An Interview with Ananias and Paul: The Road to Damascus and Beyond

Interviewer: Welcome, and thank you both for joining me today. I’m honored to speak with you both — Ananias, the faithful disciple from Damascus, and Saul of Tarsus, also known as Paul, one of the most renowned apostles of Jesus Christ. Let’s start at the beginning, Saul. Could you tell us a bit about who you were before that day on the road to Damascus?

Paul: Thank you. Well, to begin, I was a Pharisee, deeply devoted to the Jewish faith and its traditions. I was raised and educated under Gamaliel, a respected teacher of the law (Acts 22:3). I was zealous for God and, in my mind, convinced that I was doing His will by persecuting the followers of Jesus. I saw them as blasphemers against the God of our fathers, and I thought it was my duty to eliminate this movement, which we called “The Way” (Acts 9:1-2).

Interviewer: So you really believed you were doing the right thing?

Paul: Absolutely. I was sincere, but as I later came to realize, I was sincerely wrong. I was filled with pride in my own knowledge and righteousness. I thought I was protecting the purity of our faith, but in reality, I was fighting against the very God I claimed to serve. That realization only struck me on the road to Damascus, and it was a terrifying revelation.

Interviewer: Ananias, let’s turn to you for a moment. What do you remember about that time, especially the moment when God called you to go to Saul?

Ananias: (smiling softly) Oh, it was a day I’ll never forget. I was praying when the Lord called my name, “Ananias.” I answered, “Yes, Lord.” Then He told me to go to the house of Judas on Straight Street, where I would find a man named Saul of Tarsus. God told me that Saul was praying and that he had seen a vision of me coming to restore his sight (Acts 9:10-12).

I must admit, I was frightened. Saul’s reputation had already spread throughout Damascus. I knew he had authority from the chief priests to arrest anyone who followed Jesus. I even told the Lord, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to Your holy people in Jerusalem” (Acts 9:13-14).

Interviewer: It must have taken incredible courage to obey that call. What made you go?

Ananias: It was the Lord’s response that gave me the courage. He said, “Go! This man is My chosen instrument to proclaim My name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name” (Acts 9:15-16). At that moment, I knew that God had a plan far greater than my own fears. I trusted His wisdom over my understanding.

Interviewer: Paul, tell us about the experience on the road to Damascus. What exactly happened?

Paul: It was extraordinary, unlike anything I had ever experienced. As I was traveling, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. It was brighter than the sun. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:3-4).

I asked, “Who are You, Lord?” And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do” (Acts 9:5-6). I was struck blind, and my companions had to lead me by the hand into Damascus. For three days, I was without sight, and I didn’t eat or drink (Acts 9:8-9). During that time, I was in complete darkness, both physically and spiritually, but I began to pray, seeking the very God I had been fighting against.

Interviewer: Ananias, when you arrived, what was it like meeting Saul face-to-face?

Ananias: I was still nervous, but the Lord had given me confidence. When I saw him, I laid my hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 9:17). Immediately, something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see. He was baptized right then and there (Acts 9:18). I could see the change in him instantly. He was a different man.

Interviewer: Paul, how did you feel after regaining your sight?

Paul: I felt like a new creation. I had been dead in my sins, but now I was alive in Christ. I knew that I had been forgiven, that Jesus had shown me mercy despite all I had done. I remember the words of David in Psalm 103: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). It was a new beginning, a chance to truly serve God with a pure heart.

Interviewer: How did people respond to this transformation, especially those who knew your past?

Paul: It was difficult. At first, many of the disciples were afraid of me and didn’t trust me. But Barnabas, a good man filled with the Holy Spirit, vouched for me. He took me to the apostles and explained how I had seen the Lord on the road and how I had preached fearlessly in Damascus (Acts 9:26-27). In time, they accepted me. I knew, though, that I would face skepticism and hostility, both from the Jews who saw me as a traitor and from Gentiles who didn’t understand the gospel.

Interviewer: Ananias, seeing the dramatic change in Saul, what impact did that have on your faith?

Ananias: It reminded me that God’s ways are higher than ours, and that He can redeem anyone, no matter how lost they seem. I learned that God sees potential where we see only brokenness. Saul, who became Paul, went on to become a pillar of the church, spreading the message of Jesus to the ends of the earth. I was humbled to be part of God’s plan, even in such a small way.

Interviewer: Paul, what message would you like to share with those who may be struggling with their past or feeling unworthy of God’s grace?

Paul: I would say, as I wrote in my letter to the Corinthians, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). No one is beyond the reach of God’s love and mercy. Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst (1 Timothy 1:15). If He can save me, He can save anyone. Surrender your life to Him, and He will transform you.

Interviewer: Thank you both for sharing your stories. Ananias, Paul — your experiences continue to inspire and remind us of God’s grace, forgiveness, and the power of transformation. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Ananias: Just this: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. He may call you to do things that seem impossible, but if He calls, He will equip you (Proverbs 3:5-6). Don’t be afraid to step out in faith.

Paul: And I would remind everyone that “nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39). I faced many hardships, persecutions, and trials, but through it all, Christ was my strength. His grace is sufficient.

Interviewer: Thank you, Ananias and Paul. Your testimonies are a powerful reminder of the hope and redemption found in Jesus Christ. May your words encourage many to seek God, no matter their past or present struggles.