I was thinking about the role of the community in promoting restorative justice and other forms of alternative justice to our current retributive system, and recently read the story of Paul’s conversion in Acts 9.
What’s striking to me about Paul’s conversion is not just the dramatic moment itself or the act and call of God, but also the response of the Christian community that he has victimized to his change of heart, which made restorative justice possible.
First Ananias welcomes Saul (who will soon be Paul) (Acts 9:13-17). He is nervous, and has to be persuaded by God, because of the harm Saul has done. But Ananias’ act of hospitality allows Saul to receive the Holy Spirit, be baptized and welcomed into the church, and start a new way of life. Without Ananias, Saul’s transformation can’t be completed. Without Ananias’ help, Saul is still blinded by the harm he’s done. The community, in the form of Ananias, provides support for his healing.
Then, when Saul returns to Jerusalem, the community at first rejects him, again because of the harm he has done. It is only when Barnabas advocates for him (9:27) that he is able to be brought to the apostles and share his story of conversion, and live into his new life as an apostle. Just like Ananias, Barnabas reaches out on behalf of the community Saul victimized and harmed and is accompanies him on his journey of reconciliation to it.
Saul could not have become Paul without the work of Ananias and Barnabas, who reached past their fears to support him.