Part one
We are first introduced to this man known as Saul of Tarsus in the Book of Acts. It is there we are told that he was present at the stoning of a deacon named Stephen and more specifically that is was at his feet to whom those who were involved in the stoning laid their coats. (Acts 7:58). As far as these religious leaders were concerned, Stephen was part of a dangerous group comprised of deceived Jews who professed that a crucified man named Jesus was raised from the dead and is the promised Messiah. So fervent was Saul against these so called heretics that in the Name of God he became obsessed with wiping them out of existence.Having already been a principal player in a reign of terror against these people of the Way, Saul was on a murderous mission in the process of hunting down members of this new sect in the place where some of them had fled when his life became forever changed. Acts 9:1-19 gives an account of his miraculous conversion experience that happened to him while he was en-route to the city of Damascus. After having secured the necessary papers from the high priest to extradite the disciples of the Lord; and on his way to carry out his intent; Saul saw a great light and heard a voice that identified Himself as Jesus, Whom it was that Saul was persecuting. Having been left blinded by the light, Saul was led into the city and after being there three days the Lord appears unto a man named Ananias in a vision and instructs him to go lay hands on Saul for him to receive his sight.
Ananias is told in his vision to go "for he (Saul) is a chosen vessel unto Me to bear My Name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel" (Acts 9:15). And while much could be said about what Ananias might have been thinking regarding the recipient of the instructions, this papers focus is to center more on what the instructions were—more specifically for Saul to bear the Name of Christ before the Gentiles. For, as we can discover from his own reluctant display of his background, his credentials, and pedigree, written in his letter to the Philippians 3:4-6, that it would be easy to wonder what singled him out to be chosen as an Apostle to the Gentiles. From such an impressive list, one might consider him to be the best candidate to spread the Gospel to the Jews instead of the Gentiles. Why then would the Lord have Paul as the one to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles? The following are some thoughts that may serve as reasons to consider. Such reasons we can see are consistent with the character of our Lord for us to discover that who better could there be for this task than Paul, and thus thereby learning more of how He may at times deal with us.
The history of the Jewish Nation is one in which God had begun and called apart as a chosen people for the purpose of revealing Himself through them to the surrounding nations. However, the Jewish response to this segregation was not what God intended it to be which was namely, for them to be a Theocratic nation ruled by God as an example for the world to follow. Instead, the Jews throughout their history, either blended in with the surrounding nations taking unto themselves the ungodly practices of their neighbors and forsaking the laws of God, or by becoming so self-righteous in themselves that they ignored their duty to spread the truth about God to others. It was this very attitude of self-righteousness that was the driving force behind Saul to rid the world of these Jesus followers.
Now Paul (his Greek name) was to go against all the tradition and heritage he was raised with and taught. Having been brought into a saving relationship with the living Christ, and an understanding of God’s Grace and purpose for the ages, he can now use his knowledge of Jewish law and custom to relate to the Jew who in ignorance relies on the law for their own salvation. But he could also best defend the Gentiles from those Jews who wished to exclude the Gentiles and more important to defend the Gentiles from the Jews who still wish to put them into bondage to the law for salvation.
This position of leadership to the Gentiles no clearer shows itself than when Paul brought Titus an uncircumcised Greek to the council declaring his salvation apart from obedience to the Law of circumcision. It is also seen when Paul stood against the Apostle Peter during a hypocritical exclusion of the Gentiles when Jews were present. (see Gal. 2:11-ff). For even though a vision was given to Peter that came to mean that salvation was open to the Gentiles, (Acts 10:9-ff) it was Paul who was separated by God for the task of preaching the Gospel to them.
This is not to say that Paul had no interest in the Jews coming to salvation through Christ. The contrary is true. Paul had so much love for his fellow countrymen that we find him declaring his willingness if it were possible to exchange his salvation for the salvation of Israel. But he also understood God’s plan and purpose for the Jewish nation and His intent to provoke them to jealousy by the free Grace open to the Gentiles. Romans 11:11 "I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous." (NASB).
There we have it. Paul—a living example of a changed life through the saving Grace of our God. A man who in zealous ignorance was intent on ridding the world of these ones that were turning the world upside down with their radical claims that a crucified man named Jesus rose from the dead. This man Paul, after his "Damascus Road" encounter with this resurrected Jesus had himself become their greatest leader. And not theirs only, but the first and greatest leader the Gentiles have had to proclaim that the Good News of Salvation by faith is open to all the world. And who better?
AMEN.
