Any persuasion involves sufficient causation. Choices are not made randomly; they are based on reason and reason, using education, experience, culture etc., weighs causes and usually chooses the sufficient cause.
“The persuasion wasn't that difficult, once Paul realized Who he was talking to.”
Acts 9:3-6, “And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”
Paul explains this confrontation this way and it all of God's calling, not foreseen choices,
Gal.1:15-16, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:”
This echoes the experiences of King David and the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah,
Psa 22:9-10, “But thou [art] he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope [when I was] upon my mother's breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou [art] my God from my mother's belly.”
Psa 139:13-16, “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made: marvellous [are] thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, [and] curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them.”
Isa. 49:1,5, “Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.”....”And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him,”
Jer. 1:5, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”
Amen. All glory to God for his all-accomplishing grace given to sinners who don’t know Him unless and until He chooses to reveal Himself to them.