Did Paul meet Jesus?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Paul did not meet Jesus in the same way as the other disciples who lived and served with Him; he did meet Him. His first encounter was on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1–19; cf. Acts 22:6–18). That was while he was still rounding up Christians to persecute and kill them. Paul heard Jesus’ voice telling him to stop. Jesus blinded him and commissioned him to go to the Gentiles. He was baptized after Ananias, another disciple, restored his sight (Acts 9:10–19).

Later, when Paul was summarizing the gospel, he commented, “[Jesus] appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me” (1 Corinthians 15:7–8). The word used for “appeared” implies more than simply hearing his voice, but seeing the risen Jesus after the ascension.

While Paul immediately began proclaiming Jesus as Savior (Acts 9:20–22), he had much to learn. While we are not given the details, Paul referred to receiving revelation from Jesus (Galatians 1:11–12). Scripture also records additional visions given to Paul by Jesus (Acts 18:9; 23:11; 2 Corinthians 12:1–7). Whether or not there were other physical appearances, we are not told. But it’s clear that his relationship with Jesus made him fit to take the gospel to the Gentiles.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Paul meeting Jesus is not mentioned in the Old Testament.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Paul did not meet Jesus during His earthly ministry—he was not one of the twelve disciples. During that time, Paul (then Saul) was a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5) and, after Jesus ascended, became a persecutor of the church (Acts 8:3; 9:1–2). There is no record of him, as Jesus’ enemy, meeting Him before the ascension.
• However, after Jesus ascended and after Paul began persecuting the Christians, he was heading to Damascus to capture any Christians (Acts 9:1). Along the road, he was stopped by a bright light (Acts 9:3). Falling to the ground, Jesus spoke to him to tell him to stop persecuting him (Acts 9:4–5). Paul would later recount this account, giving fuller details on the conversation with Jesus, specifically his being called to bring the good news to the Gentiles (Acts 26:12–18; cf. Acts 22:6–10).
• Therefore, Paul did meet Jesus, but in a unique way. Later, speaking to the church of Corinth about what happened after Jesus rose again, he said, “[Jesus] appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me” (1 Corinthians 15:7–8). Using the same word for “appeared” as Jesus did with the other disciples, Paul was saying he personally met Jesus (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:1).
• Paul had other interactions with Jesus, specifically in visions (Galatians 1:11–12; 2 Corinthians 12:1–7) and other communication (Acts 18:9; 23:11). Paul’s mission was not based on his wisdom or knowledge but on what he received from the Lord, whether in person or vision. This was confirmed by submitting what he had learned for review by the other disciples (Galatians 2:1–2).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Each of the Apostles was a man who personally met and knew Jesus (Acts 1:21–22). Paul was no exception. While he met Jesus differently from the rest, God had singled Him out for a special mission: to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles. And God did use him mightily; his writings make up more of the New Testament than those of any other single author. It is through Paul that the message of the Gospel was so clearly articulated to explain how God’s saving plan to Israel could be rightly expanded to all men and women everywhere.

Paul taught that the Gospel was the power of God, through which He was bringing salvation to the nations (Romans 1:16). He explained how the value of knowing Jesus far exceeded anything in this life (Philippians 3:8), and was willing to suffer (2 Corinthians 11:23–28), be imprisoned (2 Timothy 1:8), and die (2 Timothy 4:6) to share that Gospel with others. Indeed, it is through Paul’s work that God began the spread of the gospel throughout the nations. Every missionary endeavor since that time has Paul to look to as a model.

Paul was an extraordinary man, but he would say that he was nothing and that Jesus was everything (1 Corinthians 15:10). He taught that we all sinned and deserved God’s eternal wrath (Romans 3:23). But that God sent His Son Jesus to be the propitiation for our sin (Romans 3:25). That is, being rich in mercy, God saved us when we were unable to save ourselves (Ephesians 2:4–5). He explained that it is to those who have faith in Jesus that God credits righteousness (Romans 4:5).

Paul’s Gospel is our Gospel. We encourage you today to repent and believe in Jesus, and then you too will be saved (Romans 10:9–10).

UNDERSTAND

• Paul did not follow Jesus during His earthly ministry, but he encountered the risen Christ on the road to Damascus after the ascension.
• Paul’s experienced Jesus through genuine resurrection appearances, confirming that he truly saw the Lord.
• Paul’s apostolic authority and teaching were grounded in direct revelation from Jesus.

REFLECT

• How do you recognize that the same risen Christ who confronted Paul is alive and active today?
• How willing are you to let Jesus redirect your life as decisively as He redirected Paul’s?
• Where are you challenged or encouraged that God can transform even those who once opposed Him?

ENGAGE

• How does Paul’s encounter with the risen Christ support his claim to apostleship alongside the Twelve?
• How might comparing Paul’s encounter to the other resurrection appearances deepen our appreciation for the different ways God reveals Himself to His people?
• How does reflecting on Paul’s dramatic encounter with the risen Christ shape our understanding of God’s ability to redirect and use anyone for His purposes?