The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-29

Next to Jesus Of Nazareth, the most con-
SpiCuOuS person in the New Testament Is Saul
of Tarsus. The story of his conversion from
a bigoted and prosecuting follower OF Juda-
ism, to become a disciple OF Jesus, IS, there
fore, far more than simply an interesting mar
ratiye. Conybeare and Howson say OF 1t:
IF the Importance We are intended to attach
to particular events in early Christianity is
to he measured by the prominence assigned
to them in the Sacred Records, we must con-
TESS that-after the Passion OF blessed
Lord-the event to which our serious atten ::
ton is especially called, is the conversion OF
st. Paul.
A little more than LOO years ago there were
two men prominent In England-Lord George
Lytueton, and his relative. Gilbert West. They
were highly educated, and filled commanding
positions in society, but both were inclined
to hold skeDtical views Of religion. So they
agreed together to prove the falsity OF Chris
tianity. Lord Lyttleton selected as his sub
ject OF investigation the conversion Of st.
Paul, and Gilbert West the resurrection Of
our Lord. In due time they came together
again and compared the results Of their in
thoroughly convinced that the claims of Chris
tianity were impregnable, and no more con-
elusive arguments have ever appeared since
then than the two treatises which they wrote
setting forth their conclusions. OF ''Observa-
lions on the Conversion and Apostleship OF
st. Paul." by Lord Lyttleton, DR.: Johnson
wrote: "A treatise to which inhdelity has
never been able to fabricate specious an"
swer." And Of Gilbert Vests observations
on the History and Evidences of the Resur-
Eeetion Of Jesus Chrst ormes Bibl Bb
reasoned works which have appeared in Eng
lish on the resurrection Of Christ" CALI
bones Dictionary of Authors)
Probably not very, far from the time when
Jesus was born in Nazareth of Galilee, Saul
was born in Tarsus OF Cilicia. His father was
devout Jew-apparently a man OF some
! Importance in mo mean city xxi, go
and one upon whom-or upon whose ancestors
for some reason not now we'll understood
the privilege Of Roman citizenship had been
conferred. His son could thus truly claim
28.)
In his youth he was sent to Jerusalem tc
| receive his Jewish education. Probably i,
was when, according to the law, he became
''of age and entered upon his personal re-
sponsibilities to that law. If so, it must have
been about the same time that Jesus "wher
Uu.. H.. 4S). and for the same reason. But
whilst Jesus returned with Joseph and Mary
his mGther, to Nazareth San, was ass subject
of the city, and sat Eat the feet of Gamaliel.'
| There he was taught according to. the per:
feet manner Of the lay S Of the fathers and
himself was "a Pharisee" ixxiii., ej~and hi:
tm was fhs os w. sac
! the Jewish faith, he 'lived a Pharisee'
| (xxvi., 81. and las touching the righteous
ness which is IN the law, he was plane
| less" phil, ill.,, g.. +
His position among the Jews of Jerusalem
| must therefore, have been a very high one
| because Of his learning and his character
| If he was not at this time member Of thu
| Sanhedrin, he was we'll known to all of it:
| MEMBERSHIPS in full sympathy with its opin
| ions-and its earnest and active agent. H;
| had probably lived In Jerusalem during all o
| the active ministry Of our Lord. He say:
himself, that he had known him latter thu
flesh" QI Cor, ", 16), and probably hat
| elsewhere, and had seen many of his miracles
! But with his intense Jewish feelings he say
him only as an impostor, who, being
man." made himself "God" (John K, 49,
When he was crucified he gave whatever
voice he may have had in the matter agains
him as honestly he did against Stephen
For he verify believed that it was necessar!
and right that he should die as he did, ratheI
than that the whole nation should be de-
ceived and perish John XII, 50). In the est
nation of every Pharisee this was the only
way in which the stability Of the nation ant
the traditions and Flaw Of the fathers" coulc
be maintained "s. -.
! With such a character and with such feel
! ings deeply ingrained into his very being by
obtaining authority from 1.-The high priest
and "all the estate of the elders (xxii., 81
that is, from the Sanhedrin-to do every
thing in his power to uproot and destroy thu
growing heresy. .4E. :.
So he did exactly what our Lord had TOLD
his disciples would be done, when he said
1.-THE time cometh that .whosoever killet1
(John xvi, 2.) ~. -. :
1t is not only interesting but 1t Is in1portan
to notice that his special zeal at this tim
had very close connection with the outer,