1 00:00:01,410 --> 00:00:06,730 Speaker 1: Although I used to be a blasphemer, a persecutor, an insolent, however, 2 00:00:07,190 --> 00:00:11,580 Speaker 1: I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly, in unbelief. 3 00:00:11,580 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: 1 Timothy 1.13 Heavenly Father, we stand in awe of 4 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:22,660 Speaker 1: your grace and mercy, especially as we reflect on our 5 00:00:22,780 --> 00:00:27,020 Speaker 1: past sins and shortcomings. We thank you, Lord, that you 6 00:00:27,110 --> 00:00:31,420 Speaker 1: do not hold our past sins against us, In your eyes, 7 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: we are not defined by our mistakes or failures, but 8 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: by what Christ has accomplished for us and what he 9 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:43,490 Speaker 1: will accomplish through us. Thank you for the transformative power 10 00:00:43,670 --> 00:00:48,930 Speaker 1: of your love, which takes our broken pieces and crafts 11 00:00:48,970 --> 00:00:53,309 Speaker 1: them into a beautiful story of redemption. Help us to 12 00:00:53,409 --> 00:00:58,010 Speaker 1: live in the freedom of your forgiveness. embracing our identity 13 00:00:58,490 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: as your beloved children, called and equipped to do your will. 14 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:08,679 Speaker 1: May our lives testify to the depth of your grace, 15 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:13,660 Speaker 1: encouraging others that no past is too marred for your 16 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:17,860 Speaker 1: healing touch. In Jesus' mighty name we pray. 17 00:01:19,220 --> 00:01:19,500 Speaker 2: Amen. 18 00:01:21,020 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with me today. You're listening to 19 00:01:24,180 --> 00:01:29,429 Speaker 1: The Jesus Podcast. Gospel stories retold to capture your imagination 20 00:01:29,890 --> 00:01:34,430 Speaker 1: and invigorate your faith. Today we dive into the story 21 00:01:34,530 --> 00:01:39,490 Speaker 1: of Paul the Apostle. Before his encounter with Christ, he 22 00:01:39,530 --> 00:01:43,470 Speaker 1: was the grim reaper and harbinger of persecution for the church. 23 00:01:45,060 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: Listen now for part one of his dramatic conversion story. 24 00:01:50,060 --> 00:01:54,270 Speaker 1: Follow this podcast on whatever platform you're listening to. Doing 25 00:01:54,330 --> 00:01:57,610 Speaker 1: so will keep you updated, but also help us get 26 00:01:57,670 --> 00:02:01,610 Speaker 1: discovered by more people. We want the story of Jesus 27 00:02:01,910 --> 00:02:06,110 Speaker 1: to be known throughout the world. Thanks for making that possible. 28 00:02:08,110 --> 00:02:09,410 Speaker 3: Open up! 29 00:02:09,470 --> 00:02:13,529 Speaker 1: Paul shouted, pounding the door again and yelled, Come out! 30 00:02:14,030 --> 00:02:15,250 Speaker 3: We know you're in there! 31 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:18,399 Speaker 1: Paul gestured for the temple guards to break open the door. 32 00:02:19,690 --> 00:02:21,810 Speaker 1: A man stood at a distance with his wife and 33 00:02:21,870 --> 00:02:27,110 Speaker 1: children behind him, cowering in the corner. Saul ignored the 34 00:02:27,169 --> 00:02:29,190 Speaker 1: tears and snarled at the man. 35 00:02:29,889 --> 00:02:33,710 Speaker 3: You have been seen professing the blasphemy of the Nazarenes. 36 00:02:34,550 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 3: I'm here to escort you to the Hall of Polished 37 00:02:36,580 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 3: Stones for questioning. 38 00:02:38,540 --> 00:02:41,780 Speaker 1: The man knelt down to his family and reassured them 39 00:02:41,820 --> 00:02:45,799 Speaker 1: that it would be all right. Saul and the guards 40 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: dragged him out of his home to the hall. There, 41 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,360 Speaker 1: Saul bombarded him with questions, as he had with the others. 42 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 3: You are aware that professing another god besides the Lord 43 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:00,889 Speaker 3: and gathering followers against him is a crime against our 44 00:03:00,930 --> 00:03:04,149 Speaker 3: people and punishable by imprisonment and torture? 45 00:03:04,550 --> 00:03:09,690 Speaker 1: Paul spat. The disciple did not seem worried. Like many 46 00:03:09,750 --> 00:03:13,260 Speaker 1: people who stood in court before him, He seemed excited 47 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:17,150 Speaker 1: about the opportunity to talk about Jesus. I have something 48 00:03:17,190 --> 00:03:21,090 Speaker 1: to argue in favor of my innocence, he said boldly. 49 00:03:21,710 --> 00:03:25,190 Speaker 1: I'm not blaspheming against God, for I've witnessed and testified 50 00:03:25,210 --> 00:03:28,690 Speaker 1: that Jesus is in fact the Messiah we've been waiting for. 51 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 1: The Sanhedrin stirred in their seats. Paul stepped closer to 52 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 1: him and yelled, Liar! 53 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:39,940 Speaker 3: You have been corrupted by the same foul doctrine as 54 00:03:39,980 --> 00:03:44,250 Speaker 3: the others. Renounce his name or face the consequences. 55 00:03:44,970 --> 00:03:48,310 Speaker 1: I met him myself, the man said proudly. 56 00:03:49,070 --> 00:03:50,870 Speaker 4: I was one of the 70 that followed him to 57 00:03:50,910 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 4: Galilee and then back to Jerusalem. 58 00:03:53,580 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 1: I traveled with him. 59 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:57,340 Speaker 4: I heard him teach from the law and the prophets, 60 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 4: and I witnessed him heal the sick and open the 61 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:03,380 Speaker 4: eyes of the blind. He even cast out demons. 62 00:04:04,020 --> 00:04:06,350 Speaker 3: He could only cast out demons because he was one. 63 00:04:06,310 --> 00:04:10,870 Speaker 1: Himself, Paul said aggressively. Why would Satan cast out Satans? 64 00:04:11,370 --> 00:04:14,950 Speaker 1: The man asked calmly. A house divided against itself cannot stand? 65 00:04:15,530 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: Like many of the Nazarenes, this man was very familiar 66 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 1: with the teachings of Jesus. Many of them spoke with 67 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:27,380 Speaker 1: such firm convictions, it was as if Jesus himself was speaking. 68 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:31,380 Speaker 1: We have heard enough, Saul said. He turned to the 69 00:04:31,420 --> 00:04:34,219 Speaker 1: high priest in council, saying, You've heard it yourself. 70 00:04:35,020 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 3: Forty stripes are the only way to keep this man 71 00:04:37,180 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 3: from spreading more lies. 72 00:04:39,020 --> 00:04:42,420 Speaker 1: The council agreed. The temple guards beat him to the 73 00:04:42,460 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 1: ground and then dragged him away. Paul spat at him 74 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 1: as he left. Find followers of Jesus, drag them to court, 75 00:04:51,620 --> 00:04:56,489 Speaker 1: give them 40 lashes, repeat. This had been Saul's ritual 76 00:04:56,730 --> 00:05:00,070 Speaker 1: for months. He had spent the greater part of a 77 00:05:00,130 --> 00:05:04,909 Speaker 1: year breathing threats against the Nazarenes. He had leveraged his 78 00:05:05,029 --> 00:05:10,830 Speaker 1: Roman citizenship to condemn them to corporal punishment Day after day, 79 00:05:11,250 --> 00:05:15,410 Speaker 1: he led prisoners to the flogging beam. Crowds surrounded them 80 00:05:15,730 --> 00:05:18,450 Speaker 1: as Saul ordered men to be lashed to pieces. 81 00:05:18,930 --> 00:05:20,010 Speaker 3: Forty stripes! 82 00:05:20,650 --> 00:05:23,210 Speaker 1: He shouted, following the sound of screams. 83 00:05:23,830 --> 00:05:25,050 Speaker 3: Forty stripes! 84 00:05:25,550 --> 00:05:30,170 Speaker 1: He yelled as children watched their fathers flogged. But these 85 00:05:30,250 --> 00:05:36,380 Speaker 1: Nazarenes were like cockroaches, refusing to die. No matter how 86 00:05:36,500 --> 00:05:41,490 Speaker 1: aggressively Saul hunted them, the movement continued to gain momentum. 87 00:05:42,790 --> 00:05:46,169 Speaker 1: Thousands were added to them daily, and the ones they 88 00:05:46,210 --> 00:05:53,130 Speaker 1: called apostles continued escaping imprisonment. Saul's religious zeal was mutating 89 00:05:53,180 --> 00:05:58,480 Speaker 1: into something far more sinister. He was taking pleasure in 90 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 1: their pain. With every flogging, beating, and stoning, Saul sought 91 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:08,620 Speaker 1: to kill his convictions. He wasn't aware of the war 92 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:13,770 Speaker 1: that was being raged within his heart. Like Cain murdering 93 00:06:13,810 --> 00:06:18,890 Speaker 1: his brother Abel. Saul's violence was aimed at people, but 94 00:06:18,910 --> 00:06:23,969 Speaker 1: his actual target was the Creator. He wasn't raging against 95 00:06:24,010 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 1: the men and women. He was raging against God. 96 00:06:30,580 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 2: Where does your sense of righteousness come from? Is it 97 00:06:33,140 --> 00:06:36,339 Speaker 2: your work, your personal life, your health? the things we 98 00:06:36,380 --> 00:06:39,480 Speaker 2: do well or make us feel good about ourselves. When 99 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 2: it comes to our spiritual life, there's only one way 100 00:06:42,580 --> 00:06:45,720 Speaker 2: that leads to righteousness. Jesus is the only way that 101 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:49,700 Speaker 2: leads to righteousness. Welcome to The Jesus Podcast, a year 102 00:06:49,730 --> 00:06:52,430 Speaker 2: of stories showcasing the depth of Christ's love through storytelling 103 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:56,289 Speaker 2: and the glory of God's truth through honest reflection. I'm Zach, 104 00:06:56,470 --> 00:06:59,030 Speaker 2: your host from Pray.com. Today's episode is part one of 105 00:06:59,089 --> 00:07:01,730 Speaker 2: two that takes us through the life of Saul before 106 00:07:01,910 --> 00:07:05,270 Speaker 2: he encounters Jesus. Follow the podcast so you don't miss 107 00:07:05,350 --> 00:07:06,070 Speaker 2: out on any of it. 108 00:07:06,070 --> 00:07:11,750 Speaker 3: But they were trepidatious about taking such extreme measures. 109 00:07:32,550 --> 00:07:36,470 Speaker 1: Since killing Stephen, nothing seemed to change. Have you all 110 00:07:36,510 --> 00:07:39,050 Speaker 1: lost heart so quickly? Saul scolded. 111 00:07:39,610 --> 00:07:42,370 Speaker 3: It is as David wrote. Do I not hate those 112 00:07:42,410 --> 00:07:45,070 Speaker 3: who hate you, O Lord, and hate those who are 113 00:07:45,150 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 3: in rebellion against you? These filthy Nazarenes deserve to die 114 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:51,820 Speaker 3: for their crimes against God. 115 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:56,060 Speaker 1: One of the council members raised his voice in objection, saying. 116 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,900 Speaker 3: The Romans were not pleased when we took action against Stephen. 117 00:08:00,610 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 3: They will not want us taking such measures outside their authority. 118 00:08:05,180 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 1: Have some faith, brother, Saul encouraged. 119 00:08:08,100 --> 00:08:10,500 Speaker 3: I am a Roman citizen and can find the right 120 00:08:10,540 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 3: papers to persecute them. 121 00:08:12,060 --> 00:08:14,580 Speaker 1: To what aim, Saul? Another member asked. 122 00:08:14,820 --> 00:08:16,739 Speaker 3: They do not seem afraid to die. 123 00:08:17,340 --> 00:08:21,220 Speaker 1: Saul paused. He felt a brief moment of shame in 124 00:08:21,550 --> 00:08:24,700 Speaker 1: what he was about to say, but quickly pushed against it. 125 00:08:25,930 --> 00:08:29,950 Speaker 1: Like an ox kicking against the farmer's goad, He pushed 126 00:08:30,010 --> 00:08:34,220 Speaker 1: against the conviction deep within his heart. He doubled down 127 00:08:34,300 --> 00:08:35,220 Speaker 1: on his hatred. 128 00:08:35,179 --> 00:08:38,900 Speaker 3: And declared, Once they start dying, they will wake up 129 00:08:38,940 --> 00:08:42,579 Speaker 3: to the severity of their sins. I can procure the 130 00:08:42,620 --> 00:08:45,500 Speaker 3: right papers from the Romans to send the Nazarenes running. 131 00:08:46,110 --> 00:08:50,170 Speaker 1: Torture and imprisonment had not worked, so death was the 132 00:08:50,230 --> 00:08:54,929 Speaker 1: last option. The Sanhedrin were content to let Saul loose 133 00:08:55,290 --> 00:08:58,869 Speaker 1: like a rabid dog. He stormed out and began the 134 00:08:58,929 --> 00:09:05,310 Speaker 1: preparations for public executions. He entered house after house and 135 00:09:05,350 --> 00:09:09,449 Speaker 1: dragged men and women into the streets. For most of them, 136 00:09:09,690 --> 00:09:15,250 Speaker 1: it was flogging. For many, it was imprisonment. Paul threatened death, 137 00:09:16,330 --> 00:09:18,150 Speaker 1: but he did not yet have the license to. 138 00:09:19,910 --> 00:09:20,050 Speaker 2: Kill. 139 00:09:28,350 --> 00:09:31,570 Speaker 1: Eventually, some of the Nazarenes began to succumb to Paul's 140 00:09:31,630 --> 00:09:37,070 Speaker 1: relentless barrage of threats. After hours of torture, they bent 141 00:09:37,130 --> 00:09:41,410 Speaker 1: their knees to Saul and begged for mercy. Renounce Jesus 142 00:09:41,950 --> 00:09:45,870 Speaker 1: and you will be spared, he said with gritted teeth. 143 00:09:47,650 --> 00:09:51,170 Speaker 1: Some of them renounced the name of Jesus and cowered 144 00:09:51,210 --> 00:09:58,150 Speaker 1: away like wounded animals. But some, despite being tortured... would 145 00:09:58,380 --> 00:10:04,969 Speaker 1: not relent. No amount of flogging, imprisonment, or torture would 146 00:10:05,090 --> 00:10:10,940 Speaker 1: quiet the anthem of Jesus. For those few who refused 147 00:10:10,980 --> 00:10:20,390 Speaker 1: to waver, the punishment was death. Saul was the grim reaper, Weekly, 148 00:10:20,470 --> 00:10:25,410 Speaker 1: the stone of execution was repainted with the blood of Jesus' disciples. 149 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:33,679 Speaker 1: Saul's conscience remained unmoved. Even as women wept over their husbands' bodies, 150 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 1: or children screamed as their mother was drugged to prison, 151 00:10:39,340 --> 00:10:45,660 Speaker 1: Saul's wrath was not halted. As the winter months approached 152 00:10:45,700 --> 00:10:49,580 Speaker 1: and the cold wind howled from the hills, the persecution 153 00:10:49,620 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 1: of the Nazarenes heated. The intense violence scattered the disciples 154 00:10:54,780 --> 00:10:59,450 Speaker 1: abroad in the escape of Saul and his minions. They 155 00:10:59,500 --> 00:11:02,730 Speaker 1: left the region of Judea into Samaria and Asia Minor. 156 00:11:04,150 --> 00:11:08,750 Speaker 1: Some even went overseas back to their homeland. At first, 157 00:11:09,010 --> 00:11:13,190 Speaker 1: Saul was pleased that they had left Jerusalem until he 158 00:11:13,250 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 1: received reports from abroad. The gospel of Jesus... was like 159 00:11:18,500 --> 00:11:25,380 Speaker 1: a contagion. Wherever the Nazarenes fled, the news of Jesus' life, death, 160 00:11:25,740 --> 00:11:31,820 Speaker 1: and resurrection spread. Word came from the north that followers 161 00:11:31,900 --> 00:11:36,340 Speaker 1: of the way were multiplying abroad even faster than in Jerusalem. 162 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 1: Persecution was like the wind to a wildfire for Jesus' message. 163 00:11:44,220 --> 00:11:48,460 Speaker 1: The more violent the persecutions, the stronger the Nazarenes became. 164 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:55,359 Speaker 1: Despite this, Saul persisted like a mighty wind, raging against 165 00:11:55,420 --> 00:11:55,819 Speaker 1: the fire. 166 00:11:56,420 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 3: We must expand our reach. 167 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:00,700 Speaker 1: Saul declared to the rest of the Sanhedrin. 168 00:12:01,179 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 3: The synagogues of the north are being corrupted by this 169 00:12:04,090 --> 00:12:05,430 Speaker 3: message of Jesus. 170 00:12:06,470 --> 00:12:07,490 Speaker 1: And if we don't stop it. 171 00:12:07,510 --> 00:12:11,510 Speaker 3: Soon, we'll lose all influence in the more influential trade cities. 172 00:12:12,130 --> 00:12:15,809 Speaker 1: Jerusalem was a golden city of religious thought and power. 173 00:12:17,270 --> 00:12:20,610 Speaker 1: But he knew all the money and influence resided in 174 00:12:20,630 --> 00:12:25,469 Speaker 1: the Roman port cities. He needed to extinguish the Nazarenes 175 00:12:26,100 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 1: before everything unraveled. The high priest leaned over his seat 176 00:12:31,820 --> 00:12:32,819 Speaker 1: and stroked his beard. 177 00:12:33,980 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 5: Our influence does not go far, Saul. We must tread 178 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:42,530 Speaker 5: lightly so we do not perturb the Romans. 179 00:12:43,410 --> 00:12:43,850 Speaker 1: I agree. 180 00:12:44,929 --> 00:12:47,310 Speaker 3: The Romans would not want us to be a disturbance. 181 00:12:47,830 --> 00:12:48,830 Speaker 1: Paul said with a nod. 182 00:12:49,550 --> 00:12:54,270 Speaker 3: However, we still have a good amount of self-government in Damascus, Phoenicia, 183 00:12:54,390 --> 00:12:58,570 Speaker 3: and Antioch. The local governors are lax and allow us 184 00:12:58,610 --> 00:13:02,069 Speaker 3: to punish our own people, especially with the right bribes. 185 00:13:02,730 --> 00:13:05,710 Speaker 1: Saul rolled out a map and placed a finger on 186 00:13:05,770 --> 00:13:06,750 Speaker 1: his intended target. 187 00:13:07,340 --> 00:13:10,479 Speaker 3: I say we begin with Damascus and drag every Nazarene 188 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:12,580 Speaker 3: we can find back to Jerusalem on a row. 189 00:13:13,860 --> 00:13:14,559 Speaker 1: If they refuse. 190 00:13:15,140 --> 00:13:19,059 Speaker 3: and we discreetly execute them there. They need to know 191 00:13:19,179 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 3: our reach extends beyond these borders. The Nazarenes can't escape God. 192 00:13:25,500 --> 00:13:28,490 Speaker 1: The high priest looked to the other council members, and 193 00:13:28,530 --> 00:13:33,030 Speaker 1: then back to Saul. You are our man, he said. 194 00:13:33,550 --> 00:13:39,100 Speaker 5: We shall write letters to the local synagogue, demanding they cooperate. 195 00:13:40,059 --> 00:13:43,809 Speaker 5: They will be your license to capture the Nazarenes. or 196 00:13:43,890 --> 00:13:45,590 Speaker 5: kill them if necessary. 197 00:13:46,410 --> 00:13:50,660 Speaker 1: Saul smiled and bowed his head. The high priest raised 198 00:13:50,700 --> 00:13:54,300 Speaker 1: his hands to God and struck a pious pose. 199 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:59,599 Speaker 5: This will mark the end of Jesus and the people 200 00:13:59,660 --> 00:14:00,620 Speaker 5: of the way. 201 00:14:01,470 --> 00:14:06,390 Speaker 1: They were painfully wrong. Saul thought he was pursuing Jesus, 202 00:14:07,630 --> 00:14:10,510 Speaker 1: but Jesus was pursuing him. 203 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:17,560 Speaker 2: If you want to get anywhere specific in life, you 204 00:14:17,580 --> 00:14:19,180 Speaker 2: have to know the path it takes to get there. 205 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 2: Paul had spent his entire life striving down the path 206 00:14:23,110 --> 00:14:25,990 Speaker 2: he thought would lead him to righteousness. Little did he 207 00:14:26,050 --> 00:14:29,390 Speaker 2: know he was headed in the opposite direction. His zeal 208 00:14:29,450 --> 00:14:32,850 Speaker 2: and religiosity had formed a life of pride and selfishness 209 00:14:33,150 --> 00:14:38,190 Speaker 2: that only brought him further from God, not closer. After Jesus' death, 210 00:14:38,450 --> 00:14:41,450 Speaker 2: his gospel message took off and thousands were being saved 211 00:14:41,550 --> 00:14:43,770 Speaker 2: by the day. What the Jews thought would be the 212 00:14:43,830 --> 00:14:46,090 Speaker 2: end of Christ and his mission was only the beginning. 213 00:14:46,670 --> 00:14:48,609 Speaker 2: The way to eternal life had been opened up and 214 00:14:48,650 --> 00:14:51,460 Speaker 2: there were so many people choosing to take this path, 215 00:14:51,530 --> 00:14:55,520 Speaker 2: but Saul was wholeheartedly opposed to it. He was determined 216 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:59,300 Speaker 2: to stand victorious against this perceived attack against the law 217 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:02,480 Speaker 2: of Moses. But what Paul thought was a mission to 218 00:15:02,580 --> 00:15:06,420 Speaker 2: eradicate the sinful Nazarenes was actually part of Jesus' plan 219 00:15:06,460 --> 00:15:10,990 Speaker 2: to eradicate the sin and pride in Saul's heart. Saul 220 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:14,150 Speaker 2: sometimes referred Saul, who we later on know to be 221 00:15:14,220 --> 00:15:17,180 Speaker 2: Paul the Apostle, is one of the most influential figures 222 00:15:17,300 --> 00:15:19,940 Speaker 2: in Christendom. In the course of 13 years of ministry, 223 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 2: he traveled over 7,000 miles and planted at least 14 224 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:27,020 Speaker 2: churches along the way. He single-handedly authored more books than 225 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:30,060 Speaker 2: any biblical author and is considered a key figure in 226 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 2: the early church. But this wasn't always the case for Saul. 227 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:37,210 Speaker 2: He wasn't always the faithful apostle and church planter. Before 228 00:15:37,270 --> 00:15:40,310 Speaker 2: his conversion, Paul was an enemy of the church. and 229 00:15:40,350 --> 00:15:43,210 Speaker 2: someone to be feared by those who follow Jesus. He 230 00:15:43,310 --> 00:15:46,310 Speaker 2: threatened the well-being and lives of many on his road 231 00:15:46,350 --> 00:15:49,530 Speaker 2: to personal glory. Looking at Saul's life gives us a 232 00:15:49,590 --> 00:15:53,070 Speaker 2: radical idea of the transformative power of the gospel and 233 00:15:53,110 --> 00:15:55,570 Speaker 2: reminds us that no one is too far gone to 234 00:15:55,610 --> 00:16:01,580 Speaker 2: be saved by Jesus. Before salvation, Saul is self-consumed, conceited, 235 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 2: and concerned only with work that gives him a sense 236 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:08,460 Speaker 2: of self-righteousness. As a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin, 237 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:11,990 Speaker 2: He had much to boast about. And as the early 238 00:16:12,020 --> 00:16:15,090 Speaker 2: church began to flourish, it made him vulnerable to lose 239 00:16:15,230 --> 00:16:17,550 Speaker 2: everything that he had built up. He had built this 240 00:16:17,610 --> 00:16:20,650 Speaker 2: name for himself. Taking a closer look at the actual 241 00:16:20,730 --> 00:16:25,210 Speaker 2: persecution caused by Saul is terrifying. Civility had been thrown 242 00:16:25,250 --> 00:16:27,430 Speaker 2: out the window as he stood by to watch men 243 00:16:27,450 --> 00:16:29,970 Speaker 2: and women dragged from their homes to be put on 244 00:16:30,070 --> 00:16:33,250 Speaker 2: trial and punished. There was no tone of remorse as 245 00:16:33,310 --> 00:16:36,250 Speaker 2: children wept in fear. All that remained in Paul's heart 246 00:16:36,290 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 2: was a devotion to his plans to maintain power. Saul 247 00:16:40,030 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 2: wasn't only willing to hurt others to accomplish his goals, 248 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 2: he was happy to do so. He's content leaving tragedy 249 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:50,660 Speaker 2: in his wake on his mission of self-righteousness. In order 250 00:16:50,700 --> 00:16:54,460 Speaker 2: to maintain self-righteousness, we must all focus on ourselves. Pride 251 00:16:54,500 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 2: needs to be stoked and fanned like a well-tended-to fire. 252 00:16:58,060 --> 00:17:00,110 Speaker 2: If we want to feel like we're number one, we 253 00:17:00,140 --> 00:17:03,450 Speaker 2: have to make ourselves number one and each day choose 254 00:17:03,610 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 2: selfish decisions. While this was Saul at one point in life, 255 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:11,470 Speaker 2: we see a drastically different picture after he's saved. Once 256 00:17:11,550 --> 00:17:14,810 Speaker 2: a man ruled by selfishness, the new man Saul would 257 00:17:14,850 --> 00:17:19,210 Speaker 2: become Paul the apostle. He would preach humility, selflessness, and 258 00:17:19,670 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 2: devotion to Christ. Saul would write this to the church 259 00:17:22,890 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 2: in Philippians. Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being 260 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:28,500 Speaker 2: unified with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if 261 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 2: any calm and sharing in his spirit, if any tenderness 262 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:34,619 Speaker 2: and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded. 263 00:17:35,030 --> 00:17:37,389 Speaker 2: having the same love, being of one spirit and one mind. 264 00:17:37,869 --> 00:17:40,550 Speaker 2: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, 265 00:17:40,630 --> 00:17:44,210 Speaker 2: in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your 266 00:17:44,300 --> 00:17:46,940 Speaker 2: own interests, but each of you to the interests of others. 267 00:17:47,580 --> 00:17:50,220 Speaker 2: This is a far different perspective on life than what 268 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:54,620 Speaker 2: we see in Saul the Pharisee, all because Jesus transformed 269 00:17:54,660 --> 00:17:57,510 Speaker 2: his heart. As a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish 270 00:17:57,590 --> 00:18:00,990 Speaker 2: ruling council, Saul played a major part in defending Jewish 271 00:18:01,070 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 2: law and exacting the subsequent judgment against Jewish Christians. While 272 00:18:05,260 --> 00:18:07,820 Speaker 2: Paul said that he was defending God, we learned in 273 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:10,820 Speaker 2: our study of Malchus that God doesn't need us to 274 00:18:10,859 --> 00:18:14,580 Speaker 2: defend him. In reality, Paul was defending himself and his power. 275 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:18,379 Speaker 2: He was defending an institution that was against the movement 276 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:21,620 Speaker 2: of Christ. He was defending everything that he had built 277 00:18:21,660 --> 00:18:24,760 Speaker 2: his life upon. He was defending a false sense of righteousness. 278 00:18:25,220 --> 00:18:27,730 Speaker 2: The irony is that what he was doing to supposedly 279 00:18:27,790 --> 00:18:31,090 Speaker 2: defend God was having the opposite effect. But God saw 280 00:18:31,130 --> 00:18:33,850 Speaker 2: the potential in a powerful man like Saul. Once he 281 00:18:33,890 --> 00:18:37,120 Speaker 2: was converted, Saul would become a force of nature for 282 00:18:37,180 --> 00:18:41,180 Speaker 2: the gospel. God used his incredible intellect for a greater purpose. 283 00:18:41,660 --> 00:18:44,159 Speaker 2: The same mind and resolute spirit that drove Saul in 284 00:18:44,220 --> 00:18:47,140 Speaker 2: persecution of the church would be the same tools God 285 00:18:47,180 --> 00:18:50,180 Speaker 2: would use to actually build it up. Saul would transform 286 00:18:50,290 --> 00:18:53,150 Speaker 2: to move the gospel forward. This is a beautiful example 287 00:18:53,190 --> 00:18:55,730 Speaker 2: that the gifts we use to build ourselves up, when 288 00:18:55,770 --> 00:18:58,169 Speaker 2: submitted to the spirit of God, can be used for 289 00:18:58,210 --> 00:19:01,209 Speaker 2: a greater purpose, used for the movement of God, the 290 00:19:01,250 --> 00:19:05,660 Speaker 2: gospel itself. and to make the world a better place. Oftentimes, 291 00:19:05,820 --> 00:19:08,659 Speaker 2: all the gifts, all the potential are right there in people. 292 00:19:09,050 --> 00:19:11,389 Speaker 2: They just need a change in motivation. They need a 293 00:19:11,430 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 2: change in heart. Everything Saul previously did in the name 294 00:19:14,330 --> 00:19:16,590 Speaker 2: of righteousness was all a facade for a deep anger 295 00:19:16,619 --> 00:19:18,990 Speaker 2: in his heart. Anger at the influence of Jesus. Anger 296 00:19:19,109 --> 00:19:21,109 Speaker 2: at perhaps a loss of power. Anger at the people 297 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:23,830 Speaker 2: who he couldn't control. Anger over a movement that threatened 298 00:19:23,859 --> 00:19:26,290 Speaker 2: to rob him of his sense of righteousness. But once 299 00:19:26,340 --> 00:19:28,920 Speaker 2: his heart was turned, Once hatred was converted to love 300 00:19:29,090 --> 00:19:31,270 Speaker 2: after his encounter with Jesus, he would never be the same. 301 00:19:31,550 --> 00:19:33,359 Speaker 2: He would be a force of nature for the gospel. 302 00:19:34,010 --> 00:19:36,400 Speaker 2: God's love changes lives. There is no one too far 303 00:19:36,430 --> 00:19:38,419 Speaker 2: deep in sin who cannot be pulled out and rescued 304 00:19:38,660 --> 00:19:41,370 Speaker 2: by Jesus. We're going to continue to learn that in 305 00:19:41,369 --> 00:19:43,590 Speaker 2: Saul's life in our next episode. as we conclude this 306 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:44,390 Speaker 2: series on Jesus and the outcasts.