Saul recognized Jesus' true identity as Lord, but he did not yet understand Christ's death and resurrection.
Les Feldick asks directly: "But, how much does Saul know on the road to Damascus? That Christ died for his sins, and that He had risen? No!" He clarifies that Saul "has only recognized who Jesus really was." Scripture records Saul saying, "Who art thou, Lord?" and the Lord answering, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." At that moment, Saul understood who Jesus was, not yet the full work of the cross and the resurrection.
Acts 9:5 — This is the moment Jesus directly identifies Himself to Saul, answering the core question of who He is.
In Acts 9, Saul of Tarsus was journeying toward Damascus with authority from the chief priests to persecute believers. As he neared the city, "suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven." Saul fell to the earth and heard a voice: "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Saul asked, "Who art thou, Lord?" and the Lord replied, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." Scripture also records Saul's immediate response: "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" After this, Saul was led by the hand into Damascus, unable to see because of the brightness of the light.
Les Feldick is explicit: on the road to Damascus, Saul did not know that Christ died for his sins and that He had risen. That was not the basis yet. What Saul recognized was who Jesus really was — the same Lord he had thought he was serving. Before this, Saul had considered Jesus of Nazareth a blasphemer and an imposter, and he thought stamping out His followers was a service to God. But the ascended, glorified Lord of glory stopped him in his tracks. Les emphasizes that Saul was a religious man — a Pharisee of the Pharisees, of the tribe of Benjamin, a believer in the Old Testament and the Mosaic Law. Yet grace saved him with no merit of his own. Saul responded to the encounter by saying, "Who art thou, Lord?" and then, "Lord, what would you have me to do?" He had no argument; he was ready to obey. Even after recognizing Jesus, Saul still did not understand the full scope of God's purposes. Les points out that Saul had no idea God was going to turn to the Gentiles with a different program. He went straightway to preach Christ in the synagogues — still Jew only, because all he and others knew at that point was the Old Testament.
No. Les Feldick specifically asks how much Saul knew on the road to Damascus and answers: "That Christ died for his sins, and that He had risen? No!" He says "that isn't the basis yet." The only recognition Saul had at that moment was who Jesus really was.
Saul was a religious zealot. Les says he honestly thought that by stamping out anything that referred to Jesus of Nazareth in Israel, he was doing the God of Abraham a service. Saul considered Jesus "nothing but a blasphemer" and an "imposter from Nazareth," and he was determined to stamp out His followers at any cost.
When Saul confronted the ascended, glorified Lord of glory, his immediate response was "Who art thou Lord?" Les describes this as a humble seeking sinner saved by grace — someone ready to do whatever God wants him to do. Saul saw the identity of the Lord clearly and had no argument, responding, "Lord, what would you have me to do?"
Even after recognizing who Jesus really was, Saul had no idea that God was going to go to the Gentiles with a different program. He went straightway to preach Christ in the synagogues — still Jew only. As Les says, "all they knew was this Old Testament."
Saul's Limited Knowledge on the Road
Les directly answers the question: Saul did not yet know that Christ died for his sins or had risen; he only recognized who Jesus really was.
Saul's Religious Zeal
Les explains that Saul was a religious zealot who thought he was serving God by stamping out anything that referred to Jesus of Nazareth.
Saul's View of Jesus as a Blasphemer
Les says Saul thought Jesus was an imposter and a blasphemer, but was confronted by the ascended, glorified Lord of glory on the road.
Saul's Response of Grace
Saul's response, "Who art thou Lord?" shows a humble seeking sinner saved by grace, ready to do whatever God wanted.
Why the Resurrection Happens in Order — 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
Now we won't spend time in his salvation experience on the road to Damascus, but I'd like to have you come all the way down to chapter 9, and we deal with Ananias, the believing Jew there in Damascus. The Lord is speaking through Ananias concerning Saul who will shortly be coming into his acquaintanceship. And of course it says up here in verse 13, Ananias answered, 13.
Saul's Jewish Religious Background
Les emphasizes that Saul was totally religious — a believer in the Old Testament and the Mosaic Law, a Pharisee of the Pharisees, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Saul's Immediate Submission
Saul saw and recognized the Lord with no argument, responding, "Lord, what would you have me to do?"
Saul Still Didn't Understand the Gentile Program
After recognizing Jesus as the very God he thought he was serving, Saul still had no idea about God's separate Gentile program; he preached in synagogues, still Jew only.
Acts 9:4: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
This shows the moment of direct confrontation between the Lord and Saul on the Damascus Road.
Acts 9:5: 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.
This is the central revelation Saul received — Jesus of Nazareth was the Lord.
Acts 9:6: 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.
This records Saul's immediate submission after recognizing who Jesus was.
No. Les Feldick explicitly states that Saul did not yet know that Christ died for his sins or that He had risen. At that moment, Saul's knowledge was limited to recognizing who Jesus really was.
Before the encounter, Saul considered Jesus of Nazareth nothing but a blasphemer and an imposter. He thought he was doing God a service by stamping out the followers of Jesus.
Saul responded, "Who art thou, Lord?" and then, "Lord, what would you have me to do?" This showed his immediate submission and readiness to obey.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul's Gospel Is Different From Peter's — Acts 9 & Galatians 1