Of all the people who would reject the followers of the 'new faith' after Jesus died, Saul was undoubtedly the most fanatical in his opposition and the most ruthless in his oppression. He first comes to our attention as a young man standing close to where the apostle Stephen was being murdered by stoning, an event of which he seems to have approved, allowing those involved to leave their coats at his feet. What influence such a scene left on his mind is not entirely clear for by this stage he was probably already well versed in the laws and ordinances of the Jewish religion, having studied 'at the feet of Gamaliel' and 'taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God.' So there is no doubt that he was sincere in his religion and in keeping it correctly according to the law and there is every suspicion that this young blood came exactly at the right time for the church leaders who needed someone with the enthusiasm and drive to put to bed, once and for all, this 'uprising' of new 'believers' in the carpenter's son from Galilee. And by the time he reappears on the scene he is already hard at work, ridding the established church of all who claim to follow Jesus of Nazareth by the use of any means he thought appropriate. So there followed house searches, imprisonment and the scattering of many of the so called followers to towns and villages far away. But Saul was still ruthless in his persecution and, after going through the correct church channels, i.e. the High Priest, had all the documentation he needed to go to Damascus and weed out those men and women who 'belonged to the Way' and to bring them back to prison in Jerusalem.But that's just where the story takes the most unexpected twist for young Saul, for although he eventually gets to Damascus, by the time he reaches the town, his whole reason for being there has changed so dramatically that nobody can believe what has happened.
With the help of some a suspicious believer, called Ananias, whom God sent to him in Straight Street (and how appropriate was that?) Saul regains his sight, is baptised, eats some food and immediately begins to preach with such power that the fellow believers can't believe it and the Jews who were previously his allies hatch a plot to kill him. There is good evidence from Saul in his letter to the Galatians, that he went to Arabia some time after his conversion and didn't actually go to Jerusalem until three years had passed, but all the while God was preparing him for a greater work, even though it would be at least another ten or more years before he would set out on his first missionary journey to Cyprus with his friend Barnabas, where he eventually became known as Paul, probably a name more appropriate and less Jewish for the job that God had entrusted to him of bringing the Gospel to the Jews.
And how do I remember him in the context of my faith. Certainly as a writer of letters to churches he had founded or knew of during his missionary journeys. A man with a great understanding of the sacrifice that Jesus had made for him on the cross, even though there is no record that he ever met his Saviour. A man whose epistles contain a wealth of advice and who clearly was inspired by God in his writings and of course, someone to whom I have often referred in these blogs. But what most intrigues me about this tent maker from Tarsus is what caused such a remarkable change in one so passionate about what he believed. And I think the answer is to be found in Paul's own words as he spoke to King Agrippa for he said, 'I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.' But clearly God spoke directly to him on the road to Damascus for He said, ''I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' When such a directive comes form the very top, you don't ignore it.
But what if it had been you? You may not be a persecutor of Christians. You might even have some as good friends. Indeed you might even be a believer yourself. But if God were to call with a job for you to do, would you be as diligent for Him as you are in other areas of your life. Are you a Saul or a Paul?
