"Saul to Paul The Damascus Road"

 Megan Jones

"Saul to Paul The Damascus Road"

June 19th, 2021

Intervarsity Press and B& H Academic 

It all started with a man named Stephen's death. He was there. He was a bystander. he did nothing to stop it and he had some influence to. But he stood there and watched what they did to Stephen. he took of his robe and laid it on the ground. His name was Saul. The crowd yelled and they were intent on killing him. They drove him out of the city, and began to stone him. Stephen called out to The Lord "and said "Jesus receive my spirit." He fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice "Lord do not hold this sin against them." Having said this he fell asleep."(He died) (Acts 7:5-7)  

According to Howard Marshall p. 157,  Stephen's speech ticked off the crowd because his claim to have had a vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God made the situation worse, Thus there was an outbreak of violence and He was taken out the city and killed by stoning which was the traditional Jewish form of capital punishment. His last words were of forgiveness to his executors." The reference of Saul suggest that Stephen's last words had some effect on him." The crowd gnash their teeth as a sign of rage." Stephen's last words were prayer for himself and his executors." Like, Jesus he surrendered and committed himself to Jesus who he saw in his vision."  I wonder what was going through Stephen's mind as the crowd began to pick up the rocks to stone him, I wonder if he was sacred? I wonder if he knew before hand that this was going to happen to him? I think his last words were of grace and no fear because he knew he was going to be with Jesus. He knew the little time he had on the earth, was not in vain because some people heard the gospel and that somehow made a difference. I think so. 

Who was this Saul guy? Well, Saul was a Jewish man. He was born in the city of Tarsus during the first decade of the 1st century." In his youth, he studied Greek, this helped to speak with the Hellenistic Jews and Gentiles." He came from a wealthy family who were tradesman." "He traded through the port of Syria connecting Asia Minor." The business thrived and his family became moderately wealthy." (p.5 Quarles)   He was also a rabbi in training under Gamalie, who was Pharisee." (p. 346-347).  Well, what was he like? "His personality was able to carry on a doctoral debate well, He was hard as steel, but unyielding under pressure." "He didn't give into self-pity." "He learned how to be content with little or plenty." "He was able to consider all viewpoints and needs." (p.345-346 Thomas).  "He wasn't a good public speaker and he wasn't impressive physically either, but he was kind, humble, loving, and steadfast in willpower."  

It was about Noon, the sun was hot. The sky was blue. And Saul was walking to a city called Damascus, located in Syria. When he was stopped in his tracks. Without warning, He was surrounded by a bright light and he heard a loud voice speak to him." He fell to the ground and the voice said "Saul Why are you persecuting me"? And Saul said "Who are you Lord"?  And The Lord said "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting but get up and enter he city and you will be told what you must do." (Acts 9:3-6) He got up from the ground and though his eyes were open he couldn't see." Leading him by the hand they brought him into Damascus." And He was without sight 3 days, and neither ate nor drink." (Acts 9:8)  A man named Anasias a disciple of The Lord, told him to "Go to a street called straight and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold he is praying, and in a vision he had seen a man named Ananias coming and putting his hands on him, so that he may receive his sight." And Anasias went and entered the house and said "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus appeared to you on the road and as you come and sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." "Immediately there fell something from like scales and he received his sight at once and arose and was baptized." So, when he received food, he was strengthened. Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus." "Immediately, He preached the Christ in Synagogues that Jesus his the Son of God." But increased all the move and in strength and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus." Proving that Jesus is the Christ." (Acts 9:8-22).  After Damascus Paul, traveled to Tarsus after the attempt to kill him failed." he went to Jerusalem and Arabia, and returned to Damscus one more time."  3 years later, he went back to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him 15 days." He didn't see any other apostles expect  James and He said he is writing to assure you before God he isn't lying." He then went into the regions of Syria and Cilcia." he was still unknown by the churches of Judea which were in Christ." He kept hearing "He was once the man who is preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." And they were glorifying God because of me." (Galatians 1:7)

Epilogue:

The last years of Paul's life were filled with hardships, yet triumph. He was arrested in Rome and sent to the Mamertime prison. The conditions at the prison were awful. The prisoners were flogged(whipped) Paul was spared this because he was a Roman Citizen." "His clothes were stripped away during the whipping and not replaced. "He bled on his back, chest, and stomach. The wounds weren't cleaned or bandaged." "After the whipping, he was thrown in his cell and shackled by his wrists and ankles." The cell wasn't clean it posed a threat of fatal infections." Paul smelled bad and the cells smelled like an animal." Paul used his cell like a toilet and food was lacking nobody slept." (p. 263 Quarles) 

"The earliest account of Paul's death say he was beheaded by sword at Aquae Salviae(church in Rome) AD 64, 2 years after the date of his case." p(441 Bruce, F.F.) "The tradition of Paul's death is well est. he died a martyr's death." "Exactly were isn't clear." (p. 438-439 Polhill)  All Paul wanted to do was preach the gospel and get as many people saved as he could. he wanted to make a difference and he wanted to leave a mark. I believe he did. 

F.T.C. Title 16 Disclaimer-"I received a complimentary copy of these books from InterVarsity Press and B & H Academic. I am only required to post a review, though not necessarily positive or negative." "All opinions are solely therein my own." "I am disclosing this in accordance with The F.T.C. Title 16, Part 255, "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

ML.A. And S.B.L. Works Cited 

*Bible 

Acts Chapter 7 verse 57

Acts Chapter 9 verses 3-6

New American Standard Translation 

Zondervan Publishing House 

2000

Grand Rapids, MI 

Acts Chapter 9 verses 8-22

New King James Version 

1982

Thomas Nelson 

Galatians Chapter 1 veres 1-7

New American Standard Translation 

Zondervan Publishing House 

2000

Grand Rapids, MI 

1. Bruce, F.F. 

"Paul Apostle of The Heart Set Free"

Chapter 37 

"The Last Days of Paul: 

"History and Tradition"

William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company 

Grand Rapids, MI

2000.

2. Cribb, Bryan H And Crisler L. Channing 

"The Bible Toolbox"

Chapter 10 "Tools For Interpreting Acts And Paul's Biography"

"Paul before Damascus Road Revelation"

page-412

B & H Academic 

Nashville, TN

2019.

3. Lea, Thomas 

"The New Testament (It's Background and Message)

Chapter 14 "And overview of Paul's Life"

"The Personality of Paul"

page-345

Broadman & Holman Publishers 

Nashville, TN 

1996.

4. Marshall, Howard I.

Acts: Tyndale Commentary New Testament Series"

Acts Chapter 7:54-59

"The Death of Stephen"

pages-157-159.

InterVarsity Press, Academic

reprinted ed. 2008

Dowers Grove, IL

5.Polhill, John B.

"Paul and His letters" 

Chapter 20 "The Martyrdom of Paul"

pages-438-440.

B & H Academic 

Nashville, TN 

1999.

6. Quarles,  L/ Charles 

"Illustrated Life of Paul"

Chapter 2 "The Background of Paul of Tarsus"

page-5.

Chapter 9 "Paul's Last Years"

pages- 248-266.

B & H Academic

Nashville, TN 

2014.