Reference: Paul
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The distinguished "apostle of the Gentiles;" also called SAUL, a Hebrew name. He is first called Paul in Ac 13:12; and as some think, assumed this Roman name according to a common custom of Jews in foreign lands, or in honor of Sergius Paulus, Ac 13:7, his friend and an early convert. Both names however may have belonged to him in childhood. He was born at Tarsus in Cilicia, and inherited from his father the privileges of a Roman citizen. His parents belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, and brought up their son as "a Hebrew of the Hebrews," Php 3:5. Tarsus was highly distinguished for learning and culture, and the opportunities for improvement it afforded were no doubt diligently improved by Paul. At a suitable age he was sent to Jerusalem to complete his education in the school of Gamaliel, the most distinguished and right-minded of the Rabbis of that age. It does not appear that he was in Jerusalem during the ministry of Christ; and it was perhaps after his return to Tarsus that he learned the art of tent-making, in accordance with a general practice among the Jews, and their maxim, "He that does not teach his son a useful handicraft, teaches him to steal," Ac 18:3; 20:34; 2Th 3:8.
We next find him at Jerusalem, apparently about thirty years of age, high in the confidence of the leading men of the nation. He had profited by the instructions of Gamaliel, and became learned in the law; yielding himself to the strictest discipline of the sect of the Pharisees, he had become a fierce defender of Judaism and a bitter enemy of Christianity, Ac 8:3; 26:9-11. After his miraculous conversion, of which we have three accounts, Ac 9:22,26, Christ was all in all to him. It was Christ who revealed himself to his soul at Damascus, Ac 26:15; 1Co 15:8; to Christ he gave his whole heart, and soul, mind, might, and strength; and thenceforth, living or dying, he was "the servant of Jesus Christ." He devoted all the powers of his ardent and energetic mind to the defense and propagation of the gospel of Christ, more particularly among the Gentiles. His views of the pure and lofty spirit of Christianity, in its worship and in its practical influence, appear to have been peculiarly clear and strong; and the opposition which he was thus led to make to the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish worship, exposed him everywhere to the hatred and malice of his countrymen. On their accusation, he was at length put in confinement by the Roman officers and after being detained for two years or more at Caesarea, he was sent to Rome for trial, having himself appealed to the emperor. There is less certainty in respect to the accounts, which are given of Paul afterwards by the early ecclesiastical writers. Still it was a very generally received opinion in the earlier centuries, that the apostle was acquitted and discharged from his imprisonment at the end of two years; and that he afterwards returned to Rome, where he was again imprisoned and put to death by Nero.
Paul appears to have possessed all the learning which was then current among the Jews, and also to have been acquainted with Greek literature; as appears from his mastery of the Greek language, his frequent discussions with their philosophers, and his quotations from their poets-Aratus, Ac 17:28; Meander, 1Co 15:33; and Epimenides, Tit 1:12. Probably, however a learned Greek education cannot with propriety be ascribed to him. But the most striking trait in his character is his enlarged view of the universal design and the spiritual nature of the religion of Christ, and of its purifying and ennobling influence upon the heart and character of those who sincerely profess it. From the Savior himself he had caught the flame of universal love, and the idea of salvation for all mankind, Ga 1:12. Most of the other apostles and teachers appear to have clung to Judaism, to the rites, ceremonies, and dogmas of the religion in which they had been educated, and to have regarded Christianity as intended to be engrafted upon the ancient stock, which was yet to remain as the trunk to support the new branches. Paul seems to have been among the first to rise above this narrow view, and to regard Christianity in its light, as a universal religion. While others were for Judaizing all those who embraced the new religion by imposing on them the yoke of Mosaic observances, it was Paul's endeavor to break down the middle wall of separation between Jews and Gentiles, and show them that they were all "one in Christ." To this end all his labors tended; and, ardent in the pursuit of this great object, he did not hesitate to censure the time-serving Peter, and to expose his own life in resisting the prejudices of is countrymen. Indeed, his five years' imprisonment as Jerusalem, Caesarea, and Rome arose chiefly from this cause.
These various journeys of St. Paul, many of them made on foot, should be studied through on a map; in connection with the inspired narrative, in Acts, and with his own pathetic description of his labors, 2Co 11:23-29, wherein nevertheless the half is not told. When we review the many regions he traversed and evangelized, the converts he gathered, and the churches he founded, the toils, perils, and trials he endured, the miracles he wrought, and the revelations he received, the discourses, orations, and letters in which he so ably defends and unfolds Christianity, the immeasurable good which God by him accomplished, his heroic life, and his martyr death, he appears to us the most extraordinary of men.
The character of Paul is most fully portrayed in his epistles, by which, as Chrysostom says he, "still lives in the mouths of men throughout the whole world. By them, not only is own converts, but all the faithful even unto this day, yea, and all the saints who are yet to be born until Christ's coming again, both have been and shall be blessed." In them we observe the transforming and elevating power of grace in one originally turbulent and passionate-making him a model of many and Christian excellence; fearless and firm, yet considerate, courteous, and gentle; magnanimous, patriotic, and self-sacrificing; rich in all noble sentiments and affections.
EPISTLES OF PAUL. -There are fourteen epistles in the New Testament usually ascribed to Paul, beginning with that to the Romans, and ending with that to the Hebrews. Of these the first thirteen have never been contested; as to the latter, many good men have doubted whether Paul was the author, although the current of criticism is in favor of this opinion. These epistles, in which the principles of Christianity are developed for all periods, characters, and circumstances, are among the most important of the primitive documents of the Christian religion, even apart from their inspired character; and although they seem to have been written without special premeditation, and have reference mostly to transient circumstances and temporary relations, yet they everywhere bear the stamp of the great and original mind of the apostle, as purified, elevated, and sustained by the influences of the Holy Spirit.
It is worthy of mention here, that an expression of Peter respecting "our beloved brother Paul" is often a little misunderstood. The words "in which" in 2Pe 3:16, are erroneously applied to the "epistles" of Paul; and not to "these things" immediately preceding, that is, the subjects of which Peter was writing, as the Greek shows they should be. Peter finds no fault, either with Paul, or with the doctrines of revelation.
The arrangement of Hug is somewhat different; and some critics who find evidence that Paul was released from his first imprisonment and lived until the spring of A. D. 68, assign the epistles Hebrews, 1Timothy, Titus, and 2Timothy to the last year of his life. See TIMOTHY.
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Saul ravaged the congregation. He entered every house and dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
Saul increased in power and confounded the Jews living in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
When Saul came to Jerusalem he attempted to join the disciples. They were afraid of him and did not believe he was a disciple.
He was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man, who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
When he saw what was done the deputy believed. He was astonished at the teaching of God.
In him we live, and move, and have our existence. Your own poets have said: For we are also his offspring.
He was of the same trade as Paul. So he stayed with them and worked at their tentmaker trade.
You know that my own hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me.
I was convinced that I should oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. That I did in Jerusalem. I locked up many of the holy ones in prison. I received authority from the chief priests and gave the command to put them to death. read more. I punished them in every synagogue and tried to force them to recant their beliefs. I was exceedingly mad against them. I persecuted them even in strange cities.
I said: 'Who are you, Lord?' And he answered: 'I am Jesus whom you persecute.
Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals.
Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool. I am more in labors more abundant, beaten beyond number, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often. Of the Jews five times I received forty stripes less one. read more. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, I suffered shipwreck three times, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. In journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brothers; In weariness and painfulness, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are from the outside, that which comes upon me daily, the care of all the congregations. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I do not burn with indignation?
I did not receive it from man. I was not taught it! It came to me through revelation from Jesus Christ.
I was circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
One of them, a prophet of their own, said: Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons.
He spoke about these things in his letters. Some things are hard to understand. The untaught and unstable distort them as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Easton
Saul (q.v.) was born about the same time as our Lord. His circumcision-name was Saul, and probably the name Paul was also given to him in infancy "for use in the Gentile world," as "Saul" would be his Hebrew home-name. He was a native of Tarsus, the capi
Tarsus was also the seat of a famous university, higher in reputation even than the universities of Athens and Alexandria, the only others that then existed. Here Saul was born, and here he spent his youth, doubtless enjoying the best education his native city could afford. His father was of the straitest sect of the Jews, a Pharisee, of the tribe of Benjamin, of pure and unmixed Jewish blood (Ac 23:6; Php 3:5). We learn nothing regarding his mother; but there is reason to conclude that she was a pious woman, and that, like-minded with her husband, she exercised all a mother influence in moulding the character of her son, so that he could afterwards speak of himself as being, from his youth up, "touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless" (Php 3:6).
We read of his sister and his sister's son (Ac 23:16), and of other relatives (Ro 16:7,11-12). Though a Jew, his father was a Roman citizen. How he obtained this privilege we are not informed. "It might be bought, or won by distinguished service to the state, or acquired in several other ways; at all events, his son was freeborn. It was a valuable privilege, and one that was to prove of great use to Paul, although not in the way in which his father might have been expected to desire him to make use of it." Perhaps the most natural career for the youth to follow was that of a merchant. "But it was decided that...he should go to college and become a rabbi, that is, a minister, a teacher, and a lawyer all in one."
According to Jewish custom, however, he learned a trade before entering on the more direct preparation for the sacred profession. The trade he acquired was the making of tents from goats' hair cloth, a trade which was one of the commonest in Tarsus.
His preliminary education having been completed, Saul was sent, when about thirteen years of age probably, to the great Jewish school of sacred learning at Jerusalem as a student of the law. Here he became a pupil of the celebrated rabbi Gamaliel, and here he spent many years in an elaborate study of the Scriptures and of the many questions concerning them with which the rabbis exercised themselves. During these years of diligent study he lived "in all good conscience," unstained by the vices of that great city.
After the period of his student-life expired, he probably left Jerusalem for Tarsus, where he may have been engaged in connection with some synagogue for some years. But we find him back again at Jerusalem very soon after the death of our Lord. Here he now learned the particulars regarding the crucifixion, and the rise of the new sect of the "Nazarenes."
For some two years after Pentecost, Christianity was quietly spreading its influence in Jerusalem. At length Stephen, one of the seven deacons, gave forth more public and aggressive testimony that Jesus was the Messiah, and this led to much excitement among the Jews and much disputation in their synagogues. Persecution arose against Stephen and the followers of Christ generally, in which Saul of Tarsus took a prominent part. He was at this time probably a member of the great Sanhedrin, and became the active leader in the furious persecution by which the rulers then sought to exterminate Christianity.
But the object of this persecution also failed. "They that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word." The anger of the persecutor was thereby kindled into a fiercer flame. Hearing that fugitives had taken refuge in Damascus, he obtained from the chief priest letters authorizing him to proceed thither on his persecuting career. This was a long journey of about 130 miles, which would occupy perhaps six days, during which, with his few attendants, he steadily went onward, "breathing out threatenings and slaughter." But the crisis of his life was at hand. He had reached the last stage of his journey, and was within sight of Damascus. As he and his companions rode on, suddenly at mid-day a brilliant light shone round them, and Saul was laid prostrate in terror on the ground, a voice sounding in his ears, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" The risen Saviour was there, clothed in the vesture of his glorified humanity. In answer to the anxious inquiry of the stricken persecutor, "Who art thou, Lord?" he said, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest" (Ac 9:5; 22:8; 26:15).
This was the moment of his conversion, the most solemn in all his life. Blinded by the dazzling light (Ac 9:8), his companions led him into the city, where, absorbed in deep thought for three days, he neither ate nor drank (Ac 9:11). Ananias, a disciple living in Damascus, was informed by a vision of the change that had happened to Saul, and was sent to him to open his eyes and admit him by baptism into the Christian church (Ac 9:11-16). The whole purpose of his life was now permanently changed.
Illustration: Scene of Paul's Journeys and of the Early Churches
Immediately after his conversion he retired into the solitudes of Arabia (Ga 1:17), perhaps of "Sinai in Arabia," for the purpose, probably, of devout study and meditation on the marvellous revelation that had been made to him. "A veil of thick darkness hangs over this visit to Arabia. Of the scenes among which he moved, of the thoughts and occupations which engaged him while there, of all the circumstances of a crisis which must have shaped the whole tenor of his after-life, absolutely nothing is known. 'Immediately,' says St. Paul, 'I went away into Arabia.' The historian passes over the incident (comp. Ac 9:23; 1Ki 11:38-39). It is a mysterious pause, a moment of suspense, in the apostle's history, a breathless calm, which ushers in the tumultuous storm of his active missionary life." Coming back, after three years, to Damascus, he began to preach the gospel "boldly in the name of Jesus" (Ac 9:27), but was soon obliged to flee (Ac 9:25; 2Co 11:33) from the Jews and betake himself to Jerusalem. Here he tarried for three weeks, but was again forced to flee (Ac 9:28-29) from persecution. He now returned to his native Tarsus (Ga 1:21), where, for probably about three years, we lose sight of him. The time had not yet come for his entering on his great life-work of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles.
At length the city of Antioch, the capital of Syria, became the scene of great Christian activity. There the gospel gained a firm footing, and the cause of Christ prospered. Barnabas (q.v.), who had been sent from Jerusalem to superintend the work at Antioch, found it too much for him, and remembering Saul, he set out to Tarsus to seek for him. He readily responded to the call thus addressed to him, and came down to Antioch, which for "a whole year" became the scene of his labours, which were crowned with great success. The disciples now, for the first time, were called "Christians" (Ac 11:26).
The church at Antioch now proposed to send out missionaries to the Gentiles, and Saul and Barnabas, with John Mark as their attendant, were chosen for this work. This was a great epoch in the history of the church. Now the disciples began to give effect to the Master's command: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
The three missionaries went forth on the first missionary tour. They sailed from Seleucia, the seaport of Antioch, across to Cyprus, some 80 miles to the south-west. Here at Paphos, Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul, was converted, and now Saul took the lead, and was ever afterwards called Paul. The missionaries now crossed to the mainland, and then proceeded 6 or 7 miles up the river Cestrus to Perga (Ac 13:13), where John Mark deserted the work and returned to Jerusalem. The two then proceeded about 100 miles inland, passing through Pamphylia, Pisidia, and Lycaonia. The towns mentioned in this tour are the Pisidian Antioch, where Paul delivered his first address of which we have any record (Ac 13:16-51; comp. Ac 10:30-43), Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. They returned by the same r
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Who are you Lord? He asked. The Lord said: I am Jesus whom you persecute.
Saul got up from the ground. Even though he opened his eyes, he saw nothing. They led him by the hand into Damascus.
The Lord said to him, Arise, and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus for he is praying.
The Lord said to him, Arise, and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus for he is praying. He has seen a man named Ananias in a vision. He came in and laid his hand on him that he might receive his sight. read more. Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your holy ones at Jerusalem. He has authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name. The Lord said to him: Be on your way. This man is a chosen vessel to bear my name to the people of the nations, and kings and the children of Israel. I will show him plainly how many things he must suffer for my name.
After many days the Jews took counsel to kill him.
During the night the disciples let him down by the wall in a basket.
Barnabas led him to the apostles. He declared to them how he had seen the Lord in The Way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. He was with them coming in and going out of Jerusalem. read more. He spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He had a dispute with the Greek speaking Jews and they made attempts to kill him.
Cornelius replied, Four days ago I was praying at this hour. It was the ninth hour and I prayed in my house. A man dressed in bright clothing stood before me. He said, 'Cornelius, your prayer is heard and your gifts of mercy are noticed in the sight of God. read more. Send to Joppa, and call Simon, whose surname is Peter. He lives in the house of the tanner named Simon by the sea. When he comes he will speak with you.' Immediately I sent for you. You have done well for you have come. We are all present before God, to hear all things that are commanded to you from God. Peter opened his mouth, and said, I truly perceive that God shows no partiality. In every nation he accepts every person who respects him and does what is right. You know the Word of God was sent to the children of Israel. He (Jehovah God) presented peace through the anointed Lord (or Master) of all, Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:36) (Jesus identified his father, Jehovah God, as Lord of all heaven and earth at Matthew 11:25) You know that message which began in Galilee and was published throughout all Judea, after the baptism that John preached. God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil. God was with him. We are witnesses of all things that he did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a stake. God raised him up the third day and made him visible. However, all the people did not see him. Witnesses who were previously chosen by God saw him. We who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead saw him. He commanded us to preach to the people. We testify that he was ordained by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify that through his name whoever believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins.
When he found him, he brought him to Antioch. They met with the congregation for a whole year. They taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Paul and his company put out to sea from Paphos. They went to Perga in Pamphylia. John left them to return to Jerusalem.
Then Paul stood up gestured with his hand and said: Men of Israel, and you who reverence God, listen. The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they lived as strangers in the land of Egypt. He brought them out of Egypt with his great strength. read more. He cared for them and endured their bad conduct in the wilderness for forty years. He destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance. Then he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. This took about four hundred and fifty years. Afterward they desired a king. God gave Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, to them for forty years. When he removed him, he made David their king. He testified about him when he said: I found David the son of Jesse is a man after my own heart. He will do my will. God brought the Savior Jesus to Israel from this man's descendants. Before Jesus came John preached the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. As John accomplished his purpose he asked: Who do you think I am? I am not that one. One comes after me whose shoes I am not worthy to untie. Men and brothers, children of Abraham, and you of the nations who respect God, the message of salvation is sent to you. The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not know Jesus. They fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath when they condemned Jesus. They found no grounds for the death sentence for him. Yet they asked Pilate to put him to death. When they had fulfilled all that was written about him, they took him down from the stake, and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead: Those who came with him from Galilee to Jerusalem saw him. They are his witnesses to the people. We tell you good news. It is God's promise to the fathers. God has fulfilled this promise to their children by resurrecting Jesus. Just as it is written in the second psalm: You are my Son, today I have become your father. (Psalms 2:7) He raised him up from the dead, never to decay. It is stated in these words: I will give you the sure blessings promised David. (Isaiah 55:3) He said in another psalm: You will not allow your Holy One to see decay. (Ps 16:10) After David served his own generation by doing the will of God he died and was buried with his fathers. His body decayed. But he (Jesus), whom God raised again, saw no decay. You should know, men and brothers that it is through this man Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him all who believe are justified from all things. You could not be justified through the Law of Moses. Beware that what the prophets said does not happen to you. Look among the nations, watch, and be amazed. Though you are told you will not believe the work I do today. (Habakkuk 1:5) When the Jews left the synagogue the people asked for this message to be preached to them the next Sabbath. When the congregation dismissed, many followed Paul and Barnabas. They urged them to continue in the grace of God. Nearly the entire city gathered the next Sabbath day to hear the word of God. When the Jews saw the crowds they were filled with envy. They spoke against those things Paul spoke. They contradicted and blasphemed him. Paul and Barnabas became very bold, and said: It was necessary that the Word of God should first be spoken to you. But seeing you reject it you judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life! Therefore we turn to the people of the nations. Jehovah commanded us with these words: I appoint you as a light to the nations. My salvation will come to the ends of the earth. (Isaiah 49:6) And when the people of the nations heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God. As many as were receptive to eternal life believed. The word of God (Greek: kurios: God) was published throughout the entire region. The Jews incited the devout and honorable women and the leading men of the city. They caused persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their coasts. So they shook the dust from their feet against them, and went to Iconium.
The Holy Spirit did not let them preach the message in the province of Asia. So they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia.
They traveled through Mysia and went to Troas. Paul had a vision that night. In it he saw a Macedonian standing and pleading with him, Come over to Macedonia and help us!
So he reasoned in the synagogue with Jews and devout persons. He went to the marketplace every day with those who would meet with him. The Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. Some said: What is this babbler saying? Others: He seems to be advocating strange gods because he preached Jesus and the resurrection. read more. They took hold of him and brought him to the Areopagus. They said, May we know what is this new teaching? You bring strange ideas to our ears. We want to know what these things mean. The Athenians and the strangers who lived there spent their time doing nothing else except talking about and listening to new ideas. Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said: Men of Athens, in all things, I perceive that you are very religious. As I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: To An Unknown God. What you worship as unknown, this I will proclaim to you. The God that made the world and all things in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He does not live in temples made with hands. Men's hands do not serve him as if he needed anything. He gives life and breath to all. From one person he made every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth. He determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation. God did this so man could seek him and might find him. He is not far from each one of us. In him we live, and move, and have our existence. Your own poets have said: For we are also his offspring. Being then the offspring of God, we should not think that the divine being is like gold, or silver, or stone, a device made by man's design or skill. God overlooked the times of ignorance; but now he commands men everywhere to repent. He has established a day (time) in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man [Jesus] whom he has ordained. Of that he gives proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead. (John 5:22) (Isaiah 2:4) (Acts 10:42)
When they asked him to stay longer he declined. I will return again to you if it is God's will, Paul said. Then he set sail from Ephesus. read more. When he landed at Caesarea, he greeted the congregation and traveled to Antioch. After spending some time there he departed through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia strengthening all the disciples.
He went to Greece after traveling through the area giving encouragement.
At Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the congregation to him.
Who are you, Lord? I asked. I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute, he said to me.
When Paul saw that part of them were Sadducees and the other part Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin: Men! Brothers! I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee! I am being judged because of the hope and resurrection of the dead.
Hearing about the ambush, Paul's sister's son entered the barracks and reported to Paul.
he said, I will hear you fully when your accusers arrive. He commanded him to be kept in the praetorian of Herod.
If I am a wrongdoer, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if charges brought against me by the Jews are not true no man has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.
I said: 'Who are you, Lord?' And he answered: 'I am Jesus whom you persecute.
So they set a date with Paul. A large number of them came that day to the place where Paul was staying. From morning till night he explained his message about the Kingdom of God to them. He tried to convince them about Jesus by quoting from the Law of Moses and the writings of the prophets.
Paul rented a place to live for two full years and welcomed everyone who came to him. He spread the message about God's Kingdom and taught boldly about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one stopped him!
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God. From Jerusalem, and round about Illyricum, I have fully preached the good news of Christ.
Greet Andronicus and Junia. They are my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners who are well known among the apostles. They were in Christ before me.
Greet my relative Herodion. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus, for they are in the Lord. Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.
Now when I came to Troas for the good news of Christ, and when a door was opened to me in the Lord,
I did not go to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before I was. I went away to Arabia and again I returned to Damascus.
You know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the good news to you the first time.
You know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the good news to you the first time. That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you did not despise or reject. You received me like an angel (messenger) of God, even like Christ Jesus.
My imprisonment in Christ became known throughout the whole Praetorian Guard, and to all brothers.
I was circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.
Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, receive him),
Fausets
(See ACTS.) The leading facts of his life which appear in that history, subsidiary to its design of sketching the great epochs in the commencement and development of Christ's kingdom, are: his conversion (Acts 9), his labours at Antioch (Acts 11), his first missionary journey (Acts 13; 14), the visit to Jerusalem at the council on circumcision (Acts 15), introduction of the gospel to Europe at Philippi (Acts 16),: visit to Athens (Acts 17), to Corinth (Acts 18), stay at Ephesus (Acts 19), parting address to the Ephesian elders at Miletus (Acts 20), apprehension at Jerusalem, imprisonment at Casesarea, and voyage to Rome (Acts 21-27). Though of purest Hebrew blood (Php 3:5), "circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, (bearing the name of the eminent man of that tribe, king Saul), an Hebrew of the Hebrew," yet his birthplace was the Gentile Tarsus. (Ac 21:39, "I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city.") His father, as himself, was a Pharisee (Ac 23:6). Tarsus was celebrated as a school of Greek literature (Strabo, Geogr. 1:14).
Here he acquired that knowledge of Greek authors and philosophy which qualified him for dealing with learned Gentiles and appealing to their own writers (Ac 17:18-28. Aratus; 1Co 15:33, Menander; Tit 1:12, Epimenides). Here too he learned the Cilician trade of making tents of the goats' hair cloth called "cilicium" (Ac 18:3); not that his father was in straitened circumstances, but Jewish custom required each child, however wealthy the parents might be, to learn a trade. He possessed the Roman citizenship from birth (Ac 22:28), and hence, when he commenced ministering among Gentiles, he preferred to be known by his Roman name Paul rather than by his Hebrew name Saul. His main education (probably after passing his first 12 years at Tarsus, Ac 26:4-5, "among his own nation." Alexandrinus, Vaticanus, Sinaiticus manuscripts read "and" before "at Jerusalem") was at Jerusalem "at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers" (Ac 22:3). (See GAMALIEL.)
Thus the three elements of the world's culture met in him: Roman citizenship, Grecian culture, Hebrew religion. Gamaliel had counseled toleration (Ac 5:34-39); but his teaching of strict pharisaic legalism produced in Saul's ardent spirit persecuting zeal against opponents, "concerning zeal persecuting the church" (Php 3:6). Among the synagogue disputants with Stephen were men "of Cilcia" (Ac 6:9), probably including Saul; at all events it was at his feet, while be was yet "a young man," that the witnesses, stoning the martyr, laid down their clothes (Ac 6:9; 7:58; De 17:7). "Saul was consenting unto his death" (Acts 6; 7); but we can hardly doubt that his better feelings must have had some misgiving in witnessing Stephen's countenance beaming as an angel's, and in hearing his loving prayer for his murderers. But stern bigotry stifled all such doubts by increased zeal; "he made havock of (elumaineto, 'ravaged as a wild beast') the church, entering into the houses (severally, or worship rooms), and haling men and women committed them to prison" (Ac 8:3).
But God's grace arrested Paul in his career of blind fanaticism; "I obtained mercy upon, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief" (1Ti 1:12-16). His ignorance was culpable, for he might have known if he had sought aright; but it was less guilty than sinning against light and knowledge. There is a wide difference between mistaken zeal for the law and willful striving against God's Spirit. His ignorance gave him no claim on, but put him within the range of, God's mercy (Lu 23:34; Ac 3:17; Ro 10:2). The positive ground of mercy is solely God's compassion (Tit 3:5). We have three accounts of his conversion, one by Luke (Acts 9), the others by himself (Acts 22; 26), mutually supplementing one another. Following the adherents of "the (Christian) way ... unto strange cities," and "breathing out threatenings and slaughter," he was on his journey to Damascus with authoritative letters from the high priest empowering him to arrest and bring to Jerusalem all such, trusting doubtless that the pagan governor would not interpose in their behalf.
At midday a light shone upon him and his company, exceeding the brightness of the sun; he and all with him fell to the earth (Ac 26:14; in Ac 9:7 "stood speechless," namely, they soon rose, and when he at length rose they were standing speechless with wonder), "hearing" the sound of a "voice," but not understanding (compare 1Co 14:2 margin) the articulate speech which Paul heard (Ac 22:9, "they heard not the voice of Him that spoke") in Hebrew (Ac 26:14), "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?" (in the person of My brethren, Mt 25:40). "It is hard for thee to kick against the goads" (not in Ac 9:5 the Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, Alexandrinus manuscripts, but only in Ac 26:14), which, as in the case of oxen being driven, only makes the goad pierce the deeper (Mt 21:44; Pr 8:36). Saul trembling (as the jailer afterward before him, Ac 16:30-31) said, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" the usual question at first awakening (Lu 3:10), but here with the additional sense of unreserved surrender of himself to the Lord's guidance (Isa 6:1-8).
The Lord might act directly, but He chooses to employ ministerial instruments; such was Ananias whom He sent to Saul, after he had been three days without sight and neither eating nor drinking, in the house of Judas (probably a Christian to whose house he had himself led, rather than to his former co-religionists). Ananias, whom he would have seized for prison and death, is the instrument of giving him light and life. God had prepared Ananias for his visitor by announcing the one sure mark of his conversion, "behold he prayeth" (Ro 8:15). Ananias had heard of him as a notorious persecutor, but obeyed the Lord's direction. In Ac 26:16-18 Paul condenses in one account, and connects with Christ's first appearing, subsequent revelations of Jesus to him as to the purpose of his call;" to make thee a minister and witness of these things ... delivering thee from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee." Like Jonah, the outcast runaway, when penitent, was made the messenger of repentance to guilty Nineveh.
The time of his call was just when the gospel was being opened to the Gentiles by Peter (Acts 10). An apostle, severed from legalism, and determined unbelief by an extraordinary revulsion, was better fitted for carrying forward the work among unbelieving Gentiles, which had been begun by the apostle of the circumcision. He who was the most learned and at the same time humblest (Eph 3:8; 1Co 15:9) of the apostles was the one whose pen was most used in the New Testament Scriptures. He"saw" the Lord in actual person (Ac 9:17; 22:14; 23:11; 26:16; 1Co 15:8; 9:1), which was a necessary qualification for apostleship, so as to be witness of the resurrection. The light that flashed on his eyes was the sign of the spiritual light that broke in upon his soul; and Jesus' words to him (Ac 26:18), "to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light" (which commission was symbolized in the opening of his own eyes through Ananias, Ac 9:17-18), are by undesigned coincidence reproduced naturally in his epistles (Col 1:12-14; 2Co 4:4; Eph 1:18, contrast Eph 4:18; 6:12).
He calls himself "the one untimely born" in the family of the apostles (1Co 15:8). Such a child, though born alive, is yet not of proper size and scarcely worthy of the name of man; so Paul calls himself" least of the apostles, not meet to be called an apostle" (compare 1Pe 1:3). He says, God's "choice" (Ac 9:15; 22:14), "separating me (in contrast to his having been once a "Pharisee", from pharash, i.e. a separatist, but now 'separated' unto something infinitely higher) from my mother's womb (therefore without any merit of mine), and calling me by His grace (which carried into effect His 'good pleasure,' eudokia), revealed His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the pagan," independent of Mosaic ceremonialism (Ga 1:11-20). Ananias, being "a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews there," was the suitable instrum
See Verses Found in Dictionary
The witnesses must throw the first stone to put him to death, and afterward all the people. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.
As you say, Your Majesty, Shimei answered. I will do what you say. So he lived in Jerusalem a long time. Three years later, however, two of Shimei's slaves ran away to the king of Gath, Achish son of Maacah. When Shimei heard that they were in Gath,
Ahab saw Elijah. He said: Is it you, Israel's troublemaker?
However no one says: 'Where is God my Maker, who gives strength in the night?'
You do not abandon me to the grave or allow your holy one to decay.
Jehovah commands his mercy during the day, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
But he who sins against me wrongs himself. All who hate me love death.
Fear of man brings a snare (trap). He who trusts in Jehovah will be safe.
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw (discerned) Jehovah seated on a throne, high and exalted. The train of his robe filled the Temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. read more. They called to one another: Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of Hosts. All the earth is full of his glory. At the sound of their voices the foundations and thresholds trembled and the Temple was filled with smoke. Woe to me! I cried. I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips (a sinner) and I live among a people of unclean (filthy) lips (speech) (language). My eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of Hosts. Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand. With tongs he seized it from the altar. He touched my mouth with it and said: See! This has touched your lips, your guilt is taken away and your sin forgiven (pardoned) (atoned for). I heard the voice of Jehovah. He said: Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said: Here I am. Send me!
I, Jehovah, have called you and have given you power to see that justice is done on earth. I will make a covenant with all peoples and bring light (truth) (light of instruction) (Psalm 27:1) to the nations through you.
He says: It is a small thing that you are my servant. You will raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore the preserved ones of Israel. I will also make you a light to the nations that my salvation will reach to the end of the earth.
In that day I will raise up the fallen tabernacle of David and close up the breaches. I will raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old. They may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the nations that are called by my name, said Jehovah.
If your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away! It is better to lose a part of your body then to have your whole body destroyed in the ever-burning fires of the Valley of Hinnom.
When he noticed how strong the wind was, he became afraid. He began to sink, and cried: Help me Lord!
They will turn him over to the heathen to be made sport of and to be whipped. He will be put to death on the stake. The third day he will come back from the dead.
Any man falling on this stone will be broken. Any man having this stone fall on him will be crushed to dust.
He said to his servants, 'The feast is ready, but the guests were not worthy.
I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.'
The King will answer: 'To the extent that you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me.'
[Jesus said: Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do.](This verse not found in older manuscripts.) They cast lots and divided his garments among themselves.
The Word [Jesus] became flesh (a human being) and lived with us. We saw the glory of the only begotten son from the Father. He was full of loving-kindness and truth.
Out of the fullness of his undeserved kindness he gives us one blessing after another.
You worship what you do not know. We worship what we know. Salvation is from the Jews.
If the Teacher and Lord washed your feet you should wash one another's feet.
Pilate entered again into the Praetorium. He called Jesus and asked him: Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus answered: You say this about me. Or did others tell you it concerning me? read more. Pilate answered: Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered you to me! What have you done? Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world! If my kingdom were of this world my servants would fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews. My kingdom is not from this domain. Pilate said: Are you a king then? Jesus answered: As you say I am a king. I was born and came into the world for this purpose, that I should bear witness to the truth! Every one who is of the truth hears my voice.
As a result of this Pilate sought to release him. The Jews cried out: If you release this man you are not Caesar's friend. Every one that makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.
He leaped up, stood and walked. He entered the temple with them walking, and leaping, and praising God.
Brothers, I know you acted in ignorance just as your rulers did.
During the night God's angel opened the prison doors, brought them out and said:
One of the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had a reputation among all the people. He commanded to put the apostles outside for a while. He said to them: You men of Israel be careful what you intend to do to these men. read more. Sometime ago Theudas claimed to be somebody. About four hundred men joined and obeyed him. He was killed and they finally dispersed. After this man Judas of Galilee rose in the days of the taxing, and drew away many people after him. He also perished and all who obeyed him dispersed. I tell you: Leave these men alone. If this message and this work are from men it will come to nothing. But if it is from God, you cannot overthrow it; otherwise you may find yourselves fighting against God.
Certain men arose from the synagogue. It was called the synagogue of the Libertines, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians. Some of them were from Cilicia and Asia. They argued with Stephen.
Certain men arose from the synagogue. It was called the synagogue of the Libertines, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians. Some of them were from Cilicia and Asia. They argued with Stephen.
Moses was born then. He was divinely beautiful. He was nursed three months in his father's house.
Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet. His name was Saul.
Saul ravaged the congregation. He entered every house and dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
Who are you Lord? He asked. The Lord said: I am Jesus whom you persecute.
The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
The Lord said to him: Be on your way. This man is a chosen vessel to bear my name to the people of the nations, and kings and the children of Israel.
Ananias went his way. He entered the house and put his hands on him and said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared to you along the road sent me, that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Ananias went his way. He entered the house and put his hands on him and said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared to you along the road sent me, that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he received sight. He got up and was baptized.
He preached in the synagogues immediately. He preached Christ the Son of God. All who heard him were amazed. They asked: Is he the one who raised havoc with those who called on this name in Jerusalem? Did he come for that purpose to take them as prisoners to the chief priests? read more. Saul increased in power and confounded the Jews living in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ. After many days the Jews took counsel to kill him.
When Saul came to Jerusalem he attempted to join the disciples. They were afraid of him and did not believe he was a disciple.
When Saul came to Jerusalem he attempted to join the disciples. They were afraid of him and did not believe he was a disciple. Barnabas led him to the apostles. He declared to them how he had seen the Lord in The Way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. read more. He was with them coming in and going out of Jerusalem. He spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He had a dispute with the Greek speaking Jews and they made attempts to kill him.
He spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He had a dispute with the Greek speaking Jews and they made attempts to kill him. When the brothers detected this they brought him to Caesarea and sent him to Tarsus.
When Peter went to Jerusalem, those who favored circumcision argued with him. They said: You went to the uncircumcised and ate with them. read more. Peter started at the beginning and explained what happened. I was in the city of Joppa praying. In a trance I saw a vision. A vessel descended like a great sheet. It let down from heaven by four corners and it came to me. I looked in it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things and birds of the air. I heard a voice say to me, 'Get up Peter slaughter and eat.' I said, 'No Lord, for nothing defiled or unclean has at any time entered into my mouth.' The voice answered me again from heaven, 'Do not call defiled what God has cleansed!' This happened three times. Then everything was pulled up again into heaven. At that moment there were three men who were sent from Caesarea to me at the house where I was. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to doubt them. These six brothers accompanied me when we entered the man's house. He showed us how he had seen an angel in his house that stood and said to him, 'Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter.' He will bring you a message so that you and your household shall be saved. When I spoke the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it was in the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord said, 'John indeed baptized with water. However you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' Since God gave them the same gift as he gave to us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could oppose God?
Some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene. When they came to Antioch they spoke to the Greeks and preached the Lord Jesus.
News of these things came to the ears of the congregation in Jerusalem. They sent Barnabas that he should go as far as Antioch. When he arrived he saw the grace of God and was glad. He exhorted them all to remain true to the Lord as their only purpose of heart. read more. For he was a good man full of Holy Spirit and of faith. Then many people were added to the Lord. Then Barnabas departed to Tarsus to seek Saul. When he found him, he brought him to Antioch. They met with the congregation for a whole year. They taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch at that time. One of them was named Agabus. He indicated through the Spirit that a great famine was about to come on the entire earth. He said it would come to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. The disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers in Judea. They sent it to the elders through Barnabas and Saul.
They sent it to the elders through Barnabas and Saul.
It was the night before Herod was to bring him to trial. Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. He was bound with two chains. Sentries stood guard at the prison door. Suddenly God's angel came to him. A light shined in the prison. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up saying: Get up quickly. And his chains fell off of his hands. read more. The angel said: Dress yourself and put on sandals. Put on your coat and follow me. So Peter did as he was told. Peter followed him out of the prison. He did not know what the angel was doing was really happening. He thought he saw a vision. They went past the first and second guard to the Iron Gate that leads to the city. The gate opened and went out on the street. The angel then departed from him.
Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their mission. They took with them John, surnamed Mark.
Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their mission. They took with them John, surnamed Mark.
The apostles stayed there for a long time. They spoke boldly by the authority of God who proved that their message about his grace was true by giving them the power to perform miracles and wonders.
said with a loud voice: Stand up on your feet! And he leaped up and walked.
After much discussion Peter got up and said: Men and brothers you know that God made a choice among us, that I would preach the good news to the nations that they may hear and believe. God knows their hearts and showed that he accepted them by giving them Holy Spirit just as he did to us. read more. He made no distinction between them and us and purified their hearts by faith. Why do you test God by placing a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, one that our fathers were not able to bear? We believe we are saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, as they also are.
Paul arrived at Derbe and Lystra where he saw a disciple named Timothy. He was the son of a Jewish woman, and his father was a Greek. The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. read more. Paul wanted to have him travel with him. So he had him circumcised because of the Jews who were in the area. For they knew that his father was a Greek.
The Holy Spirit did not let them preach the message in the province of Asia. So they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia. When they reached the border of Mysia, they tried to go into the province of Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.
After Paul had this vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia. We decided that God had called us to preach the good news to the people there.
He brought them out and asked: Sirs, what must I do to be saved? They said: Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your house.
The Jews were moved with jealousy so they gathered bad people who organized a crowd for a riot. They assaulted the house of Jason in order to bring them out to the crowd.
The Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. Some said: What is this babbler saying? Others: He seems to be advocating strange gods because he preached Jesus and the resurrection. They took hold of him and brought him to the Areopagus. They said, May we know what is this new teaching? read more. You bring strange ideas to our ears. We want to know what these things mean. The Athenians and the strangers who lived there spent their time doing nothing else except talking about and listening to new ideas. Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said: Men of Athens, in all things, I perceive that you are very religious. As I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: To An Unknown God. What you worship as unknown, this I will proclaim to you. The God that made the world and all things in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He does not live in temples made with hands.
The God that made the world and all things in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He does not live in temples made with hands.
The God that made the world and all things in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He does not live in temples made with hands. Men's hands do not serve him as if he needed anything. He gives life and breath to all.
Men's hands do not serve him as if he needed anything. He gives life and breath to all. From one person he made every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth. He determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation.
From one person he made every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth. He determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation. God did this so man could seek him and might find him. He is not far from each one of us.
God did this so man could seek him and might find him. He is not far from each one of us. In him we live, and move, and have our existence. Your own poets have said: For we are also his offspring.
In him we live, and move, and have our existence. Your own poets have said: For we are also his offspring. Being then the offspring of God, we should not think that the divine being is like gold, or silver, or stone, a device made by man's design or skill.
He has established a day (time) in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man [Jesus] whom he has ordained. Of that he gives proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead. (John 5:22) (Isaiah 2:4) (Acts 10:42)
He was of the same trade as Paul. So he stayed with them and worked at their tentmaker trade.
But Paul said, I am a Jew, of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city and I request that you allow me to speak to the people.
I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up here in Jerusalem as a student of Gamaliel. I received instruction in the Law of our ancestors and was just as zealous for God as are all of you.
Everyone with me saw the light. They did not hear the voice of the one speaking to me.
I was blind because of the bright light. So my companions took me by the hand and led me to Damascus.
He said: 'The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will. You are to see his righteous servant, and to hear him speak with his own voice.
He said: 'The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will. You are to see his righteous servant, and to hear him speak with his own voice.
I went back to Jerusalem. Then I have a vision while I prayed in the temple.
I went back to Jerusalem. Then I have a vision while I prayed in the temple. I saw the Lord. He said to me: 'Hurry and leave Jerusalem because the people here will not accept your witness about me.'
I saw the Lord. He said to me: 'Hurry and leave Jerusalem because the people here will not accept your witness about me.'
I saw the Lord. He said to me: 'Hurry and leave Jerusalem because the people here will not accept your witness about me.' I answered, 'Lord they know very well that I went to the synagogues and arrested and beat those who believe in you.
The commander said: I became one by paying a large amount of money. I am one by birth, Paul answered.
When Paul saw that part of them were Sadducees and the other part Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin: Men! Brothers! I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee! I am being judged because of the hope and resurrection of the dead.
The following night the Lord stood by him and said: Be of good courage, Paul, for just as you testified about me in Jerusalem, so you also must bear witness at Rome.
All the Jews know the way I first lived as a youth among my own nation at Jerusalem. They knew me from the beginning. They could testify that I was from the strictest sect of our religion and I lived as a Pharisee.
We all fell to the ground. I heard a voice speaking to me. It said in the Hebrew tongue: 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' (You only hurt yourself.)
We all fell to the ground. I heard a voice speaking to me. It said in the Hebrew tongue: 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' (You only hurt yourself.)
We all fell to the ground. I heard a voice speaking to me. It said in the Hebrew tongue: 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' (You only hurt yourself.)
Stand up on your feet. I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of these things that you have seen, and of those things I will show to you.
Stand up on your feet. I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of these things that you have seen, and of those things I will show to you. I will rescue you from the people and the nations. I am sending you to them. read more. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. They may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. They may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
God displayed Christ publicly as propitiation (atonement) by his blood through faith. It demonstrated his righteousness. It was through the forbearance of God that he passed by the sins that had taken place before.
God displayed Christ publicly as propitiation (atonement) by his blood through faith. It demonstrated his righteousness. It was through the forbearance of God that he passed by the sins that had taken place before.
For you have not received a spirit of bondage again causing fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Father, Father! (Chaldee: Abba, meaning father).
I testify that they have zeal for God, but not according to [precise and correct] knowledge.
But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. It is the word of faith, which we preach. (Deuteronomy 30:8-20) If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and have active faith in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Accept the man who has a weak faith, but not to entertain doubtful thinking. For one believes that he may eat all things. Another who is weak eats only vegetables. read more. Let the one eating not look down on the one not eating. Let the one who does not eat judge him that eats, for God has received him. Who are you to judge another man's servant? He stands or falls before his own master. Yes, he will be made to stand for God can make him stand. One person judges one day above another. Another person judges every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He who regards the day regards it to God and he who does not regard the day does not regard it to God. He, who eats, eats to God, for he gives God thanks. He who does not eat does not eat to God and he gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no man dies to himself.
Let us not judge one another any more. Let no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean in itself. If someone thinks something is unclean it is unclean to him. read more. If because of your food your brother is grieved, you do not walk in love. Do not allow what you eat to destroy the one for whom Christ died. Do not let the good you do be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not food and drink; but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he that serves Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of by men. Let us follow after the things that make for peace, and things that are encouraging to one another. Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eats with offense. It is good neither to eat food, nor to drink wine, nor any thing that causes your brother to stumble or be offended and weakened. Do you have faith? Have it for yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in that thing that he allows. He that doubts is damned if he eats, because he eats not by faith. Whatever is not by faith is sin!
To the weak I became as the weak, that I might gain the weak. I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
But I say, that the things that the nations sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God. I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.
For I received from the Lord that which I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread.
For the person who speaks in an unknown tongue does not speak to men, but to God. No man understands him. He speaks secrets by the spirit.
First of all, I delivered to you what I also received, how Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.
And last of all I also saw him, as of one with an untimely birth.
Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals.
For, His letters, they say, are weighty and strong. But his bodily presence is weak and his speech of no account.
Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool. I am more in labors more abundant, beaten beyond number, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often. Of the Jews five times I received forty stripes less one. read more. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, I suffered shipwreck three times, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. In journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brothers; In weariness and painfulness, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are from the outside, that which comes upon me daily, the care of all the congregations. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I do not burn with indignation? If I need to boast, I will boast about the things that concern my infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed forever knows I do not lie. The governor under King Aretas put guards around the city of Damascus to catch me.
The governor under King Aretas put guards around the city of Damascus to catch me. So I was let down in a basket through an opening in the wall and escaped from him.
I must brag, although it does not do any good. I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
I was given a painful physical ailment that will keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things I saw. It acts as Satan's messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud. Three times I prayed to God about this and asked him to take it away. read more. He told me: My grace is sufficient for you for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore, I would rather glory in my infirmities (frailities), that the power of Christ may rest upon me (cover me like a tent) (descend upon me) (abide with me). (Isaiah 40:29-31) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. What is it in which you were inferior to other congregations, except that I was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong. read more. Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you. I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you. The children should not provide for the parents, but the parents for the children. I will gladly spend and be spent for you. When I love you more abundantly should I be loved less. Just the same, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning. Did I gain you by any of them whom I sent to you? I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus gain you? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same mental disposition? Did we not walk in the same steps? Do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for you're up building. I am afraid that I may come and find you different from what I want you to be, and that you may find me different from what you want me to be. I fear that there may be rivalry, jealousy, hot tempers, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly conduct. I am afraid that the next time I come my God will humiliate me in your presence, and I shall weep over many who sinned in the past and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication and loose conduct that they have practiced.
For I make known to you brothers that the good news that was preached by me is not according to man. I did not receive it from man. I was not taught it! It came to me through revelation from Jesus Christ. read more. You heard about the way I lived as a Jew. How I persecuted the congregation of God beyond measure. In fact I tried to destroy it! I advanced as a Jew beyond many of my own age among my countrymen. I was more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
I advanced as a Jew beyond many of my own age among my countrymen. I was more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. It pleased God to separate me even from my mother's womb and call me through his grace.
It pleased God to separate me even from my mother's womb and call me through his grace. He revealed his Son to me that I might preach him among the nations. I do not confer with flesh and blood (human beings).
He revealed his Son to me that I might preach him among the nations. I do not confer with flesh and blood (human beings). I did not go to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before I was. I went away to Arabia and again I returned to Damascus.
I did not go to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before I was. I went away to Arabia and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and waited with him fifteen days.
Then after three years I went to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and waited with him fifteen days.
Then after three years I went to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and waited with him fifteen days.
Then after three years I went to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and waited with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.
But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. What I write is true. God knows I do not lie. read more. Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. I was still unknown by face to the congregations of Judea that are in Christ.
I went in response to a revelation. I demonstrated to them the way I spread the good news among the people of the nations. I did this privately before them for they have a reputation. I am concerned that by any means I should be running, or had run, in vain.
I went in response to a revelation. I demonstrated to them the way I spread the good news among the people of the nations. I did this privately before them for they have a reputation. I am concerned that by any means I should be running, or had run, in vain. Titus was with me and he was not persuaded to be circumcised. He is a Greek.
Titus was with me and he was not persuaded to be circumcised. He is a Greek. This occurred because of the false brothers brought in secretly. They came to spy out our liberty that we have in Christ Jesus. This was so they might bring us into bondage.
This occurred because of the false brothers brought in secretly. They came to spy out our liberty that we have in Christ Jesus. This was so they might bring us into bondage. We did not yield to them for a moment or an hour! That way the truth of the good news (the whole body of Christian teachings) might continue with you. read more. Those who were recognized as important people did not add a single thing to my message. What sort of people they were makes no difference to me. God does not play favorites (show partiality). On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the good news to people who are not circumcised. Just as Peter had been entrusted with the good news to the people who are circumcised. The one who made Peter an apostle to the Jewish people (who are circumcised) also made me an apostle to the people of the nations (who are not circumcised). When they saw the grace that was given to me, James, Cephas (Peter) and John, they who were known to be pillars, gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship. We were to go to the nations and they were to go to the people who are circumcised.
Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now made perfect (mature) in the flesh?
You know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the good news to you the first time.
Tell me, you that desire to be under the Law; do you not hear the Law?
This contains an allegory (symbolic drama). These women symbolize two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia. She corresponds to the Jerusalem that now is. She is in bondage with her children.
Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia. She corresponds to the Jerusalem that now is. She is in bondage with her children.
You who seek to be righteous by Law are separated from Christ. You have fallen away from grace.
But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then has the stumbling block of the stake been done away?
See with what large letters I write to you with my own hand.
For not even those who receive circumcision obey the Law. They desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh.
Have the eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know the hope of his calling, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the holy ones,
To me, the very least of all the holy ones, was given grace (loving divine influence) to preach to the people of the nations the untraceable riches of Christ.
They are darkened (blinded) (obscured) in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart.
Always give thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.
Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places.
I was circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.
I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your thought for me. You did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity.
You also know, you Philippians, that in the beginning of the good news, when I departed from Macedonia, no other congregation shared their money with me. Only you shared with me. While I was in Thessalonica you provided for my needs twice.
I have all things, and prosper: I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you. It is an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.
Give thanks to the Father, who made us partakers of the inheritance of the holy ones in the light. He rescued us from the power of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love (the Son he dearly loves). read more. We have in him our redemption and the forgiveness of our sins.
All those people speak about how you received us when we visited you, and how you turned away from idols to God, to serve the true and living God,
All those people speak about how you received us when we visited you, and how you turned away from idols to God, to serve the true and living God, and to wait for his Son to come from heaven, his Son Jesus, whom he raised from death and who rescues us from God's anger (indignation) that is to come.
and to wait for his Son to come from heaven, his Son Jesus, whom he raised from death and who rescues us from God's anger (indignation) that is to come.
After we suffered and were mistreated in Philippi, we had the boldness (confidence) in our God to speak the good news of God to you amid much opposition.
After we suffered and were mistreated in Philippi, we had the boldness (confidence) in our God to speak the good news of God to you amid much opposition.
You may remember, brothers, our labor and hardship. We worked day and night that we would not burden any of you when we preached the good news of God to you. You and God are witnesses, how devoutly and righteously, without blame, we behaved toward you who believe!
You should walk worthily of God, who called you into his own kingdom and glory.
You brothers became imitators of the congregations of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus. You also suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews.
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and mind your own business, and work with your hands, as we command you. That way you may walk honestly in the eyes of those on the outside and lack nothing.
I thank him that enabled me and counted me faithful, appointing me to his service, Christ Jesus our Lord. I was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and a violent aggressor. I was shown mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. read more. The grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Faithful is the saying, and worthy of acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost. For this I obtained mercy, which in me as the foremost sinner Jesus Christ might show his long-suffering. This is for an example to those who should later believe in him for eternal life.
Reprove the sinner in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.
I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my forefathers did, that without ceasing, I remember you in my prayers, day and night.
One of them, a prophet of their own, said: Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons.
not by works done in righteousness, which we did, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration (restoration) (spiritual rebirth) and renewing (renovation) of the Holy Spirit.
You have not come to a mountain that can be touched, to Mount Sinai with its blazing fire, the darkness and the gloom, the storm.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy he gave us a new birth to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Consider the patience of our Lord as salvation. Just as our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you.
We have heard that which was from the beginning. We have also seen it with our own eyes. We looked at it and touched it with our hands. It is the Word of life.
Morish
This apostle was of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of pure descent, born at Tarsus, a city of Cilicia, a fact which gave to him the privilege of Roman citizenship. He was a disciple of Gamaliel and a strict Pharisee. He is first introduced to us as a young man, by name SAUL, at whose feet the witnesses who stoned Stephen laid their clothes. He became afterwards a violent persecutor of the saints, both of men and women, acting with great zeal, thinking he was doing God's service. His conversion as the effect of the Lord appearing to him was unique, and he was so completely changed that he became at once as bold for Christ as before he had been a persecutor of Christ in the persons of His saints. He immediately preached in the synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God. This was the distinctive point of his testimony. As the Jews sought his life at Damascus, he departed into Arabia, where doubtless he had deep exercise of heart and learnt more of the Lord.
After three years he went up to see Peter at Jerusalem, where he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. The Jews again seeking his life, he was conducted to Caesarea, and sent to Tarsus, his native place. From thence he was fetched by Barnabas to go to Antioch, where the gospel had been effectual, and there they both laboured. After having, in company with Barnabas, taken supplies to Jerusalem (his second visit), on occasion of a dearth, he commenced his first missionary journey to Cyprus and Asia Minor. He and Barnabas returned to Antioch, where he remained 'a long time.' On a dispute arising as to Gentile converts being circumcised, he went with Barnabas to Jerusalem concerning that question, and returned to Antioch. This city had become a sort of centre of the activity of the Spirit. Being far from Jerusalem it was less influenced by Judaising tendencies, though communion with the saints there was maintained.
Asia Minor, Macedonia and Greece were the sphere of Paul's second missionary journey. Having differed from Barnabas, because the latter wished to take John with them (who had left them on the first journey), Paul selected Silas for his companion, and departed with the full fellowship of the brethren. During part of this journey Timothy was one of the company. He abode a year and a half at Corinth, where he wrote the two EPISTLES TO THE THESSALONIANS. He now visited Jerusalem at the feast, and returned to Antioch. He took his third missionary journey through Galatia and Phrygia. When he visited Ephesus he separated the disciples from the synagogue, and they met in the school of Tyrannus. At Ephesus he wrote the FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS, and probably the EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS. After the tumult raised by Demetrius he went to Macedonia, and there wrote the SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. He again visited Corinth and wrote the EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.
The Jews seeking his life, Paul went through Macedonia, sailed from Philippi, and preached at Troas. At Miletus he gave a solemn parting address to the elders of Ephesus, and took his leave of the disciples at Tyre, where he was cautioned not to go to Jerusalem. At Caesarea also he was warned of what awaited him at Jerusalem, but he avowed that he was ready not only to be bound, but also to die for the name of the Lord Jesus.
Paul arrived at Jerusalem just before Pentecost. In order to prove himself a good Jew he was advised by the brethren to associate himself with four men who had a vow on them, and to be at charges with them. But while carrying this out he was seized by some Asiatic Jews, and beaten, but was rescued by Lysias, the Roman chief captain. After appearing before the council, and again being rescued by him, he was for safety sent off by night to Caesarea. There his cause was heard by Felix, who kept him prisoner, hoping to be bribed to release him. Two years later, when superseded by Festus, Felix, to please the Jews, left Paul in bonds. On appearing before Festus, to save himself from being sent to Jerusalem, there being a plot to waylay and murder him, Paul appealed to the emperor. His case having been heard by Agrippa and Festus, he was finally remitted to Rome. The ship, however, was wrecked at Malta, where they wintered, all on board having been saved.
On his arrival at Rome, Paul sent for the chief men of the Jews and preached to them: some of them believed, though the majority rejected God's grace (thus fulfilling Isa 6:9-10), which should henceforth go to the Gentiles. He, though still a prisoner, abode two years in his own hired house. There he wrote the EPISTLES TO THE COLOSSIANS, the EPHESIANS, the PHILIPPIANS, and also to PHILEMON.
The history of Paul is thus far given in the Acts of the Apostles, but there are intimations in the later epistles that after the two years at Rome he was liberated. His movements from that time are not definitely recorded; apparently he visited Ephesus and Macedonia, 1Ti 1:3; wrote the FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY; visited Crete, Tit 1:5; and Nicopolis, Tit 3:12; wrote the EPISTLE TO TITUS (the early writers say that he went to Spain, which we know he desired to do, Ro 15:24,28); visited Troas and Miletus, 2Ti 4:13,20; wrote the EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS; and when a prisoner at Rome the second time, wrote the SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY, when expecting his death. Early writers say that he was beheaded with the sword, which is probable, as he was a Roman citizen.
Paul received his commission directly from Christ who appeared to him in glory, and this source of his apostleship he carefully insists on in the Epistle to the Galatians. New light as to the church in its heavenly character came out by Paul, who was God's special apostle for that purpose. To him was revealed the truth that the assembly was the body of Christ, and the doctrine of new creation in Christ Jesus, in which evidently there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile. This caused great persecution from the Jews and from Judaising teachers, who could not readily give up the law, nor endure the thought of Gentiles having an equal place with themselves. This Paul insisted on: it was his mission as apostle to the Gentiles. To Paul also was committed what he calls "my gospel:" this was 'the gospel of the glory' (Christ in glory who put away the Christian's sins being presented in it as the last Adam, the Son of God). 2Co 4:4. It not only brings salvation, great as that is, but it separates the believer from earth, and conforms him to Christ as He is in glory.
Paul was an eminent and faithful servant of Christ. As such he was content to be nothing, that Christ might be glorified. To the Thessalonians he was gentle 'as a nurse cherisheth her children.' 1Th 2:7. He was severe however to the Corinthians when they were allowing sin in their midst, and to them he had to assert his apostolic authority when traducers were seeking to nullify his influence among them. To the Galatians he was still more severe: they were in danger of being shipwrecked as to faith by false Judaising teachers, who were undermining the truth of the gospel.
In the epistles we get a few glimpses of the inner life of Paul. After having been caught up into the third heavens, he prayed for the removal of the thorn in the flesh which had been given him lest he should be puffed up, and was told that Christ's grace was sufficient for him, he could say, "most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.'' 2Co 12:9-10. He also could say, "To me to live is Christ;" and "This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the calling on high of God in Christ Jesus." Php 3:13-14. As a martyr he reached that goal. The catalogue he gives of his privations and sufferings in 2Co 11:23-28 discloses the fact that but a small part of his gigantic labours is recounted in the Acts of the Apostles.
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He said: Go and tell this people: 'Hear constantly but do not understand. See constantly but do not perceive.' This people's heart has become calloused. They hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.(Septuagint)
When I take my journey to Spain, I will come to you. I trust to see you in my journey, and to be escorted on my way by you, after I have been satisfied with your company.
After I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come to you in Spain.
The god of this age (world) (religious, social, political, and economic arrangement) has blinded the minds of unbelievers that the light of the good news of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine on them.
Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool. I am more in labors more abundant, beaten beyond number, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often. Of the Jews five times I received forty stripes less one. read more. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, I suffered shipwreck three times, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. In journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brothers; In weariness and painfulness, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are from the outside, that which comes upon me daily, the care of all the congregations.
He told me: My grace is sufficient for you for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore, I would rather glory in my infirmities (frailities), that the power of Christ may rest upon me (cover me like a tent) (descend upon me) (abide with me). (Isaiah 40:29-31) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Brothers, I could not yet have obtained it. But one thing I do, I forget the things that are behind, and stretch forward to the things that are ahead. I press on toward the goal to the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
But we were gentle when we were with you, like a mother taking care of her children.
As I urged you to stay at Ephesus, when I was going into Macedonia, that you might command certain men not to teach strange doctrines.
When you come, bring the books, parchments, and the cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus.
Erastus remained at Corinth, but I left Trophimus at Miletus sick.
I left you in Crete for this purpose, that you should correct the things that were defective, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave you orders.
When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, give diligence to come to me at Nicopolis where I will winter.
Smith
(small, little). Nearly all the original materials for the life St. Paul are contained in the Acts of the Apostles and in the Pauline epistles. Paul was born in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia. (It is not improbable that he was born between A.D. 0 and A.D. 5.) Up to the time of his going forth as an avowed preacher of Christ to the Gentiles, the apostle was known by the name of Saul. This was the Jewish name which he received from his Jewish parents. But though a Hebrew of the Hebrews, he was born in a Gentile city. Of his parents we know nothing, except that his father was of the tribe of Benjamin,
and a Pharisee,
that Paul had acquired by some means the Roman franchise ("I was free born,")
and that he was settled in Tarsus. At Tarsus he must have learned to use the Greek language with freedom and mastery in both speaking and writing. At Tarsus also he learned that trade of "tent-maker,"
at which he afterward occasionally wrought with his own hands. There was a goat's-hair cloth called cilicium manufactured in Cilicia, and largely used for tents, Saul's trade was probably that of making tents of this hair cloth. When St. Paul makes his defence before his countrymen at Jerusalem,
... he tells them that, though born in Tarsus he had been "brought up" in Jerusalem. He must therefore, have been yet a boy when was removed, in all probability for the sake of his education, to the holy city of his fathers. He learned, he says, at the feet of Gamaliel." He who was to resist so stoutly the usurpations of the law had for his teacher one of the most eminent of all the doctors of the law. Saul was yet "a young man,"
when the Church experienced that sudden expansion which was connected with the ordaining of the seven appointed to serve tables, and with the special power and inspiration of Stephen. Among those who disputed with Stephen were some "of them of Cilicia." We naturally think of Saul as having been one of these, when we find him afterward keeping the clothes of those suborned witnesses who, according to the law,
De 17:7
were the first to cast stones at Stephen. "Saul," says the sacred writer significantly "was consenting unto his death." Saul's conversion. A.D. 37.--The persecutor was to be converted. Having undertaken to follow up the believers "unto strange cities." Saul naturally turned his thoughts to Damascus. What befell him as he journeyed thither is related in detail three times in the Acts, first by the historian in his own person, then in the two addresses made by St. Paul at Jerusalem and before Agrippa. St. Luke's statement is to be read in
where, however, the words "it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks," included in the English version, ought to be omitted (as is done in the Revised Version). The sudden light from heaven; the voice of Jesus speaking with authority to his persecutor; Saul struck to the ground, blinded, overcome; the three-days suspense; the coming of Ananias as a messenger of the Lord and Saul's baptism, --these were the leading features at the great event, and in these we must look for the chief significance of the conversion. It was in Damascus that he was received into the church by Ananias, and here to the astonishment of all his hearers, he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, declaring him to be the Son of God. The narrative in the Acts tells us simply that he was occupied in this work, with increasing vigor, for "many days," up to the time when imminent danger drove him from Damascus. From the Epistle to the Galatians,
we learn that the many days were at least a good part of "three years," A.D. 37-40, and that Saul, not thinking it necessary to procure authority to teach from the apostles that were before him, went after his conversion to Arabia, and returned from thence to us. We know nothing whatever of this visit to Arabia; but upon his departure from Damascus we are again on a historical ground, and have the double evidence of St. Luke in the Acts of the apostle in his Second Epistle the Corinthians. According to the former, the Jews lay in wait for Saul, intending to kill him, and watched the gates of the city that he might not escape from them. Knowing this, the disciples took him by night and let him down in a basket from the wall. Having escaped from Damascus, Saul betook himself to Jerusalem (A.D. 40), and there "assayed to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and believed not he was a disciple." Barnabas' introduction removed the fears of the apostles, and Saul "was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem." But it is not strange that the former persecutor was soon singled out from the other believers as the object of a murderous hostility. He was,therefore, again urged to flee; and by way of Caesarea betook himself to his native city, Tarsus. Barnabas was sent on a special mission to Antioch. As the work grew under his hands, he felt the need of help, went himself to Tarsus to seek Saul, and succeeded in bringing him to Antioch. There they labored together unremittingly for a whole year." All this time Saul was subordinate to Barnabas. Antioch was in constant communication with Cilicia, with Cyprus, with all the neighboring countries. The Church was pregnant with a great movement, and time of her delivery was at hand. Something of direct expectation seems to be implied in what is said of the leaders of the Church at Antioch, that they were "ministering to the Lord and fasting," when the Holy Ghost spoke to them: "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." Everything was done with orderly gravity in the sending forth of the two missionaries. Their brethren after fasting and prayer, laid their hands on them, and so they departed. The first missionary journey. A.D. 45-49. --As soon as Barnabas and Saul reached Cyprus they began to "announce the word of God," but at first they delivered their message in the synagogues of the Jews only. When they had gone through the island, from Salamis to Paphos, they were called upon to explain their doctrine to an eminent Gentile, Sergius Paulus, the proconsul, who was converted. Saul's name was now changed to Paul, and he began to take precedence of Barnabas. From Paphos "Paul and his company" set sail for the mainland, and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. Here the heart of their companion John failed him, and he returned to Jerusalem. From Perga they travelled on to a place obscure in secular history, but most memorable in the history of the Kingdom of Christ --Antioch in Pisidia. Rejected by the Jews, they became bold and outspoken, and turned from them to the Gentiles. At Antioch now, as in every city afterward, the unbelieving Jews used their influence with their own adherents among the Gentiles to persuade the authorities or the populace to persecute the apostles and to drive them from the place. Paul and Barnabas now travelled on to Iconium where the occurrences at Antioch were repeated, and from thence to the Lycaonian country which contained the cities Lystra and Derbe. Here they had to deal with uncivilized heathen. At Lystra the healing of a cripple took place. Thereupon these pagans took the apostles for gods, calling Barnabas, who was of the more imposing presence, Jupiter, and Paul, who was the chief speaker, Mercurius. Although the people of Lystra had been so ready to worship Paul and Barnabas, the repulse of their idolatrous instincts appears to have provoked them, and they allowed themselves to be persuaded into hostility be Jews who came from Antioch and Iconium, so that they attacked Paul with stones, and thought they had killed him. He recovered, however as the disciples were standing around him, and went again into the city. The next day he left it with Barnabas, and went to Derbe, and thence they returned once more to Lystra, and so to Iconium and Antioch. In order to establish the churches after their departure they solemnly appointed "elders" in every city. Then they came down to the coast, and from Attalia, they sailed; home to Antioch in Syria, where they related the successes which had been granted to them, and
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The witnesses must throw the first stone to put him to death, and afterward all the people. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.
One hundred barrels of olive oil,' he said. 'Here is your bill,' he told him; 'settle for fifty.'
They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet. His name was Saul.
One of them was named Agabus. He indicated through the Spirit that a great famine was about to come on the entire earth. He said it would come to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Some men came down from Judea to teach the brothers. They said: You cannot be saved unless you become circumcised according to the custom of Moses. Paul and Barnabas had an intense (harsh) dispute and debate with them. They concluded that Paul, Barnabas, and others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders to settle this question. read more. The congregation sent them on their way. They passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the nations. They brought great joy to all the brothers. Then they went to Jerusalem where the apostles and elders and congregation greeted them. They declared all the things that God had done for them. The believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stated: It is needed to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses. The apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. After much discussion Peter got up and said: Men and brothers you know that God made a choice among us, that I would preach the good news to the nations that they may hear and believe. God knows their hearts and showed that he accepted them by giving them Holy Spirit just as he did to us. He made no distinction between them and us and purified their hearts by faith. Why do you test God by placing a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, one that our fathers were not able to bear? We believe we are saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, as they also are. The crowd kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul. They declared the miracles and wonders God performed through them among the people of the nations. When they finished talking James said: Brothers listen to me: Simeon declared how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name. The words of the prophets agree to this for it is written: I will return and will build again the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down. I will rebuild its ruins. I will restore it. (Amos 9:11,12) That the rest of mankind might seek after Jehovah, and all the nations, upon whom my name is called, Jehovah said, who is doing these things. (Amos 9:12) Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Therefore it is my decision not to trouble those of the nations who have turned to God. We should write to them that they should abstain from things polluted by idols, from fornication, from things strangled and from blood. Moses has been preached in the synagogues from old times until now every Sabbath day. The apostles and elders along with the whole congregation desired to send chosen men to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers. They wrote letters as follows: The apostles, elders and brothers send greeting to the brothers who are of the nations in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Since we have heard, that certain ones who went out from us have troubled you with speeches, subverting you, saying: You must be circumcised, and keep the law. We gave no such commandment! It seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul. These men have endangered their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things in person. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things. You should abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these you will do well. Farwell (best wishes).
Paul and Barnabas stayed at Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of God, with many others also. After time passed Paul said to Barnabas: Let us go again and visit our brothers in every city where we have preached the Word of God, and see how they are doing. read more. Barnabas decided to take John, whose surname was Mark, with them. Paul did not think it a good idea to take him with them. So he left them at Pamphylia. Their disagreement was so great between them that they parted company. So Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus. Paul chose Silas, and departed, being entrusted by the brothers to the grace of God.
Suddenly there was a massive earthquake. It was so great the foundations of the prison-house were shaken. All the doors were opened and everyone's bands came off. The jailor, who was roused out of sleep and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. read more. Paul cried with a loud voice: Do not harm yourself for we are all here. The jailer called for lights. He rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He brought them out and asked: Sirs, what must I do to be saved? They said: Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your house. They spoke the Word of God to him and those in his house. That very hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds. Then he and all his family were baptized. He took them to his house and fed them. They rejoiced along with his entire house, having believed in God.
After this Paul left Athens to go to Corinth.
He was of the same trade as Paul. So he stayed with them and worked at their tentmaker trade.
They said: This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law. Paul was about to speak when Gallio said to the Jews: If you Jews were about to complain about some crime it would be reasonable for me to listen to you.
Paul stayed many days. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria. Also with Paul were Priscilla and Aquila. Paul clipped this hair short in Cenchreae because of a vow.
After spending some time there he departed through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia strengthening all the disciples.
He went to Greece after traveling through the area giving encouragement. After three months he set sail for Syria. He decided to return through Macedonia. He left there because the Jews formed a plot against him.
When they arrived he said: You know from the first day that I set foot in Asia, I was with you all the time, serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and with trials that came on me by the plots of the Jews. read more. I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly, and from house to house. I witnessed to both Jews and to Greeks about repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. I am compelled by the spirit to go to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there. Holy Spirit warns me that in every city, prison and hardships are facing me there. I do not consider my life of any account. It is not dear to me so that I may finish the race, and I may accomplish the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to preach the good news of the grace of God. I know all of you and have preached the kingdom with you. But you will not see me again. I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. I did not shrink from telling you the entire will of God. Be on guard for yourselves and the flock that the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Feed the Congregation of God that he purchased with the blood of his own [Son]. I know that after my departing grievous wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Such men will arise from among you speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them. Be on guard! Remember I did not cease for three years to admonish you day and night with tears. Now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace. This is able to build you up, and to give you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified. I coveted no man's silver, or gold, or clothes. You know that my own hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things I gave you an example. You by laboring should help the weak. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus: It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another. The commander could not find out the facts because of the uproar so he commanded him to be brought into the barracks. Paul reached the steps. The violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. read more. The mob followed closely and shouted: Away with him! And as Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, Might I say something to you? He replied: Do you know Greek? Are you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand assassins into the desert? But Paul said, I am a Jew, of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city and I request that you allow me to speak to the people. The commander gave permission so Paul stood on the stairs, motioned to the people. When there was silence he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying:
Men, brothers and fathers, hear my defense to you now.
They were screaming, throwing off their clothes, and throwing dust up in the air.
When Paul saw that part of them were Sadducees and the other part Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin: Men! Brothers! I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee! I am being judged because of the hope and resurrection of the dead.
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God. From Jerusalem, and round about Illyricum, I have fully preached the good news of Christ.
My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
And from the brothers who are with me, to the congregations of Galatia:
I did not go to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before I was. I went away to Arabia and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and waited with him fifteen days.
You know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the good news to you the first time. That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you did not despise or reject. You received me like an angel (messenger) of God, even like Christ Jesus. read more. Where then is your positive attitude? I bear you witness, that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal. But the word of God is not imprisoned.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with your spirit (mental disposition) (attitude). Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with your spirit (mental disposition) (attitude). Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with your spirit (mental disposition) (attitude). Amen.
Watsons
PAUL was born at Tarsus, the principal city of Cilicia, and was by birth both a Jew and a citizen of Rome, Ac 21:39; 22:25. He was of the tribe of Benjamin, and of the sect of the Pharisees, Php 3:5. In his youth he appears to have been taught the art of tent making, Ac 18:3; but we must remember that among the Jews of those days a liberal education was often, accompanied by instruction in some mechanical trade. It is probable that St. Paul laid the foundation of those literary attainments, for which he was so eminent in the future part of his life, at his native city of Tarsus; and he afterward studied the law of Moses, and the traditions of the elders, at Jerusalem, under Gamaliel, a celebrated rabbi, Ac 22:4. St. Paul is not mentioned in the Gospels; nor is it known whether he ever heard our Saviour preach, or saw him perform any miracle. His name first occurs in the account given in the Acts of the martyrdom of St. Stephen, A.D. 34, to which he is said to have consented, Ac 8:1: he is upon that occasion called a young man; but we are no where informed what was then his precise age. The death of St. Stephen was followed by a severe persecution of the church at Jerusalem, and St. Paul became distinguished among its enemies by his activity and violence, Ac 8:3. Not contented with displaying his hatred to the Gospel in Judea, he obtained authority from the high priest to go to Damascus, and to bring back with him bound any Christians whom he might find in that city. As he was upon his journey thither, A.D. 35, his miraculous conversion took place, the circumstances of which are recorded in Acts ix, and are frequently alluded to in his epistles, 1Co 15:9; Ga 1:13; 1Ti 1:12-13.
Soon after St. Paul was baptized at Damascus, he went into Arabia; but we are not informed how long he remained there. He returned to Damascus; and being supernaturally qualified to be a preacher of the Gospel, he immediately entered upon his ministry in that city. The boldness and success with which he enforced the truths of Christianity so irritated the unbelieving Jews, that they resolved to put him to death, Ac 9:23; but, this design being known, the disciples conveyed him privately out of Damascus, and he went to Jerusalem, A.D. 38. The Christians of Jerusalem, remembering St. Paul's former hostility to the Gospel, and having no authentic account of any change in his sentiments or conduct, at first refused to receive him; but being assured by Barnabas of St. Paul's real conversion, and of his exertions at Damascus, they acknowledged him as a disciple, Ac 9:27. He remained only fifteen days among them, Ga 1:18; and he saw none of the Apostles except St. Peter and St. James. It is probable that the other Apostles were at this time absent from Jerusalem, exercising their ministry at different places. The zeal with which St. Paul preached at Jerusalem had the same effect as at Damascus: he became so obnoxious to the Hellenistic Jews, that they began to consider how they might kill him, Ac 9:29; which when the brethren knew, they thought it right that he should leave the city. They accompanied him to Caesarea, and thence he went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, where he preached the faith which once he destroyed, Ga 1:21,23.
Hitherto the preaching of St. Paul, as well as of the other Apostles and teachers, had been confined to the Jews; but the conversion of Cornelius, the first Gentile convert, A.D. 40, having convinced all the Apostles that "to the Gentiles, also, God had granted repentance unto life," St. Paul was soon after conducted by Barnabas from Tarsus, which had probably been the principal place of his residence since he left Jerusalem, and they both began to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles at Antioch, A.D. 42, Ac 11:25. Their preaching was attended with great success. The first Gentile church was now established at Antioch; and in that city, and at this time, the disciples were first called Christians, Ac 11:26. When these two Apostles had been thus employed about a year, a prophet called Agabus predicted an approaching famine, which would affect the whole land of Judea. Upon the prospect of this calamity, the Christians of Antioch made a contribution for their brethren in Judea, and sent the money to the elders at Jerusalem by St. Paul and Barnabas, A.D. 44, Ac 11:28, &c. This famine happened soon after in the fourth or fifth year of the Emperor Claudius. It is supposed that St. Paul had the vision, mentioned in Ac 22:17, while he was now at Jerusalem this second time after his conversion.
St. Paul and Barnabas, having executed their commission, returned to Antioch; and soon after their arrival in that city they were separated, by the express direction of the Holy Ghost, from the other Christian teachers and prophets, for the purpose of carrying the glad tidings of the Gospel to the Gentiles of various countries, Ac 13:1. Thus divinely appointed to this important office, they set out from Antioch, A.D. 45, and preached the Gospel successively at Salamis and Paphos, two cities of the isle of Cyprus, at Perga in Pamphylia, Antioch in Pisidia, and at Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, three cities of Lycaonia. They returned to Antioch in Syria, A.D. 47, nearly by the same route. This first apostolical journey of St. Paul, in which he was accompanied and assisted by Barnabas, is supposed to have occupied about two years; and in the course of it many, both Jews and Gentiles, were converted to the Gospel.
Paul and Barnabas continued at Antioch a considerable time; and while they were there, a dispute arose between them and some Jewish Christians of Judea. These men asserted, that the Gentile converts could not obtain salvation through the Gospel, unless they were circumcised; Paul and Barnabas maintained the contrary opinion, Ac 15:1-2. This dispute was carried on for some time with great earnestness; and it being a question in which not only the present but all future Gentile converts were concerned, it was thought right that St. Paul and Barnabas, with some others, should go up to Jerusalem to consult the Apostles and elders concerning it. They passed through Phenicia and Samaria, and upon their arrival at Jerusalem, A.D. 49, a council was assembled for the purpose of discussing this important point, Ga 2:1. St. Peter and St. James the less were present, and delivered their sentiments, which coincided with those of St. Paul and Barnabas; and after much deliberation it was agreed, that neither circumcision, nor conformity to any part of the ritual law of Moses, was necessary in Gentile converts; but that it should be recommended to them to abstain from certain specified things prohibited by that law, lest their indulgence in them should give offence to their brethren of the circumcision, who were still very zealous for the observance of the ceremonial part of their ancient religion. This decision, which was declared to have the sanction of the Holy Ghost, was communicated to the Gentile Christians of Syria and Cilicia, by a letter written in the name of the Apostles, elders, and whole church at Jerusalem, and conveyed by Judas and Silas, who accompanied St. Paul and Barnabas to Antioch for that purpose.
St. Paul, having preached a short time at Antioch, proposed to Barnabas that they should visit the churches which they had founded in different cities, Ac 15:36. Barnabas readily consented; but while they were preparing for the journey, there arose a disagreement between them, which ended in their separation. In consequence of this dispute with Barnabas, St. Paul chose Silas for his companion, and they set out together from Antioch, A.D. 50. They travelled through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches, and then came to Derbe and Lystra, Acts 16. Thence they went through Phrygia and Galatia; and, being desirous of going into Asia Propria, or the Proconsular Asia, they were forbidden by the Holy Ghost. They therefore went into Mysia; and, not being permitted by the Holy Ghost to go into Bithynia as they had intended, they went to Troas. While St. Paul was there, a vision appeared to him in the night: "There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Ma
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Saul agreed to his death. There was at that time a great persecution against the congregation at Jerusalem. All but the apostles were scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.
Saul ravaged the congregation. He entered every house and dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest.
After many days the Jews took counsel to kill him.
Barnabas led him to the apostles. He declared to them how he had seen the Lord in The Way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
He spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He had a dispute with the Greek speaking Jews and they made attempts to kill him.
Then Barnabas departed to Tarsus to seek Saul. When he found him, he brought him to Antioch. They met with the congregation for a whole year. They taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
One of them was named Agabus. He indicated through the Spirit that a great famine was about to come on the entire earth. He said it would come to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
There were prophets and teachers in the congregation at Antioch. This included: Barnabas, and Simeon called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Some men came down from Judea to teach the brothers. They said: You cannot be saved unless you become circumcised according to the custom of Moses. Paul and Barnabas had an intense (harsh) dispute and debate with them. They concluded that Paul, Barnabas, and others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders to settle this question.
After time passed Paul said to Barnabas: Let us go again and visit our brothers in every city where we have preached the Word of God, and see how they are doing.
He was of the same trade as Paul. So he stayed with them and worked at their tentmaker trade.
But Paul said, I am a Jew, of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city and I request that you allow me to speak to the people.
I persecuted the people who followed this Way to the point of death. I arrested men and women and threw them into prison.
I went back to Jerusalem. Then I have a vision while I prayed in the temple.
When they tied him up to be whipped Paul said to the officer standing there, Is it lawful for you to whip a Roman citizen who has not been tried for a crime?
For this cause God gave them up to vile affections for even their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature. Also the men left the natural use of the woman and burned in their lust, one toward another; men with men working that which is obscene. They receive full recompense due for their error. read more. They did not like to retain God in their knowledge, so God gave them over to a reprobate (depraved) mind, to do things that are not fitting. They are filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, and unmerciful. They know the judgment of God, that those who commit such things are worthy of death! And yet, they not only do the same, but also approve of those who do them.
You then who teach another, do you teach yourself? You who preach not to steal, do you steal? You who say man should not commit adultery do you commit adultery? You who abhors idols do you rob temples? read more. You who boast in the law do you by transgression of the law dishonor God? The name of God is blasphemed on your account among the nations, just as it is written. (Ezekiel 36:20, 21)
Those he first recognized, he ordained in advance that they be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. He ordained in advance the ones he called. He declared righteous the ones he called. He also glorified those he declared righteous.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and do not have love, I have become like loud sounding brass, or a clashing cymbal. If I have the gift of prophesy, and know all secrets and all knowledge, and though I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. read more. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is not jealous. Love does not brag and is not arrogant (proud). Love does not act indecently. It is not selfish. It is not provoked and does not take into account a wrong suffered. Love does not rejoice with evil, but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. Where there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away. Where there are tongues, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. When the perfect comes, the partial (imperfect) (incomplete) will be done away.
I am the least of the apostles and do not deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the people of God.
Now when I came to Troas for the good news of Christ, and when a door was opened to me in the Lord, I had no relief for my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother: but leaving them, I went to Macedonia.
We make known to you brothers the grace of God that has been given to the congregations of Macedonia.
I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus gain you? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same mental disposition? Did we not walk in the same steps?
You heard about the way I lived as a Jew. How I persecuted the congregation of God beyond measure. In fact I tried to destroy it!
Then after three years I went to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and waited with him fifteen days.
They heard it said: He that once persecuted us now preaches the faith he once tried to destroy.
Fourteen years later I went again to Jerusalem with Barnabas. I took Titus with me also.
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling. There is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. read more. There is one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all. But unto each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among holy ones. Nor should there be filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting but rather giving of thanks. read more. For you know this with certainty, that no fornicator, no unclean person, no covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words. It is because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
I was circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
All the holy ones greet you, especially they who are of Caesar's household.
I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our situation, and that he may comfort your hearts. He will be with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things that are done here. read more. Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, receive him), and Jesus that is called Justus, who are of the circumcision: these only are my fellow-workers for the kingdom of God, men that have been comfort (encouragement) (consolation) to me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.
One of them, a prophet of their own, said: Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons. This testimony is true. For this cause reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, and to be ready to do every good work, to speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men. read more. For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. When the kindness of God our Savior, and his love toward man, appeared,
When the kindness of God our Savior, and his love toward man, appeared, not by works done in righteousness, which we did, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration (restoration) (spiritual rebirth) and renewing (renovation) of the Holy Spirit.