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Paul’s Early Life Persecution of Church and Conversion

Paul’s Early Life Persecution of Church and Conversion. Acts 7-9. Tarsus. Paul grew up in Tarsus. Large Hellenistic city. Center of Greek philosophy and rhetoric. Deeply influenced by Hellenistic environment. Paul’s Hellenistic heritage. Greek was his first language.

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Paul’s Early Life Persecution of Church and Conversion

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  1. Paul’s Early LifePersecution of Church and Conversion Acts 7-9

  2. Tarsus • Paul grew up in Tarsus. • Large Hellenistic city. • Center of Greek philosophy and rhetoric. • Deeply influenced by Hellenistic environment. • Paul’s Hellenistic heritage. • Greek was his first language. • Familiar with Hellenistic customs, athletics, military. • Knows a little Greek philosophy, ethical terms. • Was a Roman citizen. • Moves easily in Hellenistic world. CYPRUS

  3. Tarsus“Cleopatra’s Gate” This city gate of Tarsus commemorates a state visit of Queen Cleopatra on her royal barge while Marc Antony was here in 38 BC.

  4. Jerusalem • Paul’s Jewish heritage. • Part of devout Jewish family with ties to Palestine (“Hebrew born of Hebrews”). • Moved to Jerusalem. • Studied under famous rabbi, Gamaliel. • Became a Pharisee devoted to Jewish law (Torah). • Paul’s dual cultural heritage. • Reflected in dual name: Saul (Jewish) and Paul (Roman). • Ideally suite to be “Apostle to the Gentiles” – to bring God of Israel to Gentile world. • As Pharisee in Jerusalem, Paul opposed new Christian movement. • Participated in stoning Stephen. • Led persecution of Hellenists. CYPRUS

  5. JerusalemOpposition to Stephen and Hellenists "This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law… that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed on to us."

  6. Stoning of StephenSt. Stephen’s Gate in Jerusalem “Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died.” (Acts 7:58) “And Saul approved of their killing him.”(Acts 8:1)

  7. JerusalemGreat Persecution “That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.” (Acts 8:1-3)

  8. Journey to Damascus “Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:1-2)

  9. Damascus Road

  10. Approaching Damascus “Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’” (Acts 9:3-4)

  11. “Who are you, Lord?” “He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one.” (Acts 9:5-7)

  12. Damascus“Street Called Straight” “Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ He answered, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul...Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’” (Acts 9:8-16)

  13. Damascus“Street Called Straight” “So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’... Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah. (Acts 9:17-22)

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