Highlights of Apostle Paul

By Nick Bibile

He began as a persecutor of the church and ended as a martyr  This happened only by God’s sovereign power, it can never happen without God.

He received his education at Jerusalem in the school of Rabbi Gamaliel, who was a grandson of famous Hillel. But compared to what he learned of Christ was a loss of all things.

He was rooted and grounded on the Old Testament scriptures, he knew Hebrew and Greek almost by heart.

Paul could debate with a Pharisee of his Jewish heritage as a son of Abraham of the tribe of Benjamin at the same time he could address the Greek with elegance with force and logic.

He was highly intellectual, deep mind, sharp thinker, strong will and at the same time tender hearted.

Fear was unknown to him, except the fear of God, which made him fearless in preaching the gospel.

Paul was the only scholar among the apostles. He expounded Christian theology to the highest level.

Philippians 3:7-8

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

8. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Paul probably never saw Jesus until Jesus appeared to him in Damascus.  He believed Jesus as a false Messiah, false teacher, a blasphemer who was justly condemned to death, he acted persecuting the early Christian church according to his convictions. Paul took the prominent of God’s servant, stoning Stephen to death; it was a great delight for him.

He was given full authority to persecute all Christians. He set out for Damascus, the capital of Syria, (140 miles) as there were many synagogues. He was determined to exterminate Christianity from the face of the earth. He was breathing and threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord.  But God Almighty interrupted Paul’s will.

Acts 9:3-5  Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Paul fell prostrate to the ground, he trembled and obeyed, he believed and rejoiced. The arrogant, prideful, self righteous raging Pharisee was changed into a humble, loving servant of Jesus Christ!

His convictions were changed as he became a new creature in Christ Jesus.  (2 Corinthians 5:17)  He was called by Christ to be the apostle to the Gentiles.

After his conversion, the weapons of destruction were turned into weapons of construction. The engine was reversed and the direction changed, it remained the same powerful engine but increased under the banner of Christianity.

Previously he wanted to exterminate Chrisitianity from the face of the known world, now he wanted to spread Christianity in the known world, as he became a missionary.  What a change! Only God can save a murderer to a saint.

Paul was a Roman citizen, he worked part time as a tentmaker, he had a sister living in Jerusalem whose son was instrumental in saving his life.  (Acts 23:16) He was probably never married.

Paul in his Christian life faced a lot of hardship and persecution but sacrificed all for the glory of Christ. He bore the heavenly treasure in an earthen vessel.

Apostle Paul was a unique man for a unique task. His whole Christian life was a warfare, he was afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)  

When they put him in prison, he still continued the Lord’s ministry as he wrote and wrote letters to the churches, he wrote about ⅔ of the New Testament.

Apostle Paul was a fighter for Jesus, he was more than a conqueror he said in Romans 8:35-38 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Apostle Paul never gave up his Christian faith as he said,

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Martyrdom of Paul was under Nero, as a Roman citizen he was not crucified like Peter but put to death by the sword.

Apostle Paul set a great example of Christianity, he said, follow me as I follow Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1)  

We desperately need leaders like the apostle Paul today. Pray for your leaders. They will be strong, bold, tender hearted, loving in preaching the truth and defending the truth of Christ.

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