Paul the Persecutor
Paul, before his conversion was known as Saul. He was a Jew and his ancestors were from the tribe of Benjamin. He was also a zealous Pharisee.
"For I was circumcised when I was eight days old, having been born into a pure-blooded Jewish family that is a branch of the tribe of Benjamin. So I am a real Jew if there ever was one! What's more, I was a member of the Pharisees, who demanded the strictes obedience to the Jewish law. And zealous? Yes, in fact I harshly persecuted the church. And I obeyed the Jewish law so carefully that I was never accused of any fault". Philippians 3:5-6
He was a Roman citizen, born in the city of Tarsus. He was educated in Jerusalem inthe school of Gamaliel.
"I am a Jew born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel" Acts 22:3
He persecuted the early Christians and was even present at the stoning to death of Stephen, the first christian matyr.
"They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. The official witnesses took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they stoned him, Stephen prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' And he feel to his knees, shouting, 'Lord, don't charge them with this sin!' And with that, he died". Acts 7:59-60
"Saul was going everywhere to devastate the church. He went from house to house, drawing out both men and women to throw them into jail. Acts 8:1,3
Paul, the Convert
Paul or Saul became an Apostle after Jesus' death and resurrection. He was first an avid persecutor of the early christian church and was on a mission to Damascus to have as many of them arrested.
"Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath. He was eager to destroy the Lord's followers, so he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them - both men and women - back to Jerusalem in chains." Acts 9:1-2
On his way to Damascus, he saw a vision that led him to change his life completely.
"As I was on the road, nearing Damascus, about noon a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'
Who are you, sir? I asked. And he replied, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting'. The people with me saw the light but didn't hear the voice.
I said 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord told me, 'Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that you are to do'.
I was blinded by the intense light and had to be led into Damascus by my companionsActs 32:6-11
When he got to Damascus he met Ananias. Jesus also came to Ananias in a vision and told him to accept Saul and to lay his hands on him, so he can see again.
"So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you may get your sight back and be filled with the Holy Spirit'. Instantly something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he go up and was baptized. Acts 9:17-18
Paul the Apostle
Paul is now officially an apostle.
"... The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear him speak. You are to take his message everywhere, telling the whole world what you have seen and heard." Acts 22:14-15
"This letter is from Paul, Jesus Christ's slave, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News". Romans 1:1
Paul Begins to Preach
Paul didn't waste any time. He soon began preaching about Jesus Christ. The Jewish leaders however, devised a plot to kill him and he had to escape to Jerusalem. There he met Barnabas and the other apostles who were initially afraid of him, but accepted him after Barnabas explained to them his conversion.
"Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, 'He is indeed the Son of God.' Acts 9:19-20
"Saul's preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn't refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. After a while the Jewish leaders decided to kill him... So during the night, some of the other believers let him down in a large basket through an opening in the city wall.
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him... Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus. Barnabas also told them what the Lord had said to Saul and how he boldly preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus. Then the apostles accepted Saul, and after that he was constantly with them in Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord." Acts 9:22-28
Paul sent to the Gentiles
Paul's mission was to spread the message of the Good News to the Gentiles. Gentiles were non-Jews.
"One day as these men were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work I have for them.'
Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, 'It was necessary that this Good News from God be given first to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life - well, we will offer it to Gentiles. For this is as the Lord commanded us when he said:
'I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.' Acts 13:2, 46-47
"I am saying all of this especially for you Gentiles, God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles". Romans 11:13
Images taken from Visual Bible Alive
Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles
