Paul was given three miraculous and amazing signs that God was speaking to him.
First, "...a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me." Then, the voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And the response, "I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting."
Finally, the blindness. Saul was so moved he didn't eat or drink for three days!
Since Saul immediately said, "What shall I do, sir?" we can assume that his conversion was immediate. Yet the Lord still left him blind for three days.
Perhaps the continued blindness was less for Paul's sake than for Ananias and the other Christians who were terrified of Paul. Even when the Lord spoke directly to Ananias and asked him to find Saul that Ananias might lay his hands on him and heal him, Ananius replied, "Lord I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name."
The Lord then explained, "Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel..."
So Ananias found Saul blind, just as the Lord had said. He prayed over him and Saul received his sight, after which he was baptized. Perhaps Ananias himself baptized Saul.
When the early Christians heard the story of Paul's conversion and miracle of his sight returning, surely it was then that their fear of Paul dissolved. What a convincing sign that Paul had indeed been chosen by God for the spread of the Gospel.
May we all turn to God and say with Paul, "What shall I do, sir?" And then follow his instructions that his most perfect will might be done in each of our lives.
Learn more about Saint Paul from Bishop Robert Barron.
Other inspiring videos from Bishop Barron can be found at https://www.wordonfire.org/
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