Paul
whose name from birth as given to him by his parents was Saul was brought to
public attention during the killing of Deacon Stephen by stoning. Paul was a Pharisee, and from the tribe of
Benjamin. Pharisees believe only the
laws of Moses. They also unlike
Sadducees believe in life after death.
But one thing they never believe is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
They also do not believe in miracles as performed by Jesus Christ.
Pharisees
and Sadducees believe that Sabbath day is sacrosanct, and as commanded in the
laws of Moses, no work including even saving of life of a human being should be
carried out on the Sabbath day. That
meant doctors should not open their clinics or hospitals to attend to people on
the Sabbath day. So they viewed the
action of Jesus Christ who healed on the Sabbath day as a violation of the Law
and lack of respect for Abraham, Moses and God. They also frowned at what they
regarded as flagrant disregard by Jesus Christ to the Jewish culture. Paul belonged to this religion. Paul was a fanatic Pharisee to the core. He was a zealot and was ready even to
sacrifice his own life to defend his religion and tradition of the Jews.
Paul
like other non-believing Jews was not happy with Stephen’s sermon and testimony
concerning Jesus Christ. It was indeed
one of the longest sermons presented immediately after the ascension of the
Lord Jesus Christ. Stephen full of the Holy Spirit hit them hard by reminding
the people of their transgressions and atrocities committed by them.
Paul
who then was still called Saul, and members of council of Sanhedrin and other
non-believers who could not bear the effrontery of Stephen decided to stone him
to death. Seeing that killing of Stephen
pleased the people, these unbelievers declared war on disciples in Jerusalem. These made the disciples to flee abroad. Saul (later known as Paul)’s involvement in
the persecution of disciples of Jesus Christ was specially described in the
following words:
And for Saul, he made havoc of the
church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to
prison. (Acts 8:3)
But
the disciples and apostles that scattered abroad were unperturbed as they went
about preaching the gospel. As they
preached the good news, indescribable miracles were taken place.The
fanatic Saul felt the new religion was a threat to the Jewish culture, went to
the high Priest and demanded for letters of authority to be given him, so that
he would proceed to Damascus where majority of the disciples had fled to. The high Priest obliged and gave him letters
to be given to the Priests and Rulers in Damascus to permit Saul to enforce the
return of the Jewish people who professed to be disciples of Jesus Christ to
Jerusalem.
It
was on his way in company with others that Saul was arrested by the power from
above.
And he fell to the earth, and heard
a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul why persecuted 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 9:4-6)
Saul
lost his sight as a result of the supernatural power, and he was led to
Damascus by his co-sojourners. Remember
they were about to enter Damascus before the occurrence of the incident that
led to conversion of Saul. In Damascus
he was taken to the house of a certain man called Judas. In this house Saul began to pray fervently to
the Mighty God to forgive him.
God
then appeared to Ananias, a certain disciple in Damascus to go and pray with
Saul, so that he would regain his sight.
Already while Saul was praying he had seen in a vision (Acts 9:12)
Ananias “coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his
sight”.
Ananias
initially complained, because he felt his life was not safe as he considered
Saul to be dangerous to approach.
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 priests to bind all that call on thy name. (Acts 9:13-14)
However,
God reassured Ananias that Saul is now also a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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: For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my
name’s sake. (Acts 9:15-16)
Remember
that all these were revealed to Ananias in a vision. How righteous and prayerful are we today to
receive such revelation through either dream or vision?
Ananias
went as the Lord directed him. He went
into the house where Saul was and prayed with him. Ananias did not act as if
the power was not given to him by God.
He told Saul that he was a mere messenger from the Lord Jesus Christ. He addressed Saul as “Brother”.
…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 comest, hath sent me, that thou mightest
receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
(Acts 9:17)
At
the above words as quoted, Saul immediately regained his sight.
And immediately there fell from his
eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and rose, and was
baptised. (Acts 9:18)
Ananias
baptised Saul immediately. No waste of
time. No permission from other disciples or even from apostles; he alone prayed
with Saul and without consulting with others, just there he baptised Saul who
by our estimation was a murderer. When
Saul regained his sight, he was even baptised before he was given food to eat. “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”. Acts
9:19-20)
Questions: Why was Jesus Baptised with water who knew
not sin? Is baptismal class in Churches where people are subjected to teachings
and written test necessary? The command of Jesus is that ‘He who believes’
that Jesus is the Son of God should be baptised immediately.
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