
He was a young and passionate religious zealot whose heart seethed with hatred for Jesus and His followers.
Like Satan himself, and like the terrorists that attacked our country on September 11, 2001, Saul would “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10) to eradicate the memory and influence of Jesus, one that he believed was a traitor to Israel and a false prophet.
He testified, “I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees” (Acts 23:6). He was proud patriot, “circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless” (Philippians 3:5-6).
Saul asked for, and was freely granted, the written authority of the high priest (Acts 9:2), which amounted to an unlimited, far-reaching, arrest warrant. This gave Saul the power and privilege to treat others just like he and his thugs had treated Stephen. Driven by his own sanctimonious self-righteousness, he “was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison” (Acts 8:3).
Saul was a man to be feared.
But God fears no man. Rather, God loved him so much, that He gave himself on Calvary as a substitutionary and atoning sacrifice so the Saul might be saved (John 3:16).
God might have struck him down. The Almighty might have squished him like a bug. He deserved it! Instead, God approached him on the road to Damascus, appearing shrouded in the blinding light of His glory. “Saul, Saul! … I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting … get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do” (Acts 9:4–6).
That’s grace.
And by grace, Saul, later called Paul, became the preeminent church-planter, missionary, theologian, Apostle and Prophet … and a friend of God. By grace alone!
“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).

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