2/JESUS, THE EARLY CHURCH
2/4 PAUL
PAUL AS PERSECUTOR. Paul, also known
as Saul, was a devout Jew who persecuted the Christians. He saw them as enemies
of his religion. He was involved in the death of Stephen who was the first
Christian martyr. Paul was trying to destroy the church. He entered house after
house and dragged men and women out and handed them over for imprisonment. He
received permission from the high priest to go to Damascus and to bring back to
Jerusalem in chains any Christians he found there.
THE CONVERSION OF PAUL. On his way
to Damascus to search for Christians, suddenly there was a light from heaven
which flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to
him, "Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me?" When Paul asked who was
speaking, the reply was "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting." Jesus
then instructed him to go to the city where a disciple of Jesus met him and
baptised him. His life was then completely changed as he because a very fervent
Christian.
PAUL'S MISSIONARY WORK. In the city
of Antioch, the disciples of Jesus preached not only to Jews but also began to
preach to the Greeks. A great number believed and were baptised. Barnabas, a
devout disciple, went in search of Paul who had returned to his own city and
invited him to help in preaching. They
were instructed by the Holy Spirit to continue their work and two then sailed
to the island of Cyprus. This began Paul's missionary work.
