Acts 9:1-9 KJV
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.
WHO IS PAUL?
- Saul was born in Tarsus, a city in the Roman Empire, giving him birthright Roman citizenship.
- His birthname was Saul and he was known as Saul of Tarsus until God changed his name to Paul.
Acts 13:9 KJV
9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.
- We know from scripture that Paul was a skilled tent maker by trade and this is how he funded his evangelistic work.
Acts 18:1-4 KJV
1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks
- He was a Pharisee of the highest order, receiving his formal religious training from the Pharisee Gamaliel in Jerusalem.
- Prior to his experience on the road to Damascus, he was a leader of the horrific persecution of Christians, with an attempt to eradicate them.
- He was a zealot, protecting the Jewish faith.
Galatians 1:13-14 KJV
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
Acts 8:1-3 KJV
1 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.
BLINDED BY THE LIGHT
The experience that Paul had on the road to Damascus changed his life, one hundred and eighty degrees.
What he experienced in total, we don’t know, but we do know that God dealt with him in such a way that he never doubted, wavered, questioned or lost his faith in God.
Because of Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus, he was now determined to follow God’s direction and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all of the world, regardless of the cost to him. Even, the loss of all things.
Philippians 3:8 KJV
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
None of us, I dare say, have had this type of powerful experience with God, but we do have Paul’s life and his teaching as our example to live by.
We find his teaching in the 14 Epistles (Hebrews included) he authored, under the inspiration of God.
His life and ministry faced many hardships along the way. Among these were beatings, attempts on his life and imprisonment for more than 5 years.
Tradition holds that Paul was beheaded in Rome during Emperor Nero’s reign between AD 64-67. During the reign of Nero, he ordered the execution of Christians after the great fire in Rome in AD 64.
PAUL'S TEACHINGS
- Paul taught us that upon death, we would be present with our Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:6 KJV
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
- Regardless of the extremely difficult time Paul was dealing with, he never wavered or complained. His feet were planted on the solid rock of Jesus Christ and he was confident that God would see him through whatever hardship he faced.
Philippians 4:8 KJV
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:11 KJV
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Philippians 4:13 KJV
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
The writings of the apostle Paul are a magnificent study and the inspired teachings of a truly magnificent warrior for God.
A few more of the primary themes of Paul’s epistles are as follows;
- The Christian life will not be without suffering or hardship
- The Christian life is filled with love and joy
- Salvation is the result of God’s love, mercy and grace and not the result of anything we do
- Just as God forgives through Jesus Christ, we must also be forgiving toward others
- As Christians, our body is the temple wherein the Holy Spirit dwells
May God bless you in your studies of the apostle Paul’s epistles.
RVH