CONVERSION OF PAUL

The conversion of Saint Paul the apostle. Loyola Press. (2020, July 14). Retrieved March 7,
2023, from https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/saints/saints-stories-for-all-
ages/the-conversion-of-saint-paul-the-apostle/

The conversion of Saint Paul the apostle. St. Boniface Parish. (n.d.). Retrieved March 7, 2023,
from https://stboniface-lunenburg.org/the-conversion-of-saint-paul-the-apostle

Bible gateway passage: Acts 9:1-19 - new international version. Bible Gateway. (n.d.).
Retrieved March 7, 2023, from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?
search=Acts+9%3A1-19&version=NIV

Paul, the apostle wrote a large percentage of the New Testament. God used Paul to record many of the Christians’
doctrines and teachings.

So, the question is, who was this Paul? How did he become God’s servant and scribe?

Paul’s original Hebrew name was Saul. Paul was a Greek-speaking Jew from Asia Minor. His birthplace, Tarsus, was a
major city in eastern Cilicia, a region that had been made part of the Roman province of Syria by the time of Paul’s

adulthood. Two of the main cities of Syria, Damascus and Antioch, played a prominent part in his life and letters. He is one
of the leaders of the first generation of Christians and somehow considered as the most important person after Jesus in the
history of Christianity. His exact date of birth is still unknown; however, he was an active missionary in 40s and 50s of the
first century CE. He was converted to faith in Jesus Christ about 33 CE, and he died, probably in Rome, approximately 62–

64 CE .
Until about the midpoint of his life, Paul was a member of the Pharisees, a religious party that emerged during the later
Second Temple period. Pharisees believed in life after death, which was one of Paul’s deepest convictions. Paul spent much
of the first half of his life persecuting the nascent Christian movement, an activity to which he refers several times. Paul
spent much of the first half of his life persecuting the growing Christian movement, an activity to which he refers several
times. Paul’s persecutions probably involved traveling from one synagogue to another and urging the punishment of Jews
who accepted Jesus as the messiah. synagogue, also spelled synagog, in Judaism, a community house of worship that
serves as a place not only for liturgical services but also for assembly and study.

He was not one of the original twelve disciples; apparently, he never met Jesus before Jesus was crucified. Paul came to be
a follower of Jesus after Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, when Jesus confronted him…personally. His
surviving letters, have had enormous influence on subsequent Christianity and secure his place as one of the greatest
religious leaders of all time

Paul was on his way to Damascus when he had a vision that changed his life: according to Galatians 1:16, God revealed
his Son to him. More specifically, Paul states that he saw the Lord (1 Corinthians 9:1), though Acts claims that near
Damascus he saw a blinding bright light. Following this revelation, which convinced Paul that God had indeed chosen Jesus
to be the promised messiah, he went into Arabia—probably Coele-Syria, west of Damascus (Galatians 1:17). He then
returned to Damascus, and three years later he went to Jerusalem to become acquainted with the leading apostles there.
After this meeting he began his famous missions to the west, preaching first in his native Syria and Cilicia (Galatians 1:17–
24). During the next 20 years or so (c. mid-30s to mid-50s), he established several churches in Asia Minor and at least
three in Europe, including the church at Corinth.

During the course of his missions, Paul realized that his preaching to Gentiles was creating difficulties for the Christians in
Jerusalem, who thought that Gentiles must become Jewish in order to join the Christian movement. To settle the issue,
Paul returned to Jerusalem and struck a deal. It was agreed that Peter would be the principal apostle to Jews and Paul the
principal apostle to Gentiles. Paul would not have to change his message, but he would take up a collection for the
Jerusalem church, which needed financial support (Galatians 2:1–10; 2 Corinthians 8–9; Romans 15:16–17, 25–26).
In the late 50s Paul returned to Jerusalem with the money he had raised and a few of his Gentile converts. There he was
arrested for taking a Gentile too far into the Temple precincts, and, after a series of trials, he was sent to Rome. Later
Christian tradition favors the view that he was executed there (1 Clement 5:1–7), perhaps as part of the executions of
Christians ordered by the Roman emperor Nero.

St Paul n Prison

Paul believed that his vision proved that Jesus lived in heaven, that Jesus was the Messiah and God’s Son, and that he
would soon return. Moreover, Paul thought that the purpose of this revelation was his own appointment to preach among
the Gentiles (Galatians 1:16).

Gentile, person who is not Jewish

Saul’s Conversion can be read in the Acts of Apostle chapter 9 verse 1-19. And the chapter says,

Saul’s Conversion

9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s
disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in
Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or
women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his
journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and
heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

5
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city,
and you will be told what you must do.”

7
The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not
see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see
nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and
did not eat or drink anything.
10
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a
vision, “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

11
The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man
from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named
Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

13
“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm
he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority
from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

15
But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my
name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how
much he must suffer for my name.”

17
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said,
“Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming
here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy
Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see
again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his
strength.

The Feast of Saint Paul the Apostle's Conversion is observed every January 25th. His dramatic
transformation serves as an example of the Gospel's extraordinary redemptive power. He had
persecuted numerous Christians, including Stephen, the first martyr for Christ. However, after meeting
Christ, he transformed into an unstoppable force for God's kingdom.

Note to rojan: ang naka red indi pagdal-a sa ppt ty