Life of the Apostle Paul
... and had a bias against any book that was not the Law of Moses. When Paul was in his twenties, he went home to Tarsus. Saul left Jerusalem with the knowledge and experience he learned from Gamaliel's school. WHen Saul returned home, he started working as a tent maker with his father. Saul did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, because Jesus often denounced the Pharisees and seemed to oppose all their rules. He had heard that Jesus taught the people to disobey the rabbis and had caused choas in the synagogues. All Jews that did believe Jesus was the Messiah, wer considered to be enemies of Israel. Saul believed that all enemies of Israel should be put to death. Consequently he returned to Jersualm and offered his services to the high priests to kill anyone that followed Jesus CHrist. Saul was so devoted to killing all Christians that every Christian church feared his name. Saul was merciless and had a furious temper, which exploded when he punished believers. When Saul caught believers worshiping he would drag them to prison and have them sentenced to death (acts 8:3) Paul thought his actions would halt the work of the Church, instead of diminishing, it grew in number. Angered by his Futile efforts to stop Christianity, he prepared a trip to Damascus, where a large number of christians were hiding. Not only were they hiding from paul they were adding to the Church daily. SAul being accompained by a troop of temple guards, rode out of Jersualm to the city of Damascus, which was about one hundred and fifty miles away. As they neared the edge of the city, a beam of light brighter than the sun suddenly fell upon Saul. THe group fell to the ground trying to protect their eyes. A voice from Heaven said,"Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" (Acts 9:4). Then Saul asked, "Who art thou, Lord?" (acts 9:5). The voice replied, "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest." (acts 9:5). Paul asked what he should do. Jesus answered,"Arise and go to the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." (acts 9:6). Saul was blinded for three days and did not eat or drink anything during that time. In Damascus there was a certain daciple named Ananias. THe Lord spoke to Ananias in a vision telling him to find Saul, and put his hands on him that he might receive his sight. Ananias told the Lord that he had heard terrible things about Saul. God told him to do it anyway, and that Saul was going to be an annointed Messenger to the Gentiles. Ananias did just as the Lord commaned. He found Saul and laid his hands on him and he recieved his sight and was baptized. After Paul's cnversion he became a great Missionary, going on three journeys. The first missionary journey was to Cyprus. Paul was accompaned by Barnabas and Mark. THey preached the Gospel everywhere they could. His journey started at Seleucia and ended in Antioch of Syria. After separating with Barnabas, Paul chos Silas to accompany him on his second Missionary journey. THey travled north to...