Have you ever felt that as only one person, you couldn't possibly make a difference in another's life? Have you ever felt you yourself have sinned too much to possibly try to be an example for someone else? I know I certainly have felt that way at times. That is, until I consider what ONE PERSON ACTUALLY DID DO! A man who called himself foremost among all sinners--the wonderful Apostle Paul.

First, let's consider who Paul was. He was a Jew born of the tribe of Benjamin, supposedly a pure member of the tribe of Benjamin, meaning that both his parents were direct descendants of Benjamin. That in itself made him unique in the eyes of the Jews. When the tribe of Benjamin fell into immorality, the other Jewish tribes punished them by almost annihilating the tribe of Benjamin. They later so regretted killing their own kin that they gave survivers wives from their tribes to keep the kin of Benjamin from totally disappearing. But, from that point on, it was the smallest but the most revered of all tribes. So, to be a pure descendant of Benjamin, who also happened to be the youngest and most precious son of Jacob, automatically elevated Paul's Jewish position. He was born about the same time of Christ, circumcised on the eighth day and named Saul, the Jewish equivalent of the Greco-Roman version, Paul, which he later took.



Secondly, he was from birth a Roman citizen, having been born in Asia Minor (Now Turkey) in the city of Cilicia, Tarsus, a Roman capitol and part of the Roman lands. He often used his Roman citizenry to advantage during persecutions by the Jews, who feared the Romans' retaliation for beating or stoning a Roman citizen.

Finally, he was highly-educated. Unlike some of the disciples, who were simple men who had been fishermen. Cilicia was home to a university; from a young age, Paul received the finest of educations, being brought up by his parents to be a fine, upstanding Jew and citizen. He later was sent to Jerusalem to study with the scholar, Gaemaelich.

Paul apparently had returned to Cilicia at the time of Christ's ministry because he never personally met Jesus. Later, however, he returned to Jerusalem where he became a Pharisee, one of four sects, or schools of thought, of educated Jews. The Pharisee, unlike the Sadducees, with whom they often were in conflict, believed in life after death. (Modern Judaism is thought to follow most closely the beliefs of the Pharisees.)

As a Pharisee, he engaged in enthusiastic persecution of this new "sect" who followed this man, Jesus, claiming he was the son of God who had risen from the dead. Many of the Jews considered such talk blasphemy. He soon became one of the most feared of persecutors of the early followers of Christ.

Paul first appears in Acts as he holds the coats of the Jews who stone to death the Christian evangelist Stephen. After that Paul was like a madman, dragging people--men, women and children alike--from their homes and jailing them to await almost certain death by the decrees of the Jewish priests. He was on the road to Damascus with a list of Jesus followers when a bright light from Heaven suddenly shone so brightly upon him that he was instantly blinded by it and fell to the ground.

Then he heard a voice speaking to him. "Paul! Paul! Why are you persecuting me so?"

"Who is speaking, sir?" Paul asked.

And the voice replied, "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and await my further instructions."

The men with Paul stood speechless with surprise. They could hear a voice but could see no one. When Paul arose, he found himself blind. He had to be led into Damascus where he remained without food or water for three days awaiting further instructions.
(To Be Continued)