It would appear from Scripture that Paul did indeed see Jesus personally. We know this because, in 1 Cor. 9:1, he said, “Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?” So he saw Jesus. But when did he see Him? Most probably, he saw Jesus before the crucifixion. Being a Pharisee, Paul would have great interest in the work of Christ as he went around Israel for 3 1/2 years. It’s safe to say that Paul saw Him. How could he not? Then, after the ascension of Christ, Paul continued to persecute the faithful. There is a reference in the Book of Acts when Stephen is stoned, which refers to him as Saul.
Acts 7:58, “When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.”
Nevertheless, though it does appear that Paul, then named Saul, was persecuting Christians, it wasn’t until Acts 9 that Paul had his conversion experience via his encounter with Jesus. It happened while he was on the road to Damascus to persecute Christians.
Acts 9:3–9, “As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and he fell to the ground and 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 get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.” 7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”
This is where Jesus intervened in Paul’s life and saved him. But it says that when Paul opened his eyes, he was blind (v. 8). So it will be difficult to say from this passage that this is where he saw Jesus. However, it does say that Paul saw a light around him, which was his encounter with Jesus. But there’s another set of verses less commonly referred to when answering this question.
Acts 23:10–11, “And as a great dissension was developing, the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them and ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks. 11 But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.’“
So here it is: the Lord Jesus stood at the side of Paul and spoke to him. Therefore, we can infer that Paul saw Jesus. Finally, there’s another set of verses worth looking at.
Galatians 1:11–12, 15-16, “For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. … 15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,”
It says here that Paul received the Gospel message through Jesus’ revelation. However, it does not specifically say he saw Jesus. Receiving revelation could be something of the mind and heart without seeing, so this again is inconclusive.
Conclusion
We can say that Paul saw Jesus because he said so in 1 Corinthians 9:1. Though Acts 9 and 23 are not absolute proof, they do support Paul’s personal encounter with the risen Lord Jesus.
