“This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.” Acts 9:15

As the early church grew, deacons were selected to share the work of caring for the needs of the brethren (Acts 6:1-6). Stephen, a deacon, “a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). He was stoned to death for his beliefs. A man named Saul was present at the stoning, holding the coats of the assailants. Stephen was the first to die as a Christian martyr.

Saul thought he was helping God’s cause by consenting to the stoning and putting others in prison because they loved Jesus and were telling others about him.

Saul was sincere and zealous about what he was doing—he believed it was God’s will. When Jesus appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus, he told Saul he was wrong and what a privilege he would have by following God’s true teachings. Because Saul’s heart was right, he converted to Christianity and spent the rest of his life serving God. His zeal and faith were so great he was chosen to be the twelfth apostle. He had more visions and revelations than the others and wrote many letters to the churches that later became books of the New Testament. His letters are called epistles. On his first missionary journey, Saul’s name was changed to Paul. He was the apostle to the Gentiles and went into many countries preaching the gospel. Never does he (or any of the others) teach of a fiery hell or torment for anybody. He emphasized that Jesus must come a second time, and then reign until he has put all enemies under his feet. He taught the resurrection of the just and the unjust, and many other doctrines.

The power of the truth in Paul’s life was great and we are richer in learning and faith because of his writings.

Paul made several missionary journeys. He suffered greatly because of his fearless and courageous preaching, writings, and travels. He sacrificed his life every day in the service of God; he was stoned, beaten, starved, cold, almost drowned, shipwrecked, and finally beheaded.

Even though Paul never met Jesus in the flesh, his conversion was complete and his life was one of self-sacrifice! What an example he was to all the followers of Jesus Christ throughout the Gospel age.

Jesus appeared to Saul and converted him to Christianity.