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19 and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.|{{B|Acts of the Apostles|9:1-22}}}}
19 and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.|{{B|Acts of the Apostles|9:1-22}}}}


In two other passages in Acts ({{B|Acts|22:6-16}} and {{B|Acts|26:12ff}} the Damascus experience is described as Paul's own account. Paul also describes the encounter with the Risen Lord several times in his letters ({{B|Gal|1:15ff}}; {{B|Phil|3:7ff}}; {{B|1 Cor|15:8f}}.  
In two other passages in Acts ({{B|Acts|22:6-16}} and {{B|Acts|26:12ff}}) the Damascus experience is described as Paul's own account. Paul also describes the encounter with the Risen Lord several times in his letters ({{B|Gal|1:15ff}}; {{B|Phil|3:7ff}}; {{B|1 Cor|15:8f}}).  


{{GZ|What was it then that Paul, as Saul, persecuted the Christ-followers? It was because Paul, as Saul, had learned to recognise in the ancient Hebrew initiation: the Christ lives only outside in the cosmos, and those are in error who claim that the Christ lives in the earth. When Paul had his enlightenment before Damascus, he first learned that he was in error, because he only believed what had been true before. But what had formerly been true had now become different, what had formerly dwelt only in the sun had descended to the earth and henceforth lived in the forces of the earth. And so, for those who first made it known to men, the Mystery of Golgotha was not an earth event alone, but a world event; a world event which in the first post-Christian times was taught by the actual initiates in the following manner.
{{GZ|What was it then that Paul, as Saul, persecuted the Christ-followers? It was because Paul, as Saul, had learned to recognise in the ancient Hebrew initiation: the Christ lives only outside in the cosmos, and those are in error who claim that the Christ lives in the earth. When Paul had his enlightenment before Damascus, he first learned that he was in error, because he only believed what had been true before. But what had formerly been true had now become different, what had formerly dwelt only in the sun had descended to the earth and henceforth lived in the forces of the earth. And so, for those who first made it known to men, the Mystery of Golgotha was not an earth event alone, but a world event; a world event which in the first post-Christian times was taught by the actual initiates in the following manner.

Revision as of 07:08, 26 July 2021

The Damascus experience led Paul of Tarsus to an encounter with the risen Christ on the way to Damascus. This convinced him that in Jesus of Nazareth the Messiah (Greek: Χριστός Christós "the anointed one") expected in Jewish tradition had indeed already appeared on Earth. Paul, who until then had relentlessly persecuted the followers of the Christ out of "zeal for the law", then became the apostle of Jesus Christ.

In the Acts of the Apostles, Paul's Damascus experience and its immediate consequences are described in detail:

The Conversion of Saul

1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;

Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues

19 and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

In two other passages in Acts (Acts 22:6–16 and Acts 26:12ff) the Damascus experience is described as Paul's own account. Paul also describes the encounter with the Risen Lord several times in his letters (Gal 1:15ff; Phil 3:7ff; 1 Cor 15:8f).

„What was it then that Paul, as Saul, persecuted the Christ-followers? It was because Paul, as Saul, had learned to recognise in the ancient Hebrew initiation: the Christ lives only outside in the cosmos, and those are in error who claim that the Christ lives in the earth. When Paul had his enlightenment before Damascus, he first learned that he was in error, because he only believed what had been true before. But what had formerly been true had now become different, what had formerly dwelt only in the sun had descended to the earth and henceforth lived in the forces of the earth. And so, for those who first made it known to men, the Mystery of Golgotha was not an earth event alone, but a world event; a world event which in the first post-Christian times was taught by the actual initiates in the following manner.

They were so deeply initiated, these first Christian initiates, that they knew: The Christ who appears today as the Being who passed through the Mystery of Golgotha in the beginning of the age, the Christ descended to the Sun from still further heights, there Zarathustra beheld Him. Then his power passed into the rays of the sun, and he was seen by the Egyptian initiates. Then his power lived in the circle of the earth, and the Greek initiates saw him. Now he is to be seen as he himself walked among men as a being with an earthly body, now he is to be seen in such a way that one beholds his right form in the Risen One, in him who is in the earth, who has seen the mystery of the earth, who can now gradually let this mystery flow over into the development of mankind.“ (Lit.:GA 211, p. 187)

Literature
References to the work of Rudolf Steiner follow Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works (CW or GA), Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach/Switzerland, unless otherwise stated.
Email: verlag@steinerverlag.com URL: www.steinerverlag.com.
Index to the Complete Works of Rudolf Steiner - Aelzina Books
A complete list by Volume Number and a full list of known English translations you may also find at Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works
Rudolf Steiner Archive - The largest online collection of Rudolf Steiner's books, lectures and articles in English.
Rudolf Steiner Audio - Recorded and Read by Dale Brunsvold
steinerbooks.org - Anthroposophic Press Inc. (USA)
Rudolf Steiner Handbook - Christian Karl's proven standard work for orientation in Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works for free download as PDF.
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