The persecutor turned apostle and great teacher.
Paul's life has a powerful story because of his deep faith in God. Before he became known as Paul the Apostle, he was called Saul the Persecutor. Saul was a confident Pharisee (a Jewish religious leader) and learned a lot from Gamaliel, a famous Jewish teacher. He strongly believed in following the Jewish laws and was against the early Christian movement.
Saul's name was feared because he persecuted (hurt and attacked) Christians. He was involved in the punishment of many, including a man named Stephen. Stephen was put on trial by the Sanhedrin court and was stoned to death for boldly talking about his faith in God. Saul even asked for permission from important people to arrest any Christians he could find on his way to Damascus.
But God had special plans for Saul. On his journey to Damascus to arrest Christians, something amazing happened. He saw a bright light from God that made him blind. God spoke to him and gave him important instructions to meet a man named Ananias. Ananias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prayed for him, and Saul could see again.
After this, Saul started going by the name Paul, which was more common among the non-Jewish people called Gentiles. He left his home where he was known as Saul and began telling people in other countries about Jesus Christ. This was the same message he used to fight against as Saul the Persecutor, so he was challenged several times.
Paul traveled to many places in the Roman Empire to tell people about Jesus and help them start churches. He visited cities like Macedonia, Athens, Greece, and Philippi. But his journeys weren't easy. Paul faced tough times, like getting beaten up, being put in jail, and having to go to court because people didn't like his message.
As Paul became more committed to his Christian journey, he gained a lot of respect from other Christians. He cared deeply about them and wrote many letters to encourage them to stay strong, even when times were hard. Paul and his friend Barnabas also made important decisions about what rules new Christians and believers of the gospel should follow.
After years of doing God’s work and writing up to thirteen epistles (letters) that now make up books of the Holy Bible, Paul became known as a great apostle, being looked up to for not giving up during hard times for the sake of Christ.
Paul was on the road to arrest more Christians when he had a vision that changed his life forever! A bright light appeared from heaven and Paul fell to the ground, going blind instantly. He heard the voice of Jesus, asking him ’Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ Paul asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The voice replied, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.’
Paul was so terrified, but Jesus had good plans for his future and safety. He gave him instructions that led him to Damascus, and Paul stayed there for three days and nights, fasting and praying.
As he fasted and prayed, God spoke to Ananias, instructing him to find and heal Paul of his blindness. Ananias feared Paul the Persecutor, but God assured him. After Paul was healed, Ananias helped him to convert to Christianity, and this was the beginning of Paul’s mission.
After the vision, God started using Paul for so many good works, spreading the gospel (the good news about Jesus) from one city to another. But Paul could not go alone, so God brought Barnabas his way, who defended Paul and joined him in his missionary journey. They traveled about performing miracles, healing people, and preaching the gospel of God, even in several Roman cities where Paul was still known around as Saul the Persecutor.
In the city of Lystra, Paul healed a man who was unable to walk since birth, so he could walk again. In Philippi, there was a girl who had a demon in her and used this to make money, but Paul casted the demon out. In Ephesus, Paul would touch some pieces of clothing, and whoever touched them again would be healed of demons and illnesses. Another amazing miracle was when Paul brought a young man called Eutychus back to life after he fell from a window.
Paul was warned by his brothers in Christ about his missionary journeys, especially amongst Jewish leaders. But Paul was determined to correct all the wrong things he had taught and encouraged when he was still a persecutor. To show this, he joined in a purification ceremony from the laws of Moses, and when the Jews saw and heard about this, they started a mob and arrested Paul.
Paul was determined to let them know about God, so he told them about the first encounter he had with Jesus on his way to persecute Christians. Paul saw the anger in the court and wisely announced that he was a Roman citizen, which would protect him from unjust judgement. The people were angry and swore not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul, but God made a way, and Paul was transferred to another prison so he would not be killed.
On his way to another prison, Paul was assigned to Julius, a prison guard. The journey was a very tough one because the weather was bad, and it moved the ship back and forth. Paul saw this and advised that a storm was coming, but no one listened.
As they kept sailing, the storm began and they started throwing their belongings into the water so that the ship might be lighter and they would be safe, but this did not work! The storm continued for days, and they had nothing to eat, but Paul assured them that God had promised him of their safety in a dream he had.
There was a request to kill the prisoners and make the boat lighter, but Julius refused just so Paul could be safe. After over two weeks facing trials on the sea, the ship was brought to land, just as Paul said.
Character appearances in Scripture.
Explore characters connected to Paul's journey.
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