Why, Paul reasoned, should it seem incredible that Christ should rise from the dead? Once it had thus seemed to him, but how could he disbelieve that which he himself had seen and heard? At the gate of Damascus he had verily looked upon the crucified and risen Christ, the same who had walked the streets of Jerusalem, died on Calvary, broken the bands of death, and ascended to heaven. As verily as had Cephas, James, John, or any others of the disciples, he 437 had seen and talked with Him. The Voice had bidden him proclaim the gospel of a risen Saviour, and how could he disobey? In Damascus, in Jerusalem, throughout all Judea, and in the regions afar off, he had borne witness of Jesus the Crucified, showing all classes "that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Hvorfor, sagde Paulus, skulle det være utroligt, at Kristus kunne opstå fra de døde? Sådan havde det også engang forekommet ham; men hvordan skulle han nu kunne tvivle om det, som han selv havde set og hørt? Ved Damaskus port havde han i sandhed haft den korsfæstede og opstandne Kristus for øje, den samme, der havde vandret i Jerusalems gader, var død på Golgata, men havde sønderbrudt dødens lænker og var steget op til Himmelen. Lige så sandt som Kefas, Jakob og Johannes eller nogen anden af disciplene havde set ham og talt med ham, havde også Paulus gjort det. Røsten havde givet ham befaling om at forkynde evangeliet om en opstanden Frelser og hvordan kunne han andet end adlyde? I Damaskus, i Jerusalem, i hele Judæa og i fjerne lande havde han vidnet om Jesus, den korsfæstede og vist alle mennesker, "at de skulle fatte et andet sind og omvende sig til Gud og gøre gerninger, som er omvendelsen værdige."