Saul Becomes Paul
Uploaded by biblegirl22 on Nov 22, 2005
Saul’s story is one we have all heard many times, but it is a story that shows that God can use us, even when we have tried to run as far away from him as we could. His story is found in the books of Acts, a book written by the one of the apostles. Without Saul’s conversion to Christianity, thousands would have not been saved. His ministry brought hope to many because they could see that Saul, or Paul, had not always been perfect. He is a great example for everyone who has been human because all humans make mistakes.
Saul was a “…a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God”(22: 3). However, something turned Saul away from God. His first mention in the Bible is at the death of Stephen. Men had taken Stephen out of the city to be stoned. As a custom, the men laid the clothes at someone’s feet, which happen to be Saul’s feet, entrusting him with their clothes. After Stephen’s death, Saul “…made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison”(8:3). Saul became outraged because prophets were spreading God’s word. While “…breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 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”(9:1-2). On his way to Damascus, suddenly a bright shined around him. “And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 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. 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. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but...