Paul/Saul

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**Saul**, often known as **Paul**, the son of a Pharisee (Acts 23:6), was born in Tarsus, an important Greek city. He grew up to be a brilliant scholar of Jewish laws and customs and had a great future as one of the leading Pharisees. Saul looked for Christians so that he could persecute them, but Jesus sought Saul out and changed Saul's life forever. Through this encounter with Jesus, Saul's named was changed to Paul and became the greatest missionary of Christianity.

When Saul became a believer, a man named Barnabas who spoke up for him to the other disciples. “When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus” (Acts 9:26-27). The Holy Spirit selected Paul and Barnabas for a special work and were sent out by the church, along with John Mark, to the island of Cyprus. There, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached God's Word (Acts 13:4-5). For an unknown reason, John Mark left Paul and Barnabas and returned to Jerusalem. Barnabas continued on with Paul and began to preach boldly to the Gentiles in Antioch. However, they both endured hardships together during their first missionary journey. After Paul and Barnabas returned from their first journey, Paul wanted Barnabas to go back to the cities they had preached in and check on the believers to see how they were doing. Barnabas wanted John Mark to go with them. Paul refused to take John Mark because he had deserted them on the previous trip. Paul's and Barnabas' disagreement was strong enough that the two men separated. Barnabas went with John Mark with to Cyprus, and Paul took Silas with him through Syria and Cilicia to strengthen the churches there (Acts 15:36-41).

There was never a dull moment around Paul and Silas! They were directed by God in a vision to travel to Macedonia. In the city of Philippi, Paul and Silas taught about Jesus, where Lydia and her household believed, and were baptized. Paul commanded a demon to leave a fortune-teller. As a result, Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into the prison dungeon. They then showed their unwavering faith when they prayed and sang to God. All of the prisoners heard! God responded with an earthquake that shook the prison and opened the doors. Paul and Silas shared the Good News with the jailer and his family. Everyone believed in Jesus, was baptized, and rejoiced in God!

The Apostle Paul was a bold defender of his faith in the Almighty God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. While in Athens, Greece, Paul preached, reasoned, and debated with everyone who would listen including Jews, Gentiles, philosophers, and the high council.

As a prisoner, Paul had to face the authorities in Rome. Before getting there, he faced one disaster after another, and when the journey seemed most dire, God gave him the strength to carry on and even minister to others in their darkest hours. Paul wrote four New Testament books of the Bible while under arrest in Rome as he waited to stand before Nero. Paul knew that he would receive a great reward from God when his time ended on the earth.

## Bible InfoScan

Saul, the son of a Pharisee (Acts 23:6), was born in Tarsus, an important Greek city. He was brought up in the strict Jewish culture, and he learned the trade of leather-work and tent-making. He went to Jerusalem where he studied under Gamaliel, a famous teacher who taught Jewish laws and customs. He was a brilliant scholar who had a great future as one of the leading Pharisees.

Saul believed that those who followed Jesus told lies about God and were a threat to the Jewish religion. He made it his mission to stamp out Christianity. He got letters of authority from the Jewish leaders to arrest any Christians he found and to put them in prison. But on the road to Damascus, Saul had a personal encounter with Jesus and became a follower himself. Besides being Jewish, he was also a Roman citizen, and after he became a Christian, he was referred to by his Roman name, Paul (Acts 13:9). He realized that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah, the Son of God, and that faith in Him, and not in the Jewish law, was how a person was made right in God’s eyes. When Saul became Paul, he didn't just have a name change. His life turned around 180 degrees. He went from being a Christian-hater to being a leader among Christ-followers (Acts 9:1).

Paul became a great preacher of the Gospel and teacher of Christianity. He made three main missionary journeys (Acts 13-21), preaching, establishing, and then visiting churches in different parts of the Roman Empire. His preaching caused riots (Acts 19) and offended the Jewish leaders.

Paul chose Silas to travel with him on his second missionary journey after Paul separated from Barnabas following a disagreement. They began their journey by traveling to Syria and Cilicia to strengthen the churches (Acts 15:36). Paul and Silas then traveled to Derbe and then to Lystra, where the young disciple named Timothy joined them. They traveled from town to town instructing and strengthening and growing the churches there (Acts 16:1). The Holy Spirit prevented Paul and Silas from preaching the word in some parts of Asia and further north.

Paul had a vision which provided new direction for their journey. In the vision, a Macedonian (Greek) man pleaded with them to come help them. Paul and Silas left immediately because they believed God was calling them to preach the Good News there (Acts 16:6). Paul and Silas traveled to the city of Philippi in Macedonia where they met a woman named Lydia who believed Paul's message and her entire household was saved and baptized (Acts 16:13). In Philippi, Paul commanded a demon to come out of a girl who told fortunes. They were arrested, beaten, and thrown into the prison dungeon (Acts 16:16).

Paul and Silas displayed a strong faith and trust in God by praying and singing songs to God in their cell. God sent an earthquake that shook the prison and opened the doors. Through this miracle, Paul and Silas were able to lead the jailer and his household to salvation and to baptize them (Acts 16:24).The next stop for Paul and Silas was in Thessalonica, where they taught in the synagogue. Some Jews believed but others stirred up trouble and tried to stop Paul and Silas’ work there (Acts 17:1). For their safety, they were sent quickly to Berea. There they taught in the synagogue where many Jews and Greeks believed their words of truth.

Once again, Paul's life was in danger and the believers in Berea sent Paul to Athens. Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea for a short time and then quickly rejoined Paul in Athens (Acts 17:10). Paul next traveled alone to the city of Corinth and Silas and Timothy joined him later. They taught the word of God in the Synagogue and many believed and were baptized (Acts 18:8). Paul and Silas separated in the city of Ephesus after leaving Corinth (Acts 18:19).

Paul's bold preaching in Thessalonica offended Jewish leaders who rounded up a mob to say that Paul caused trouble all over the world (Acts 17:6). Paul and Silas fled to Berea where the people were different and received their words and studied the Scriptures to make sure their words were true. Once again, the Jewish leaders stirred up crowds of people and forced Paul to flee to Athens, a city in Greece, where he waited on Silas and Timothy.

As Paul waited in Athens for his companions to meet him, he was troubled to see the countless altars to idols that the people worshiped at around the city. One such altar was even inscribed “To an Unknown God”. Paul was stirred and reasoned with the Jews and Gentile believers in the Synagogue and spoke in the public square with all who would listen.

Paul didn’t stop there; he also boldly debated with the wise philosophers of the day. They were so intrigued by his "strange" ideas that they invited him to speak to the high council of the city! These philosophers were interested in hearing and discussing the latest news so Paul was a welcome guest speaker! All went rather smoothly until Paul began to talk about Jesus’ resurrection. The discussion then ended quite abruptly with mixed conclusions. Acts 17:32-34 says, “When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.” The good news is that some who were present joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.”

Paul was obedient to preach the truth and as a result, some did believe! His work being finished in Athens, Paul then traveled to Corinth (Acts 17:16-34, Acts 18:1).

One day, a man named Agabus with a prophetic gift prophesied of Paul being bound in chains. Acts 21:11 says, "He came over, took Paul’s belt, and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, "The Holy Spirit declares, ‘So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles." Paul was not fazed and vowed to continue his work even if it meant being arrested and killed" (Acts 21:10-14).

In Jerusalem, Paul was attacked by a mob and dragged from the Temple. They accused him of defiling the Temple by bringing a Gentile into it. They also falsely accused him of telling people to disobey the Jewish laws. Paul was arrested and bound in chains by the Roman soldiers. The prophecy by Agabus had been fulfilled already! (Acts 21:26-36). While under arrest, Paul appeared before the Roman Governor Felix in Caesarea and testified of his faith in Jesus Christ. He stayed in prison for over two years before he appeared before the new governor named Festus and then he even testified before King Agrippa! Both men decided that Paul had done nothing worthy of death and would have let him go, except Paul had appealed to Caesar to hear his case.

So, Paul was now off to Rome! (Acts 24–26). Paul and other prisoners were placed under custody of a Roman officer named Julius as they traveled by ship to Rome. Julius was kind to Paul and allowed him to go ashore when they docked in Sidon to visit friends who cared for Paul’s needs. Along the way, a terrible storm battered their ship for several days. Paul had told the ship’s captain and the officers to turn back but they would not listen. An angel appeared to Paul one night. Paul encouraged the passengers and crew of the ship with what the angel told him. “For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. But we will be shipwrecked on an island” (Acts 27:23-26). Again, the prophecy was fulfilled; they were shipwrecked and swam safely to the shore of a tiny island called Malta (Acts 27:27-44). On the island, Paul survived a poisonous snake bite and by God's power, healed all who were sick on the island. This included the father of the chief official of the island, Publius.

Three months later, they sailed again on a new ship toward Rome (Acts 28:1-8). When Paul arrived in Rome, he was allowed to stay in his own home and was guarded by a soldier. For the next two years, Paul received people into his home and boldly testified about the Kingdom of God and no one tried to stop him! This man whom God changed much did much to change the world for God (Acts 28:9-31).

When Paul arrived in Rome, he was under house arrest and chained to a Roman guard. For the next two years, as he waited to appear before Caesar (Nero), Paul received people into his home and boldly testified about the Kingdom of God. No one tried to stop him! (Acts 28:9-31). Paul wrote letters to individuals and to churches, some while he was in prison. We can read these in the New Testament. During Paul's second imprisonment in the Mamertine dungeon, he was awaiting a final trial. Mamertine was a filthy and vile dungeon which was where criminals were held for a short time before they were executed. Paul did not expect to be released from this dungeon and said his final farewells to his trusted ministry friends and partners (2 Timothy 4:6–22). It was during his time in Rome that He wrote the New Testament Epistles (letters): Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:6, "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near." Paul's execution is believed by many to have been eventually carried out be Nero.

As we read a list of Paul's persecutions and sufferings in 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, we know that no matter what affliction or trial Paul encountered, He remained faithful to finish the race that was set before him by God. His life was indeed poured out for the sake of the Gospel. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.”

This man whom God changed much did much to change the world for God.

## Life Lessons

* No matter how bad you are and what you have done, God can help you change.
* Who we are, as well as our past, can help us to serve God in the future.
* Following Jesus requires a personal relationship with Him.
* Share the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus, no matter what suffering it brings.
* Work with others to accomplish God's purpose.
* Go where God leads you.
* Encourage and strengthen other believers.
* We should always be ready to share and defend our faith.
* Be alert, observant and sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
* Be consistent and faithful in God's work.
* When we are weak God’s grace is strong.
* Like Paul, we should die to our own plans so we can live fully for God.
* As God used the viper who bit Paul, God will also use obstacles to show His power and grace through you.