How God Educated Paul

This chapter is based on Acts 9:19-30. 

Paul remained “some days with the disciples at Damascus. Immediately he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God,” who “died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ... was buried, and ... rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4). His arguments from prophecy were so persuasive that the Jews were defeated and unable to answer him. 4TC 64.2

He who had journeyed to Damascus to persecute the believers was now preaching the gospel, strengthening its disciples, and bringing in new converts! Formerly known as a zealous defender of the Jewish religion, Paul could reason with extraordinary clearness, and by his withering sarcasm he could place an opponent in an unflattering light. Now the Jews saw this young man of unusual promise fearlessly preaching in the name of Jesus. 4TC 64.3

A general killed in battle is lost to his army, but his death gives no strength to the enemy. But when a prominent man joins the opposing forces, they gain a distinct advantage. The Lord could easily have struck Saul dead, and the persecuting power would have lost much strength. But God not only spared Saul’s life but converted him, transferring a champion from the enemy’s side to the side of Christ. Paul was an eloquent speaker and a severe critic. With stern purpose and unflinching courage, he possessed the very qualifications that the early church needed. 4TC 65.1

All who heard him in Damascus were amazed. He declared that his change of faith resulted not from impulse, but from overwhelming evidence. He showed that the prophecies relating to the first advent of Christ had been literally fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth. 4TC 65.2

Paul “increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that Jesus is the Christ.” But many hardened their hearts, and soon their astonishment at his conversion changed into intense hatred. 4TC 65.3

The opposition grew so fierce that Paul was not allowed to continue at Damascus. He “went to Arabia” (Galatians 1:17), where he found a safe refuge. 4TC 65.4

Paul’s “University” in the Desert

In the solitude of the desert Paul had opportunity to study and meditate. He calmly reviewed his past experience and turned to God with all his heart, not resting until he knew for certain that God had accepted his repentance and pardoned his sin. Jesus communed with him and established him in the faith, granting him an abundance of wisdom and grace. When the mind is brought into close communication with the mind of God, the effect on body, mind, and soul is beyond measure. 4TC 65.5

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Ananias had said to Paul: “The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:14-16). 4TC 65.6

Jesus Himself, when He confronted Saul on the journey to Damascus, declared: “I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me” (Acts 26:16-18). 4TC 66.1

As he pondered these things, Paul understood more clearly his call “to be an apostle of Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:1). His call had come “not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father” (Galatians 1:1). He gave much study to the Scriptures, in order that he could preach “not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power,” “but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,” that the faith of all who heard “should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:17, NRSV; 2:4, 5.) Viewing the wisdom of the world in the light of the cross, Paul “decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2, NRSV). 4TC 66.2

Paul never lost sight of the Source of wisdom and strength. Hear him say, “For to me, to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). “I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things” (Philippians 3:8, NRSV). 4TC 66.3

The Former Persecutor Is Persecuted

From Arabia Paul “returned again to Damascus” (Galatians 1:17), and “preached boldly ... in the name of Jesus.” Unable to counter his arguments, “the Jews plotted to kill him.” They had the gates of the city guarded day and night to cut off his escape. Finally, the disciples “took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket” (NRSV). 4TC 66.4

After his escape he went to Jerusalem, about three years having passed since his conversion. His chief purpose was to visit Peter (Galatians 1:18). Upon arriving “he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.” Could so bigoted a Pharisee become a sincere follower of Jesus? “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.” 4TC 67.1

Soon the disciples had abundant evidence that his experience was genuine. The future apostle to the Gentiles was now back where his former associates lived, and he longed to make plain to these leaders the prophecies concerning the Messiah. Paul felt sure that these teachers in Israel were as sincere and honest as he had been. But he had miscalculated. Those at the head of the Jewish church refused to believe, but “attempted to kill him.” 4TC 67.2

Sorrow filled his heart. With shame he thought of the part he had taken in Stephen’s martyrdom, and now he worked to show the validity of the truth for which Stephen had given his life. 4TC 67.3

Burdened for those who refused to believe, Paul was praying in the temple when a heavenly messenger appeared and said, “Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me” (Acts 22:18). To Paul it seemed cowardly to run away. And so he answered: “Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.” But God did not intend for His servant expose his life needlessly, and the heavenly messenger replied, “Depart; for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.” (Verses 19-21.) 4TC 67.4

Learning of this vision, the believers quickly helped Paul’s secret escape. They “brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.” Paul’s departure suspended the violent opposition of the Jews for a while, and many people joined the believers. 4TC 67.5