The conversion of St. Paul was a pivotal moment in the life of the early Church. It was so important that St. Luke tells it three times in the Book of Acts. However, the way Acts reports the story seems somewhat inaccurate to the actual event. In the Acts, Saul (St. Paul) has his encounter with the Risen Jesus on the road to Damascus and immediately is converted and begins his preaching ministry. When St. Paul himself describes the incident in Galatians 1 he says he immediately went off for three years into Arabia. Only after that time did he return to Jerusalem and begin his ministry. Paul’s account reflects the dynamic of conversion — not an immediate switch, one moment you are this, the next you are that. Rather even a dramatic encounter with God requires prayer, reflection, guidance, formation, education in order to ground the conversion into one’s life.
