Happy and blest
are they," which is beautifully melodious in character. Saul now appears,
"breathing out threatenings and slaughter" against the apostles. His
first aria ("Consume them all") is a bass solo which is fiery in its
energy. It is followed by the lovely arioso for alto, "But the Lord is
mindful of His own,"--fitting companion to the equally beautiful "O rest
in the Lord" from "Elijah," and much resembling it in general style. Then
occurs the conversion. The voice from heaven ("Saul, Saul, why
persecutest thou Me?") is represented, as was often done in the
passion-music, by the soprano choir, which gives it peculiar significance
and makes it stand out in striking contrast with the rest of the work. A
forcible orchestral interlude, worked up in a strong crescendo, leads to
the vigorous chorus, "Rise up! arise!" in which the powerful orchestral
climax adds great strength to the vocal part. It is a vigorously
constructed chorus, and is followed by a chorale ("Sleepers, wake! a
Voice is calling"), which still further heightens the effect by its
trumpet notes between the lines. At the close of the imposing harmony the
music grows deeper and more serious in character as Saul breathes out his
prayer, "O God, have Mercy upon me;" and again, after the message of
forgiveness and mercy delivered by Ananias, more joyful and exultant in
the bass solo with chorus ("I praise Thee, O Lord, my God"), Saul
receives his sight, and straightway begins his ministrations. A grand
reflective chorus ("O great is the Depth of the Riches of Wisdom"),
strong and jubilant in character, and rising to a powerful climax, closes
the first part.

The second part opens with the five-part chorus, "The Nations are now the
Lord's,"--a clear fugue, very stately and dignified in its style,
leading, after a tenor and bass duet ("Now all are Ambassadors in the
Name of Christ"), to the beautifully melodious chorus, "How lovely are
the Messengers that preach us the Gospel of Peace," and the equally
beautiful soprano arioso, "I will sing of Thy great Mercies." After the
chorus, "Thus saith the Lord," and a second tumultuous chorus expressive
of rage and scorn ("Is this He who in Jerusalem"), another chorale occurs
("O Thou, the true and only Light"), in which the Church prays for
direction. The tenor recitative announcing the departure of Paul and
Barnabas to the Gentiles, followed by the tenor and bass duet, "For so
hath the Lord Himself commanded," bri