The Life of Paul, the Apostle
Thirteen books in the New Testament, name Paul as their author, and another one (Acts) devotes more than half its pages to describing how Paul was chosen to be an apostle and how he preached the good news throughout the Roman Empire. Acts 21.1-21 says that Paul was born in Tarsus, which was a major center for Greek education and culture. But as a Jew, Paul also studied in Jerusalem with Gamaliel, a leading teacher of the Law of Moses (Acts 22.3). Paul, whose Jewish name was Saul, was part of a religious group called the Pharisees (Phil 3.5), who believed that people could serve God best by strictly obeying the Law of Moses.
Paul’s strong beliefs as a Pharisee led him to make trouble for the followers of Jesus (Acts 8.1-3; 9.1,2). Saul did his best to try to destroy the movement but was radically changed when the risen Christ appeared to him in a vision and chose him to be his follower and to spread the good news to all people (Acts 9.1-18; Gal 1.11-17; 1 Cor 9.1). After three years in Damascus (Gal 1.18) and after meeting with the leaders of the church in Jerusalem (Gal 1.18–2.10), Paul set out to preach the good news about Christ to the Gentiles.
From his letters and from Acts, we learn that Paul spent about fifteen years preaching and helping to create new groups of followers in Asia Minor and Greece, where he worked in important cities such as Ephesus, Colossae, Thessalonica, Athens, and Corinth. As he preached and taught the good news, he debated with philosophers (Acts 17) and worked with Jewish groups to show them that Jesus was the fulfillment of their hopes (Acts 18). He also faced persecution, was arrested, and tried to show the Roman officials that the followers of Christ were no threat to the Roman Empire (Acts 24,25).
Paul believed that Jesus was sent to obey God and to die as a sacrifice for human sin (Rom 3.24-26). Jesus was seeking to bring all people–both Jews and Gentiles–together as members of God’s new people. God also sent the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen the followers of Jesus, so they could serve God by telling the good news about Jesus and by loving one another. The Spirit, Paul said, produces love, joy, and peace (Gal 5), as well as the ability to do God’s work in the world (1 Cor 14).
Paul was ready to accept death as a witness for Christ, knowing that God would raise him from death (Phil 3.10,11). Meanwhile, Paul expected Jesus to return to earth to make these poor bodies of ours like his own glorious body (Phil 3.21). Then Christ Jesus would defeat human sin and death once and for all (1 Cor 15.50-57).
Info from the American Bible Society, Bible Resource Center.
Movie excerpts from TBN Movie about Paul called: “The Emissary”.
Duration : 0:11:0
Comments (16)
Amen, Thank you for …
Amen, Thank you for people like you who pray for people like I was, Know the Lord has a way of changing the Heart with fire as ture love.
Hard part is trying to get back in the love and stand as a rock… Its ture its all about your Heart and Love, “God Love” that love does not hate not one person, if you do you hurt your self. “well that is what I felt and learn hands on with in the love” I only wish was back in the love today, because I have learn much. Very hard getting back up on your own.
God bless people …
God bless people like Paul. Who will turn away from Sin.
I am an ex muslim …
I am an ex muslim bu the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ I am saved and I testify that He is the only God living God He has changed my life and my family”s life totally ! all glory to Him forever and ever amen.
You are so right… …
You are so right… Paul’s Love was Jesus Himself and Jesus became His only life goal. Paul is an example to all of us..
St.Paul The …
St.Paul The Persecutor was a cruel and sinful man. Then Jesus hit him with a blinding light and then his life began. . .
Amen.
Amen.
actualy yes God and …
actualy yes God and Jesus are the same the son is in the father and the father in the son,jesus said if you knew the father then you would know me,the word also says God is the word(john1:1) and it says the word became flesh;meaning Jesus is God
also the lord says …
also the lord says in the bilble that paul was his slave because he had no will of his own he had no will his dreams were droped and jesus told him lay down your live which means forget about yourself and pick up your cross which is the bible and follow me, so paul was an apostle but also a slave..
That’s why he’s my …
That’s why he’s my favorite, (even though they were all great people, and I probably shouldn’t choose favorites.)
was bold wasn’t he?
was bold wasn’t he?
It IS coming and it …
It IS coming and it is ON ITS WAY!!
Be prepared Church!!!
I thank God for …
I thank God for Paul, the Apostle to the gentiles.
as a christian i …
as a christian i totally agree with you and theres too many ppl who calls themselves christian and have never read bible or know the 10 commandments and then they start talking about jesus and things they say dont make sence and that makes us look bad lol..for example they say God and jesus are the same..im a christian but i dont believe that. i read bible and more i read it more it starts making sence.
that is true. Most …
that is true. Most Christians love the idea of believing in Jesus so they can someday go to heaven. But many do not obey His Commandment. They do not love. Many cant even treat their own spouse or children with love. They think its ok to continue in sin. And knowing the command, they ignore what Jesus said. This is because in general most churches teach a subtle doctrine that its ok to sin. In times of persecution many will have no use for the gospel because they love their lives
Sadly,most …
Sadly,most Americans who call themselves christians would flee in fear or deny Christ if they had to face the persecution of that day and age,and I believe that in time, everyones faith will be put to the test,its coming!
Paul also wrote to …
Paul also wrote to the Philippians from prison saying: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ (Philippians 4:13). We too can experience the spiritual power of God in our lives.