Interestingly Jesus chose Saul/ Paul, one of the biggest enemies of Christianity, to be an Apostle 533-1 - 7 - 7

Saul was fully convicted concerning the requirement for the Law and was a force in the administration of it. To him the new believers were heretics and were to be stopped from spreading their heresy. The conversion of Saul would do two things. One it would eliminate one of the more obsessive persecutors of the new believers and it would channel his drive to spreading the faith.

Saul/ Paul certainly lived up to his names. As Saul he was the “destroyer” and officiated at the stoning of Stephen. Paul persecuted the early believers and was very instrumental in forcing them to leave Jerusalem and spread the Word. Saul was given the awesome privilege of seeing the risen Christ on the road to Damascus and went from persecuting those of the Way to being one of the persecuted.

It is likely that Saul now Paul spent several years after his conversion on the road to Damascus being tutored by the Master Himself. Paul means “builder” and build the church he did. While Peter is given credit as the “door opener” to the Gentiles, Paul certainly carried the gospel to the uttermost parts of most of the known world. Paul was a Hellenistic Jew, likely one of the greatest minds of all time and a citizen of Rome.

Paul had the ability to deliver milk to the new believers as well as meat to those more mature in Christ. In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul speaks to the simplicity of the gospel; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

Paul was fearless and carried the gospel throughout what is now known as Turkey and into Rome itself. Under inspiration, Paul wrote a large portion of the New Testament. Paul never seemed to doubt Jesus as did the original disciples who couldn’t seem to fully internalize the mission of Jesus.

Towards the end of his ministry Paul wrote, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

Jesus had told Paul that he would suffer greatly for his name. Paul was beaten a number of times, stoned, shipwrecked and thrown off a cliff and left for dead. At the end only Luke and possibly Mark were with Paul. However one quick bite of the axe and Paul was alive in Christ.