PAUL THE APOSTLE - A CHOSEN VESSEL UNTO GOD
'CP' denotes 'Compare Passage'
PAUL THE APOSTLE -
A CHOSEN VESSEL UNTO GOD Of the twenty seven books comprising the New Testament, Paul wrote fourteen of them - Romans through Hebrews. Not all bible scholars however agree that he wrote Hebrews as well, but it will be included in this study. Paul is first introduced in scripture as the young man Saul who was consenting to the stoning death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, in the book of Acts (CP Ac 7:58- 8:1 with 13:9). Paul was born a Jew, but he also held Roman citizenship (CP Ro 11:1; Php 3:5 with Ac 16:37; 22:25). Paul's birthplace was Tarsus, in Cilicia, a Roman province in Asia Minor - modern day Turkey - but he was raised in Jerusalem, where he studied Old Testament law and Jewish orthodoxy under Gamaliel, a renowned teacher and high ranking member of the Sanhedrin - the Jewish leaders' council (CP Ac 22:3 with 5:34). Paul was himself a zealous Pharisee (CP Ac 23:6; 26:4-5; Php 3:3-6). As a zealous Pharisee Paul was given official authority by the chief priests to apprehend and persecute Christians - "this way" (CP Ac 22:4; 1Cor 15:9; Ga 1:13). When Christians were put on trial Paul voted for them to be put to death (CP Ac 26:10).
Paul was on the road to Damascus, where he was going to seek out and arrest Christians and bring them back bound to Jerusalem where they would be imprisoned and tried for being Christians, when he had an encounter with Jesus, and was himself converted to Christianity (CP Ac 9:1-19; 22:4-21; 26:9-23). Christ had chosen Paul to take the gospel to the Gentiles and to suffer many things for His name's sake. Paul was a chosen vessel unto Christ (CP Ac 9:15-16; 22:21; 26:19-23). After his conversion Paul spent some days with the Christians in Damascus. He preached in the synagogue there that Christ was the Son of God, and the Jews determined to kill him. He had to flee Damascus by night in a basket the local Christians lowered over the wall of the city (CP Ac 9:19-25; 26:19-21; 2Cor 11:32-33). After fleeing Damascus Paul went to Arabia (CP Ga 1:15-17). Scriptures do not say how long Paul was in Arabia, but it was undoubtedly while he was there at that time, that he was taken up to Heaven and taught the gospel by Jesus Himself (CP Ga 1:11-12 with 2Cor 12:1-10).
Paul's "thorn in the flesh" is clearly identified in 2Cor 12:7 as a demon - "the messenger of Satan sent to buffet me" - which God Himself instigated so that Paul would not be lifted up with pride because of what he had seen and heard in Heaven. Buffet means maltreat, treat with violence. It conveys the notion of punishment for the correction and betterment of Paul; to keep him in touch with his limitations. The outworking of the demon's buffeting of Paul is recorded in 2Cor 11:23-33 (CP 2Cor 11:23-33). Paul's thorn in the flesh was not sickness as so many believe. As 2Cor 12:7-10 clearly teaches, Paul never prayed for God to heal him of sickness, only to remove the demon. But of course God would not, because He had instigated its presence in the first place (CP 2Cor 12:7-10).
Paul returned to Damascus after he left Arabia and stayed there three years. He then went to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Peter. At that time the only other apostle he saw in Jerusalem was James, Jesus' half brother (CP Ga1:17-19). The Christians in Jerusalem were wary of Paul because of how he had treated them in the past, and it was not until Barnabas, who knew of Paul's conversion, and of his preaching in the name of Jesus in Damascus, introduced him to Peter and James, that they really accepted him. Paul boldly preached Jesus in Jerusalem also, which brought him into dispute with the Greek speaking Jews - the Grecians - who set about to kill him, so he had to flee Jerusalem. The brethren took him to Caesarea from where he went to Tarsus, his birthplace, where he stayed for the next ten years (CP Ac 9:26-30). Paul next went to Syria (CP Ga 1:20-24).
Paul went to Syria with Barnabas - to Antioch, where there was a flourishing Christian community. There were so many new converts that Barnabas needed Paul's help in discipling them. It was at Antioch that believers were first called Christians. Paul stayed for a year and then he and Barnabas together took the relief money to Jerusalem for the Christians there suffering a great famine which had been predicted by the prophet Agabus (CP Ac 11:19-30). Upon returning to Antioch from Jerusalem Paul and Barnabas brought John Mark back with them (CP Ac 12:25). John Mark, who also wrote the gospel of Mark was Barnabas' cousin (CP Col 4:10). Sister's son here means cousin. Shortly after returning to Antioch Paul and Barnabas both were commissioned apostles by God (CP Ac 13:1-2). Being ordained an apostle was the prelude to Paul's first missionary journey (CP Ac 13:3-5).
Accompanied by Barnabas and John Mark, Paul went to Cyprus, stopping first at Salamis where he preached the word of God in the synagogue of the Jews. Their next stop was Paphos, the capital of Cyprus. Here they encountered a sorcerer and false prophet - a Jew called Bar-Jesus or Elymas, who was with the Roman Governor of Cyprus, Sergius Paulus. The Governor, seeking to hear the gospel, sent for Paul and Barnabas, but Elymas opposed them, trying to turn the Governor away from the faith. Paul caused blindness to come upon Elymas for a time. What Paul did was a sign that the gospel he preached was true (CP Ac 13:6-12). Paul's purpose was to punish Elymas for a time for resisting the gospel, and what happened demonstrated the power of the gospel and that God confirms what is preached with signs following. The Governor got saved as a result of what happened. It should be noted here that prior to Ac 13:9 Paul was called Saul, but throughout the rest of the New Testament he is called Paul.
After Paphos Paul and Barnabas and John Mark went to Perga, a city in Pamphylia, another province of Asia Minor - modern Turkey. Here John Mark defected from the mission and returned to Jerusalem (CP Ac 13:13). Paul and Barnabas then went to Antioch in Pisidia - not to be confused with Antioch, their home base in Syria - a province adjoining Pamphylia (CP Ac 13:14-15). Paul went to the synagogue and addressed the congregation, composed of both Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, which is recorded at length in V 16-41 (CP V 16-41). Many Jews and Gentiles were receptive to Paul's message and were saved. Most of the Jews though rejected it. However, the Gentiles wanted to hear more and arranged for Paul to preach it again on the next Sabbath. Almost the whole of Antioch turned up to hear the message that day which filled the Jews with envy. They contradicted and blasphemed the things spoken by Paul, but the Gentiles were glad and glorified God's word. A huge number were saved and the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region (CP V 42-49).