart is as dark as night.
Once his spiritual eyes begin to open, he has only two questions:
1) Who art thou, Lord?
2) Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?
The Lord could have told him everything right there, but He doesn’t. He only tells him the first step. “Go into the city and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”
The Lord was about to use an ordinary but obedient man to open the eyes of his chosen vessel, the one who would turn the world upside down during and leave for us, nearly half of the New Covenant books. Yes, HALF penned by Saul/Paul in the midst of a profoundly powerful calling to open the eyes of the blind and set the captives free. He was an extraordinary person led by the hand by his travelling companions right down the street called Straight. Josephus says that this street was the main street in and out of Damascus.
It's here in these three days of darkness that Saul neither eats nor drinks, but I imagine, he wept. I wonder if the image of every face he persecuted came before his eyes as he wept bitterly over the knowledge that the One He persecuted was indeed, the Messiah. He surely repented as he prayed. The Scriptures tell us that during this time, the Lord gave him a vision of Ananias coming to pray for him that he might receive his sight.
Who is Ananias? An ordinary, yet obedient servant of the Lord:
Acts 9:10-15a
10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way
Behold, I am here, Lord.
Ananias’ response to the Lord was different, he knew the Lord. He does not have to ask “who” he only declares that “he is willing.” Behold I am here Lord. Now, we are not negating the wrestling Ananias went through when the Lord asked him to go. In fact, Ananias’ account provides us with a little more information on the mission of Saul: to bind up all that call on Thy name. Ananias understood the authority Saul had in those letters to bind up him, and every Christian he knew, and sentence them all to death. Despite his wrestling, he goes, an obedient, servant of the Lord.
Encountering love-the scales fall
Acts 9:17-19
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
There are a couple points here that we cannot skip over in terms of obedience to the Lord in the midst of persecution.
Our responsibility to those who persecute us:
1) To love them.
2) To pray for them, that the scales will fall from their eyes.
3) To be a willing vessel when called upon by the Lord.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:44
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
How do we know that the very person persecuting us isn’t going to come into the Light because we are praying for them? Or showing God’s love to them? We often talk about the fact that one person will plant the Seed, another will water, and another will harvest. Do we really understand that? Do we acknowledge the fact that our deposit of God’s love into someone’s life, friend or foe, can turn the tide in their life to find Jesus? A warm meal on the street, a jacket, an offer of prayer, these things insert love into someone’s heart that might otherwise be closed. Depositing truth into a young person’s life to counter the deception can have a profound effect as the new breed of believers, that Samual Generation I often speak of, arises. Many will come out of deception and into the Light and be unbelievable warriors for the Kingdom of Heaven. Are we praying for them? Do we deposit love into their hearts?
I know it can be difficult to do this, especially if we have been persecuted by them. The Lord will help us, if we are willing? Saying to the Lord “Here I am” is the first step. Being willing to pray for them is often one of the greatest acts of love we can extend. Blessing them in our time with the Lord can impact them in ways that we cannot imagine.
Paul said in Romans 12:20
“Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”
If a neighbor’s fire went out, they would take their bucket, go to their neighbor’s home, knock on the door and ask for some hot coals to help kindle their fire. It was a cultural courtesy to provide this regardless of the relationship.
If we heap coals upon their head, we are helping them to retain the fire in their homes. This fire will warm them at night, provide light in the evening, bake their bread, cook their meat, boil their water, all to sustain them and their family. This act of love, is one that extends their life and serves the needs of both them and their family.
Paul, who persecuted the Church for three years, “breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” (a disciple is anyone who follows Christ). Encountered love through the Lord’s servant Ananias who came and prayed for his eyes to be opened that he might see.
When Ananias prayed for Paul, scales fell from his eyes.
Paul’s Zeal Turns to the Light
The Lord’s word to Ananias was quickly fulfilled:
Acts 9:20-22
20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
Immediately, Saul sets to work preaching. He is a chosen vessel of the Lord’s. He is to bear the name of Jesus before Gentiles, Kings, and the children of Isreal. This was his commission. Ananias surely expressed this to Saul when he prayed for him and the scales that kept Saul searching inwardly for 3 days fell from his eyes. He who was once blind, could now see. Saul is the epitome of John 9:25. He was blind to the Truth, blind to the Messiah. The revelation of Jesus was meticulously woven throughout the Old Covenant that Saul knew so well, yet he was blind to His presence when He walked this earth. Paul is only a few years younger than Jesus. He had to have seen or at least heard of Him when He walked this earth. He was blind to Him then, but when those scales fell from his eyes, he could boldly proclaim now I see!
The same zeal that Saul pursued the Christians was now unleashed upon him by the Pharisees. The Lord would tuck him away for years to unpack revelation from the Scriptures that he would, in the coming years, preach and write out in the form of letters to the Churches around the Ancient world, many while he sat imprisoned for his faith.
He would emerge “Paul, the Apostle” and minister before Kings, Jews and Gentiles, and spread the Gospel message some 10,000 miles before he laid his life down for the sake of the Gospel. Paul’s Damascus Road experience was so complete he submitted to Christ in much suffering, and ultimately, will be martyred for Christ.
Saul, the persecutor becomes Paul, the living martyr for Christ. He was blind but now he sees. Ananias’ obedience paves the path to open his eyes,
This transformation is one of my favorite accounts in the Word of God, and I absolutely love the love of a humble servant of the Lord who was willing to intercede when called upon.
Let’s apply that today.
It can be very difficult to pray for those who persecute us. When Joe Biden, took office, he began his terrible rampage against righteousness. The assault he wielded on the moral fiber of our nation with his corrupt policies was horrible. He unleashed a torrential downpour of sin, debauchery, and bloodletting across a nation we spent 20 plus years repenting over to get it cleaned up and ready for Revival. I struggled with every EO he or the autopen signed because the Lord had already shown me exactly what a Biden Administration would look like 104 days before the election. The thought of praying for a man that pushed all of that on our children, our families, and our churches, was simply too much for me.
In 2021 I had a dream of Biden, I walked into the Oval Office, which was flipped backwards, placed my hands on his desk and said “Joe, you’ve been weighted in the balance and found wanting.” He responded by slamming his hands on his desk, and as he went to stand up, I was pulled by the Lord from his office. The doors were slammed shut and locked. When I looked down, I was holding his right hand-this speaks of authority-with a black watch, in my hands. The watch had no hands, signifying that Biden’s authority had run out and he was no longer in control.
We prayed over that dream in the next week of services, and before we started, Mom texted me and said to repent for him. I’ll never forget the emotions I went through. I thought for sure I would fail. I could not weep for him. I just couldn’t. After everything he had done to the babies, the children, the Church, the nation… All I could do was say to the Lord, I am here, what would You have me to do?
When I unmuted my line, I stumbled through the first few words and then all I could do was weep for his soul. I cried out for mercy and repented over decisions he was making on our behalf. I cried out for him like I would my own son. Hell is forever, that’s all that went through my heart and mind. God was merciful and helped me, that’s all I can say.
A few months later I had another dream, I saw Biden in the residence quarters of the White House. He got up off the couch and was preparing to leave. The doors were locked. He checked every door, every window, as the panic within him intensified. I could feel it; the panic was so severe. He banged on every possible exit, but no one was coming. He started throwing objects toward the doors and windows, but he could not escape. I knew he was trapped in a prison of his own doing, but I believe at that time, his diagnosis was made known to him and no one was going to help him. It was not long after, we saw a sharp decline in his mental faculties.
I know there are people on the right, even Christians who feel this cancer diagnosis was somehow justice, but if that man does not repent, he will spent eternity in hell, and hell is forever. The only justice in this situation is a result of the unlocking and exposing of things that have been hidden coming to the nation as they realize they’ve been liked to. As people see this man did not really run the nation, it will expose the Cabal. They’ll blame it on Jill and his family, but it will really expose the Cabal in greater measure than we have ever seen before. We will see that the faces in the White House have been just their puppets. We will look back and say, “this announcement was the catalyst that opened the floodgates of that which was hidden.” Through it, we will see people who have been hardcore democrats come out of this deception and into the light. We cannot gloat, please don’t even say he’s getting what he deserved, hell is forever. If we keep our hearts right, and continue to pray for that exposure, issues we’ve prayed over for years will come into the light. Please, pray for Joe to come to repentance. Pray for the scales to fall from his eyes.
In this process, there will be many of our persecutors experiencing their own Damascus Road experience. Will we have shown then the love they needed to know where to turn? Will we be an Ananias who says “yes Lord, what will you have me to do?” or a Barnabus (Acts 9:27) who defends them if need be? Will we grant them the grace to enter truth’s door and help them navigate through their grief, their greatest regrets, and come to a place of wholeness? If we can love those who persecute us enough to continue to pray for them, when the scales fall off and they cry out “I was blind but now I see!” we will see the greatest explosion of the Awakening and revival the world has ever known.
Blessings & love,
Ricci Johnson-Wilson
