road to Damascus

From the Bible New Testament book Acts of the Apostles. Ch.9 Referring to the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, later known as the Apostle Paul, to Christianity while travelling to Damascus to persecute Christians.

road to Damascus

1. (idiomatic) An important point in someone's life where a great change, or reversal, of ideas or beliefs occurs.
   • 2007, Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, addressing the CPAC in March. onenewsnow

     Today we hear a lot about those who have had what's often called Road to Damascus experiences on every issue from guns and same-sex marriage to the sanctity-of-life and taxes.

   • 2007, Bryan Ferry, The Observer, Sunday March 18, 2007

     That was my Road to Damascus moment. They played one hit after another and this is the song I remember most clearly.

   • 2010, Vernon Jones, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Sunday February 14, 2010

     The candidate is aggressively branding himself as Vernon 2.0, a kinder, gentler Vernon Jones, a bridge builder, a fence mender. Asked by a Rockdale editor about his “road to Damascus moment,” Jones laughs. “I got knocked off my donkey,” he says.

• Often used attributively.

• Acts of the Apostles
• Damascene conversion