Heroic Story - Apostle Paul

Somewhere around 63 - 70 A.D., under Roman law, Luke the Apostle tells us the story of Saul. Saul would later be known as Paul after a change of lifestyle and belief. During this time, Paul was a Pharisee - a "high and mighty" member of the church that believed the Christian movement was dangerous to the Jews. This was the fuel to Paul's fire as he mercilessly persecuted Christians.

Also in this period of time, the New Testament of Jesus Christ was not being taught widely to non-Jews. The Jews did not accept the fact that God loved the Gentiles just the same, and the Gentiles were having a hard time accepting the fact that God would accept them as they were.

The heroic journey Paul embarks upon begins when he has a meeting with the high priest. He asks him for permission to travel to the city of Damascus with the intent of finding any Christians and taking them back to Jerusalem as prisoners. Once in Jerusalem, the Christians would be tried and either be acquitted, or put to death.

Somewhere nearing Damascus, Paul fell to the ground and a bright light from Heaven flashed around him. He then heard a voice that said, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" Paul asks who is speaking to him, and the reply says, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." (Acts 9:4-5).

At this time, the men traveling with Paul were completely stunned because they, too, heard the voice but did not see anyone. When Paul got up from the ground, he noticed that he could no longer see, so the men led him into the city of Damascus.

Once in Damascus, Paul was praying when a man named Ananias came to him as God told him to do. Ananias was told to help Paul because Paul was God's "chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel." When Paul got up from praying, he noticed that he could see again and he was filled with the Holy Spirit.

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