Caravaggio & Christianity: The Conversion of St. Paul

The Conversion of St. Paul by Caravaggio

Pictured above is one of my favorite paintings by the Italian artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. Although I also enjoy his secular paintings such as Narcissus and Medusa, Caravaggio's religious artwork speaks to me in much the same way as would a stirring sermon or a poignant worship song. The Conversion of St. Paul is no exception. It perfectly captures the single most important moment in any Christian's life, especially that of Paul (or Saul), the moment of being brought from death to life everlasting. 

"The most important event in human history apart from the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth is the conversion to Christianity of Saul of Tarsus. If Saul had remained a Jewish rabbi, we would be missing thirteen of twenty-seven books of the New Testament and Christianity's early major expansion to the Gentiles. Humanly speaking, without Paul Christianity would probably be of only antiquarian or arcane interest, like the Dead Sea Scrolls community or the Samaritans" (BibleGateway.com). 

As a mere work of art, viewers can appreciate the interesting choice of perspective, the unusual proportions, and Caravaggio's depiction of light (a painting technique for which he is famous). It is precisely this depiction of light and stark contrasting areas of dark space that create the heightened sense of emotion I feel when gazing upon this painting. The positioning of the central figure, Paul, is also worth noting. It is not often that the central male figure of a painting is represented as anything other than powerful, majestic, and full of pride and honor. However, this is not the case with Paul. The man presented here is terrified and awestruck; but he is also filled with humility, for he is not gazing out at the viewer. Instead, he is flat on his back with arms outstretched and shielding his eyes from something not visible within the parameters of the painting. That "something" is the source of light, the light which illuminates the face of a Saul turned Paul and renders him immobile.

Acts 9:1-19, Saul's Conversion 

¹ Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” ⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.   “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” ⁷ The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. ⁹ For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. ¹⁰ In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”   “Yes, Lord,” he answered. ¹¹ The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. ¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” ¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” ¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” ¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he 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.” ¹⁸ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, ¹⁹and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Figuratively that which illuminates Caravaggio's canvas is the presence of the Lord. In this moment, the Lord God is revealing Himself to Saul (formerly a murderer of Christians) and giving him a new life. In this new life, and with a new name (Paul), he would become one of the great champions of the Christian faith. Paul's experience on the road to Damascus happens to all Christians in some form or fashion. The Lord reveals Himself and His will to us. He offers us salvation, a life where we can be reconciled to Him. I find it difficult to believe that God would want to use me after some of the things I've done, sins I've committed. And yet, one glance at this painting tells me otherwise and reminds me that this belief is unfounded.


Perhaps this is why I love this painting so much. From it radiates an otherworldly hope. It is ripe with promise. It is a revelation of God's love and power. The Bible is full of ordinary, flawed men and women that God used to fulfill His purposes and to bring Him glory. If God can use Paul, then He can use me despite my multitude of shortcomings. My prayer is to be able to live a life that reflects the glory of God and His resurrecting power.

In order to be able to live a Christ-like life, I would do well to follow in Paul's footsteps. He completely surrendered himself to God (see close-up) and lived his life with a Christ-focused perspective: 

Philippians 3:7-14 

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

I wish that I could live every second of my life feeling as I did during my own conversion, those moments in which I felt so close to God. I imagine living the Christian life in that state would be easier somehow. And yet, even then, there was (and still is) a struggle going on. As in the painting, there is a battle being waged between the light and the dark. But, I can live in the confidence that the God who was with me then is with me now; and in the end, He will win and reign victorious.