1) Jesus then instructs Paul to stand up, indicating that Paul had been knocked down. As we understand from other parts of his testimony, Paul was knocked down and blinded. Jesus then tells him to get up because they have work to do. Jesus appeared to Saul with a purpose, just as he appears to each of us with a purpose. The primary purpose was to transform Saul into Paul, just as Jesus transforms us from our old selves into our new selves.

2) There are times in our Christian journey, whether in the beginning or later on, where Jesus knocks us down, so that the only way that we can see is by looking up. And when we look up, It's Jesus that we see. Jesus doesn't do this to be mean. He does this to get our attention. He will knock us down to help us look up and see Him. But he never knocks us down to hurt us. He knocks us down to help us.

3) In verse 16, Jesus specifically tells Paul what he is required to do. He has been appointed to be a servant and a witness. Each of us has an appointment, a destiny, and a purpose. There is a reason for our existence and a fulfillment to it. Undoubtedly, this involves us being servants and witnesses in some capacity. Jesus tells Paul, and by extension, us, to tell people about what God has done, what God has shown, and what he is doing and showing. It's all part of the journey.