| Paul, the great apostle who founded churches | | | | Jerusalem area, apparently they were still |
| throughout Asia and Europe, whose missionary | | | | not convinced that Paul's conversion was |
| spirit fills the book of Acts, and who wrote | | | | genuine. Only years later, all apostles felt |
| much of the New Testament was initially a | | | | comfortable with Paul as a fellow Christian |
| fanatic Christian killer. | | | | and apostle. This might also be one of the |
| | | | main reasons that Paul's ministry was mostly |
| Known originally as Saul of Tarsus, Paul is | | | | in Gentile territory as far away as possible |
| introduced in the New Testament at the | | | | from his initial anti-Christian, Pharisaic |
| stoning of Stephen (Acts 8:1), one of seven | | | | roots. |
| Hellenistic deacons, around 34 AD, only about | | | | |
| twelve months after the resurrection. | | | | Saul/Paul spent the remainder of his life in |
| | | | ministry and church planting until his death |
| Next, "Saul began to destroy the church. | | | | as a martyr in Rome around 66/67 AD. |
| Going from house to house, he dragged off men | | | | |
| and women and put them in prison" (Acts 8:3). | | | | A dramatic conversion as what happened to |
| Extending the vigorous Jewish persecution of | | | | Paul is not necessarily unique. Critics and |
| the young Christian movement, Saul travelled | | | | skeptics will assert that history shows |
| to Damascus with letters from the high priest | | | | numerous examples of people that convert from |
| to imprison more Christians. However, on the | | | | one set of beliefs to another. What makes |
| road to the city he encountered the | | | | Paul's conversion such strong evidence is its |
| resurrected Jesus. A few days later he was | | | | cause. People usually convert to a particular |
| baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit | | | | religion because they have heard the message |
| (Acts 9). Paul, in his own words described | | | | of that religion from a secondary source and |
| his dramatic conversion in letters to | | | | have believed it. Quite similar is how |
| churches in Corinth (1 Corinthians 15:9-10), | | | | Christians today reach out to non-Christians |
| Galatia (Galatians 1:12-23), and Philippi | | | | and share the gospel of Christ. Very contrary |
| (Philippians 3:6-7). | | | | to this, Paul's conversion to Christianity |
| | | | did not include any sharing by any Christian. |
| Initially, Paul's conversion was met with | | | | It was based completely on his personal |
| suspicion; even the apostles were reluctant | | | | encounter with Jesus. Today, we might believe |
| to meet with him when he returned to | | | | that Jesus rose from the dead based on |
| Jerusalem the first time after his | | | | secondary evidence, trusting the testimony of |
| conversion: "Then after three years, I went | | | | the disciples and Paul who saw the risen |
| up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter | | | | Christ, but for Paul, his experience came |
| and stayed with him for fifteen days. I saw | | | | from an unexpected primary source: Jesus |
| none of the other apostles - only James the | | | | appeared to him personally. His conversion |
| Lord's brother" (Galatians 1:18-19, emphasis | | | | was not based on the testimony of someone |
| added). In these days, so soon after the | | | | else. |
| resurrection, the apostles remained in the | | | | |