PAUL THE APOSTLE ( Part 1 )

Pastor Christopher Choo

Lesson 3100

PAUL THE APOSTLE ( Part 1 ).

To me, he is such an intriguing and towering figure of faith with all the 5-fold anointings of Pastor, Prophet, Teacher, Evangelist, and Apostle.

He began as an arch-enemy of the Church and amazingly became its greatest missionary of all time.

He authored more books in the Bible than anyone else and his revelations are debated until today.

One would have thought he would lead many Jews to Christ as he was a Pharisee but instead he was called to be the  "Apostle to the Gentiles".

He comes into the Bible timeline around 10-30 A.D ( dates are approximate ). Born an Israelite, from the tribe of Benjamin, he was also a Roman citizen in his hometown of Tarsus of Cilicia. His Hebrew name was Saul ( Acts 7:58; 22:25-29 ) and he studied under the Jewish scholar Gamaliel in Jerusalem until he became an elite member of the Pharisees who had denounced Jesus and plotted to kill Him because of his popularity and claim to be God.

He was so zealous for Judaism that he persecuted early believers who were Jewish converts. He watched with approval the stoning of Stephen (an elder of the early church) in Acts 7:57 -60 around 32-33 A.D.

ABBA FATHER, may Your Holy Spirit bless this study of the life of Paul - who suffered greatly for the gospel that he once tried so hard to destroy. May we emulate his passion for the extension of Your Kingdom and be inspired by his memorable life and ultimate martyrdom.