Saturday, October 14, 2006
Paul Of Tarsus
The transformation of Saul into Paul was a miracle from God. Saul persecuted those who believed on Jesus Christ as being the Son of God. He did so with great determination. He sent out threatenings and did slaughter the disciples of the Lord.
There was a great light that came down from Heaven onto the earth around Saul and he did hear the voice of Jesus Christ. Jesus asked Saul why he persecuted Him so. And Saul answered to the Lord, what would you have me to do? The Lord told him to rise and go into the city and he would be told what to do. When Saul rose up from the ground he opened his eyes but was blind. Some men then led him into Damascus. He set there three days without sight or food or water.
There in the city was a man named Ananias. He had a vision in which the Lord spoke to him to go unto Saul and give him his sight back. The Lord also told Ananias that Saul is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.
Saul was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost.
In Acts 7:58 "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." This is where Saul appeared watching and consenting as Stephen, a desciple of the Lord, was being stoned to death. To read more on Paul Start there with Acts chapter 7.
This is just a brief look into the start of what would become the life of a great Apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul was sent to preach to the gentiles, one who is not of the Jewish faith or is of a non-Jewish nation. Paul was the author of much of The New Testament as seen below taken fromwikipedia.org
The Pauline epistles are the thirteen or fourteen letters in the New Testament of the Christian Bible traditionally believed to have been written by the apostle Paul. Among them are some of the earliest extant Christian documents. They provide an insight into the beliefs and controversies of formative Christianity and, as part of the canon of the New Testament, they have also been, and continue to be, hugely influential in Christian theology and ethics.
The authorship of some of these letters ("epistles") has been called into question particularly by more recent scholarship (these works are marked '(*)' in the list below). Some of those who doubt Paul's direct authorship suggest they were written by some of his disciples, either during or soon after his lifetime.
In the order they appear in the New Testament, the Pauline epistles are:
- Romans
- First Corinthians
- Second Corinthians
- Galatians
- Ephesians (*)
- Philippians
- Colossians (*)
- First Thessalonians
- Second Thessalonians (*)
- First Timothy (*)
- Second Timothy (*)
- Titus (*)
- Philemon
- Hebrews (*) (Anonymous)
All of the epistles except the epistle to the Hebrews present Paul as the author. The epistle to the Hebrews is something of a special case, being anonymous. Authorship of Hebrews was disputed from the earliest, and few, if any, modern scholars would attribute it to Paul. Thus some classifications do not include Hebrews as a Pauline epistle, listing it instead with the general epistles.
1: 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.
8: And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9: And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
10: And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11: And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
12: And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
13: Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
14: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
15: But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
16: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
17: And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
18: And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
19: And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
20: And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
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