Paul, The Man December 12, 2010

 We’re throwing the whole Project 4:4 schedule out the window...  And focusing on Paul the man  Class, Meet Saul of Tarsus This Week 2

 Goals for this week:  To introduce you to Saul of Tarsus, who later became Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles  To lay out his qualifications for the mission assigned to him  To help you see who he really was and why he made such a difference  To develop a 3-dimensional image of Paul Saul of Tarsus 3

 Acts 22:6-11  6 “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’ 8 “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. “‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. 9 My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me. 10 “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me. Saul’s Conversion 4

 Acts 22:12-16  12 “A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. 13 He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him. 14 “Then he said: ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’ Saul’s Conversion (cont) 5

 Acts 21:39  39 Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”  Saul was born in Tarsus of Cilicia  “No mean city”  Capital City of Cilicia  On major East-West trade route  Many schools of learning (rivaled Athens and Alexandria as a center of education)  Once home to Marc Antony & Cleopatra Saul’s Birthplace and Upbringing 6

 Cilicia was a Roman Province  Part of current-day Turkey  Region known for cilicium, a rough cloth made from goat hair  Used in tent-making Saul’s Birthplace and Upbringing 7

Where is Tarsus? 8

 Romans 11:1b  1b I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.  Tribe of Benjamin  Benjamin was the only Patriarch born in the Promised Land  Tribe always led Israel into battle  Saul, the first King of Israel, was a Benjamite  Only the Tribe of Benjamin remained loyal to Judah in the Divided Kingdom Paul’s Ancestry 9

 Philippians 3:4b-6  4b If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.  Born a Jew  Circumcised on the 8 th Day according to the Law  Family were followers of the Jewish Religion Paul’s Ancestry (cont) 10

 Acts 22:3a  3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city.  Brought Up in Jerusalem  Center of Jewish identity  Received his religious education there  Acts 22:3b  3b Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.  Studied at the feet of Gamaliel  Gamaliel, a highly respected teacher Paul’s Training and Upbringing 11

 Acts 5:33-35  33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Gamaliel 12

 Acts 5:36-39  36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” Gamaliel (cont) 13

 Philippians 3:5  5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;  A “Hebrew of Hebrews”  One who holds to Mosaic Law and its customs  One who speaks and reads Hebrew (unlike the Hellenists)  Especially impressive for someone who lived outside of Judea Paul’s Training and Upbringing 14

 2 Corinthians 11:22  22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.  An Israelite  Indicative of racial purity  A member of the Covenant Nation  Romans 11:1b  1b I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.  Descendant of Abraham  A son of the Promise His Religious Purity 15

 Philippians 3:4b-5  4b If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee  A Pharisee  One obsessed with the Law  The son of a Pharisee  Acts 23:6b  6b “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.” His Religious Purity (cont) 16

 Sadducees  Law of Moses only  No resurrection, angels or spirits  Good standing politically  Very “boorish” and rough  Pharisees  Believe in a resurrection  Include oral tradition as binding  Built a “Hedge” around the Law  Reverenced learning over civil rank  Socially progressive Pharisees & Sadducees 17

 Acts 22:25-28  25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?” 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.” 27 The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I am,” he answered. 28 Then the commander said, “I had to pay a big price for my citizenship.” “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.  Born a Roman Citizen  Hebrew (Jewish) name is Saul  Roman (Gentile) name is Paul – means “little” Paul’s Roman Background 18

 Roman citizenship was of inestimable value in the First Century  Citizens had rights  Citizenship could be obtained by:  Birth  Service to the Empire  Purchase (or bribe)  Grant  Roman Citizenship plays a major role in Paul’s experiences Roman Citizenship 19

 Galatians 1:13-14  13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.  Advancing in Judaism beyond his peers  What did the future hold for Saul in the Jewish religion?  Possibly a Member of the Sanhedrin or at least on track to be  Acts 8:1  1 And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. A Promising Future 20

 Acts 22:3  3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.  Zealous  Present for Death of Stephen (Acts 8:1, 22:20)  Persecution of the Church  Acts 8:3  3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. A Promising Future (cont) 21

 Saul was “brought up” in Jerusalem  Yet he never mentions any first-hand knowledge of Jesus’ ministry or crucifixion  It is possible that Saul returned to Tarsus for secular education  He was likely years younger than Jesus and would have been in his early 20’s at Jesus’ death  Then returned to Jerusalem after the resurrection and ascension What Did Saul Know of Jesus? 22

 Read Acts 7:51-8:2 & Acts 22:20  What was Stephen’s crime?  The Jews didn’t want to hear what he had to say  They considered his statement about Jesus at God’s right hand blasphemous  How and why was Saul involved in Stephen’s death?  Given his background, did he really have a choice in the matter? The Stoning of Stephen 23

 Gal 1:13  13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.  Why did Saul feel that he ought to do everything possible to destroy the Nazarene Sect?  What was their crime?  He was 100% committed to Judaism and felt that the Christians were blasphemers Persecution of the Way 24

 2 Timothy 1:3  3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.  How could Paul later claim a clear conscience after all that he did to destroy the Christian movement? A Clear Conscience 25

 1 Timothy 1:12-13  12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.  One of the most powerful statements in all of Paul’s writings  Saul always did what he understood to be right in following God  And did it with great zeal!  Once he understood, he used that same zeal FOR the cause of Christ Ignorance and Unbelief 26

 How did Saul’s religious, as well as secular, training prepare him for his “planned” future in Judaism?  How did it prepare him for his “unplanned” future in service to Jesus?  How did service in one translate into service in the other?  Is there a parallel for Saul in today’s world? Discussion Questions 27

 Paul’s Gospel Next Week 28