Introduction
The calling of Saul of Tarsus is in the Books of Acts and Romans in the New Testament. Paul had been born a Jew in Tarsus, and breathing threats and murder against Christ disciples. Paul works against the church years before his calling he witness the death of the first Christian Martyr. This was Stephen who would have shaped the destiny of Paul on his way to Damascus. Paul considered himself chief sinner among peers. Paul finally met face to face the one persecuted to whom he becomes a reliable follower and servant. He set up remarkable footsteps which are followed by Christians up to date.
Paul questionable calling
Saul whose Roman name was Paul was born in the first decade of the common arena at Tarsus in a region that was renowned as Cilicia. Saul was born of Jewish parents and got educated at the Gamaliel in the city of Jerusalem, where he experienced extensive spiritual growth through extensive study of literature and philosophical works (Acts 22: 1-3). There is a claim in Roman 6: 1 and Philemon3: 5 that Paul was a born of the tribe of Benjamin. This was based on the close relationship between his name and that of the first king of Israel (Brawley, 1987 pp. 73).
The book of Philemon 3:5 has excellent indication that Paul was the Hebrew of Hebrews. This is an excellent indication that Paul had begun being entrusted as a leader of the great fraternity of Christianity. Since his birth as Jew is stated in the start of words “of the stock of Israel” he was a true Epistle who was believed to had held extensive meaning to Gospel in the future of Christianity. This also affirmed that he was a Hellenist and he could distinguish between a heavenly and an earthly Adam “1Corinthians 15: 45-49” (Cadbury, 1955 pp. 54). He also understood that higher and lower spiritual life was only attained by state of mind and was usually influenced by Asceticism “ Romans 7: 1”. Paul’s mind was exhaustively influenced by the extensive theosophical literature that he engaged into (Bruce, 1988 pp. 428).
Paul who did not have any belief on Christianity was at this moment commissioned by the high priest. He was completely against any principles of Christianity. Therefore, he undertook the role that was entrusted to him by the chief priest of defiling and imprisoning all individuals who had left the traditional beliefs of the city for the new teachings that were offered by Jesus Christ. Saul never argued with the calling of the chief priest and thus he set his mission right as he fetched for individuals who had been converted into the new gospel and had extensive believe in Jesus Christ. The Chief priest had ordered him to pursue all followers of Jesus Christ whom he found along the way. On his bloody mission of salvaging the church of Jesus Christ followers of Jesus had become completely fearful of him as they were aware of what he would have done. Even those beyond Palestine borders trembled whenever they heard of the name Saul. He was referred to as a wolf who would stalk the fold of the lamb “Acts9: 13, 26” (Bock, 2007 pp. 355).
Paul brag of being passionate about his mission
Saul was a man who exemplary boasted of his previous actions as a sinner. He confessed of extensive sins that he had committed while he was assigned the mission of imprisoning all those individuals who had been converted into Christianity. He had relentless testimony of his betrayal mission for Christians. According to him he had the sincere belief that whatever he was doing was according to Jehovah’s will as he had been sent by the Chief priest to ensure there was no other beliefs could exist in the region apart from what the tradition had taught the society (Brawley, 1987 pp. 73).
Saul confesses of pursuing saints even at foreign lands. This is indicated in the illustration that even outside the borders of Palestine he was feared as they referred to him as a wolf that was out to stalk all Christians. In Acts 26:11 it is indicated that Saul beat, imprisoned, and had hacked a good deal of saints to death. Later on, in the book of Galatians 1:13 Paul writes “Beyond measure I persecuted the church of God and made havoc of it”. To Paul, his previous actions had continued to haunt him as he restlessly thought of how evil and inhuman he was to persecute Christianity and completely go against it through killing of saints who would have made the world aware of the outstanding life of Christianity. This may be found in 1 Corinthians 15:9; Ephesians 3:8; 1 Timothy 1:15(Bruce, 1988 pp. 415).
It is during his mission of destroying Christianity that had begun getting roots that he met with the first martyr of Jesus Christ. Stephen who was the first martyr of Jesus Christ, entered jubilantly into the existence of Him who he died for, and one of his death’s witnesses was a youthful man, who was known as Saul, at whose feet the witnesses put their clothes, as he consented to their depraved deed. Without getting satisfied with the death of Stephen, Paul carried on his mission. However, Paul did not understand that among the individuals, who were witnesses of the death of Stephen, one individual would be taken by Jesus Christ to preach the testimony of Stephen. Stephen had witnessed to the highness of Jesus at the right hand of God and this testimony had to be made known to the world by an individual who would be used as a vessel by Jesus Christ. It was a fore plan that Saul witnesses of Stephen’s death as a strategy to prepare him for the critical role that he was expected to play in letting the world understands who Jesus was to the world (Towns, 2008 pp. 69). It is at this point that the arrow of conviction was slowly getting into the soul of Saul.
Saul on Damascus Road
As he was on his journey to Damascus, Saul was not aware of what would happen to him. He was not aware of the wonderful thoughts that God had over him for his salvation as well as blessing. Like no other person who had witnessed the death of Stephen, Paul did not understand that he would be the one to carry along the testimony that was being given by Stephen. As he got near Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly shone unto him, and he fell to the earth as a voice said to him “ Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me?” (Acts 9:4). The light that had allowed Stephen understand of the glory of Jesus Christ now shine’s to his persecutor. Saul responded to the voice “who are you, Lord?” He had used the term Lord as indication of his respect although he did not understand who had addressed him. The voice was identified to him as that of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The converted persecutor was given instructions to enter Damascus where he would be instructed on what he was required to do by the Lord. At this moment, Saul was made blind following the miraculous vision through which Jesus Christ came to him (Acts 9:17, 1 Corinthians 15:8). Saul was led into the city (Bock, 2007 pp. 365). This was one of Saul’s most difficult times as he had never had such an experience before. He was not convinced that there would be any other power apart from what he had been made to believe by his chief priest. He was astonished as he was not aware of what Jesus Christ would do to him following his previous evil deeds to the people of God who had extensive believe in Jesus Christ. However, a turning point for Saul had finally come and there was o doubt he had to be converted to real Christianity where Jesus was Lord as He is the son of God and he sits at the right hand of God the father almighty (Hengel, 1979 pp. 74).
Following his experience with Jesus Christ, Saul stayed in Damascus for three days without any form of food or drink. However, he was convinced that this was his time to pray. Saul prayed vigorously for all this time he was alone without eating or drinking (Acts 9: 9, 11). This may be a representation of Saul’s time of salvation. It is at this moment that God sent a disciple who was in Damascus namely Ananias to Saul. The disciple was required to lay hands on Saul and restore his sight. At the beginning, Ananias was resistant as he had previously had of the brutal nature of Saul and he was not prepared to face his wrath. However, the Lord assured Ananias that he had chosen Saul and in future Saul would suffer in the name of the Lord (Acts 9:16). In Acts 22: 16, Ananias restored Saul’s sight and commanded him to arise and be baptized, and wash away all his sins calling on his name (Bruce, 1988 pp. 418). This was truly a dramatic conversion of a persecutor who had previously claimed so many Christian lives.
Saul of Tarsus as a final point meets face to face the one persecuted
Previously a persecutor, he had become a believer through access of divine grace of Jesus Christ. The grace had broken his conscience to reach the extended recesses of his heart. Therefore, Saul had been converted to a chosen vessel through which he would witness to the light of the glory that would shine in the face of Jesus Christ. He was to unfold to the saints of the earth that he had met with the true Lord and there was extensive benefit of securing divine connection with Jesus. He would testify to the world that he was the vessel that was chosen to affirm to people that what Stephen the martyr was preaching was true and he was connected to Jesus at the place where he witnessed Stephen being stoned to death. After he received sight form God through Ananias the spirit of God fell on him as he was pounded with extensive gifts of the Holy Spirit. He had extensive joy learning that Jesus Christ had favored him and he was to use him as a vessel to make the name of Jesus Christ known to the world. Since this time, Paul was allowed to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in all synagogues (Bock, 2007 pp. 357). He would make the entire world aware that Jesus was a son of God. Paul began his work that would be full of challenges where proclaimed Jesus as the son of God and one who had extensive power. Paul continued to preach on the holiness of Jesus, where he set exclusive examples that are followed in the Christian setting that is used even up to date. Jesus Christ did not only become a master to Paul but also a friend with whom the world would be saved from traces of sin and persecution of the right men of God. Saul announced Jesus as a Son of God who surpasses moral beauties and in whose company shall he remain forever (Conzelmann, 1972 pp. 77).
Conclusion
Initially, Saul was renowned of his wrath actions of fighting against Christianity, he has severally confessed of his actions of beating and killing several saints who were on the mission of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a witness on a killing of the first martyr God appoints him as the person who would carry out the message that was carried by Stephen. It is on his journey to Damascus where Jesus speaks to him making him blind and Saul is forced to pray for three days without eating or drinking. God later sends Ananias who restores Saul’s sight and later baptizes him. Form this point Saul becomes an outstanding preacher of Jesus Christ as the son of God.
Bibliography
Bock, Darrell L., Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, 2007, 354-372
Bruce, F. F., The Book of the Acts, The new International Commentary on the New Testament, 1988, 414-423
Brawley, Robert L. Luke-Acts and the Jews Conflict, Apology, and Conciliation.Scolars PressAtlanta, Georgia. 1987, 73, 155
Cadbury, Henry J., The Book of Acts in History, New York, NJ; Harper Brothers, 1955
Conzelmann, Hans.Acts of the Apostles, A Commentary on the Acts of the ApostlesFortress Press, 1972, 76-77
Hengel, Martin, Acts and the History of Earliest Christianity,Wipf and Stock Publishers, Eugene, Oregon, 1979, 74
Towns, Elmer L. Theology for Today, Cengage LEARNING, M ason, Ohio, 2008, 68-69
