Transcript From Persecutor to Preacher…

From
Persecuting Pharisee
To
Persecuted Preacher
With a simple message of grace and
“How to Please God” in return!
Paul’s Home:
• “But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in
Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city...” (Acts 21:39)
“I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia
… (Acts 22:3)
• “And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion
that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and
uncondemned? When the centurion heard that, he went and told the
chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a
Roman. Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art
thou a Roman? He said, Yea. And the chief captain answered, With a
great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.”
(Acts 22:25-28)
Where Is Tarsus?
Who Was Paul?
• Saul:
• “And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid
down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.”
(Acts 7:58)
• “Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set
his eyes on him,”(Acts 13:9)
• A Tentmaker:
• “And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and
wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.” Acts 18:3
•… and labour, working with our own hands: I Corinthians 4:12
Who Was Paul?
• An Educated Man:
• “(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they
kept the more silence: and he saith,) I am verily a man which am a Jew,
born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of
Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the
fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.” (Acts 22:2-3)
•
•
PHAR'ISEE, n. [Heb. to separate.] One of a sect
among the Jews, whose religion consisted in a
A Jew- A Pharisee:
strict observance of rites and ceremonies and of
“But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the
the traditions of the elders,and whose pretended
other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a
holiness led them to separate themselves as a sect,
Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I
considering themselves as more righteous than
am called in question.” (Acts 23:6)
other Jews. (Web. 1828)
• “Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man
thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of
Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;”
(Phil 3:4-5)
• A Persecutor:
Who Was Paul?
“And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution
against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout
the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen
to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havock of the
church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.”
(Ac 8:1-3)
“And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men
and women. As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders:
from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them
which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.” (Acts 22:4-5)
“And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that
believed on thee: And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing
by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.”
(Acts 22:19-20) (see also Acts 26:9-11)
“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me
faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor,
and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.” (1 Ti 1:12-13)
Who Was Paul?
• A Converted Christian:
• “And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there
shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth,
and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
And he said, Who art thou, Lord?
• And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee
to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord,
what wilt thou have me to do?
• And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be
told thee what thou must do.” (Acts 9:3-6)
• Acts 22:5-11;26:12-20 Paul’s testimony recounted…
Who Was Paul?
• A Gospel Witness:
• “And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his
hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared
unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest
receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately
there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight
forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
• And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul
certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
And
straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of
God.
• But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that
destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither
for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which
dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.” (Acts 9:17-22)
Who Was Paul?
• The Theologian:
The “Pauline Epistles” line out the doctrines of this church age. These
doctrines did not originate in the mind of Paul.
• “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of
me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I
taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Gal 1:11-12)
• *Paul was given the dispensation of grace that explained the
mystery of the church: “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the
grace of God which is given me to you-ward…” Eph 3:2-6
Who Was Paul?
• Prisoner and Suffering Saint:
•
“For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.” (Acts 9:16)
•
“But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering,
charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium,
at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea,
and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Tim 3:10-12)
•
“Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant,
in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times
received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned,
thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings
often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in
perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea,
in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in
hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” (2 Cor 11:23-27)
•
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in
the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest
in our body. (2 Cor 4:8-10)
Who Was Paul?
• Instrument of Inspired Scripture:
• “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man
of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Tim
3:16-17)
• “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our
beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath
written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these
things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are
unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto
their own destruction.” (2 Pet 3:15-16)
Pauline Epistles:
Romans - Philemon
Who Was Paul?
• A Chosen Vessel:
• “Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how
much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath
authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the
Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear
my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:” (Acts
9:13-15)
• Paul also declared that WE are all called with a purpose…
• “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his
prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to
the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling,
not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace,
which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” (2 Tim 1:8-9)
Who Was Paul?
• An Apostle:
• “And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I
am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle,
because I persecuted the church of God.
• But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed
upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet
not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:8-10)
• “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and
God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)” (Galatians 1:1)
For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles,
I magnify mine office: Romans 11:13
Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle,
and a teacher of the Gentiles. II Timothy 2:11
And journey to Rome
His Departure:
“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.”
2 Timothy 4:6-8
We are to Follow Paul:
Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some
sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of
God, That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles,
ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might
be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:15,16
Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
I Corinthians 4:16
Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same
rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me,
and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many
walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that
they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction,
whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind
earthly things.) Philippians 3:16-19
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and
seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:9
We are to Follow Paul:
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the
Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we
were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the
Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy
Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and
Achaia. I Thessalonians 1:5-7
Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord
Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God,
so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we
gave you by the Lord Jesus. I Thessalonians 4:1,2
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves
disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but
wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be
chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make
ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. II Thessalonians 3:7-9
We are to Follow Paul:
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came
into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I
obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all
longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to
life everlasting. I Timothy 1:15,16
Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
II Timothy 2:7
At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray
God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood
with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully
known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the
mouth of the lion. II Timothy 4:16,17
… shew I unto you
a more excellent way.
I Corinthians 12:31
Paul
Paul
Paul
Paul
Paul
Paul
Paul
Thanks to Pastor Thomas Mowery for the ‘original’ presentation to which I was able to
fit and add for my use as well. Bible Believers Baptist Church, Union Gap, WA
www.biblebelieversbaptist.org