The Apostle Paul, one of the most prolific writers and defenders of our Christian faith.
What we know of Saul before he became Paul is scarce. He was a Pharisee, he was from a prominent family, some even suggest that he was the rich young ruler that talked with Christ. He was a roman and a Jew. He was well educated, and very fanatical in his religious pursuits. He was also the one who gave consent and held the clothes at the stoning of Stephen. He was given authority to stamp out, persecute, and rid this new religion however he could.
Then on a road trip to Damascus something happened. This man who was fervently persecuting the new church, this new sect called Christians, had an epiphany. He was visited by Jesus.
Acts 7:57-60
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 8:1-4KJV
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
We have had no official record of this man Saul until this point in the scriptures, however in the following verses you will see what some suppose is Saul approaching Christ.
Mark 10:17-22
17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
This is all the backstory we have and/or supposed on Saul. We know he was earnest, he was doing what he saw as his duty, and he firmly believed in what he was doing. Then came the road to Damascus.
Acts 9:1-7
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 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.
6 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.
7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
Saul has met Jesus! He knew who Jesus was, he was aware that Jesus had died, and now here he is talking to the same Jesus whose followers he is persecuting. Not only did Saul hear the voice from heaven but so did the men that were with him. Christ made sure there were witnesses to this the greatest of all the early church conversions. Saul has now come to a turning point in his life.
We all shall have to come to that point sooner or later. we know that God calls all men to Him. The question, the difference is - How will you respond? Will you say Lord? or will you dismiss that still small voice and reject the call? Saul was used of God to spread the church through his persecution, then He used Paul (Paul and Saul are one in the same person) to spread the teachings through-out all of the known world.
So again the question is simple: What is your answer to the gentle call of the Spirit?
What we know of Saul before he became Paul is scarce. He was a Pharisee, he was from a prominent family, some even suggest that he was the rich young ruler that talked with Christ. He was a roman and a Jew. He was well educated, and very fanatical in his religious pursuits. He was also the one who gave consent and held the clothes at the stoning of Stephen. He was given authority to stamp out, persecute, and rid this new religion however he could.
Then on a road trip to Damascus something happened. This man who was fervently persecuting the new church, this new sect called Christians, had an epiphany. He was visited by Jesus.
Acts 7:57-60
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 8:1-4KJV
8 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
We have had no official record of this man Saul until this point in the scriptures, however in the following verses you will see what some suppose is Saul approaching Christ.
Mark 10:17-22
17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
This is all the backstory we have and/or supposed on Saul. We know he was earnest, he was doing what he saw as his duty, and he firmly believed in what he was doing. Then came the road to Damascus.
Acts 9:1-7
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 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.
6 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.
7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
Saul has met Jesus! He knew who Jesus was, he was aware that Jesus had died, and now here he is talking to the same Jesus whose followers he is persecuting. Not only did Saul hear the voice from heaven but so did the men that were with him. Christ made sure there were witnesses to this the greatest of all the early church conversions. Saul has now come to a turning point in his life.
We all shall have to come to that point sooner or later. we know that God calls all men to Him. The question, the difference is - How will you respond? Will you say Lord? or will you dismiss that still small voice and reject the call? Saul was used of God to spread the church through his persecution, then He used Paul (Paul and Saul are one in the same person) to spread the teachings through-out all of the known world.
So again the question is simple: What is your answer to the gentle call of the Spirit?
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