We briefly describe something about what Paul encountered. First, we can see the change of Paul that occurred after the miracle of his seeing a light from heaven flashing around him [1]. Through Ananias, Jesus told him, “for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” [2] Despite that, Paul still chose to follow Jesus until death. After he saw the big light, he immediately chose to preach Gospel by his old self, and a result “his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.” [3] Likely, he went to Arabia for three years, and became an apostle through revelation [4].
After that, Barnabas found Paul and introduced him to the church of Antioch, and preached the Gospel effectively [5]. Holy Spirit then leads him to the first evangelical trip [6], and there are three trips in total [7]. Even though he suffered because of strong suppression, he didn’t care for his own life in order to preach for the Lord [8]. He has the life to continue praying and singing hymns of praise to God even in jail [9]. In order to stand for the truth, he even scolded Peter [10]. Holy Spirit also through him to fill others [11]. He could even revive a dead [12].
He was forced to appeal to Caesar [13], and it was decided that he would sail for Italy [14]. As a result, he encountered a shipwreck, but an angel of the God appeared to him to ensure him in advance to not be afraid of what will happen [15]. Eventually, he arrived Rome [16]. Even in jail in Rome, he still preached the Gospel [17]. The four books he wrote when jailed benefited so many.
Some related verses
(Verses refer to those in NASB unless otherwise specified.)
[1] Acts 9:3-6, As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.”
[2] Acts 9:10-16, Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
[3] Acts 9:19-25, …Saul Begins to Preach Christ Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” …but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.
[4] Galatians 1:12-18, For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus. Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days.
[5] Acts 11:25-26, And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
[6] Acts 13:2-3, While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
[7] Acts 15:36-40, “After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” …But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.” Acts 18:23, “And having spent some time there, he left and passed successively through the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.”
[8] 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, Are they servants of Christ?-I speak as if insane-I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.
[9] Acts 16:24-25, and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;
[10] Galatians 2:14, But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?
[11] Acts 19:6-7, And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. There were in all about twelve men.
[12] Acts 20:9-12, And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead. But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, “Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.” When he had gone back up and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left. They took away the boy alive, and were greatly comforted. Troas to Miletus
[13] Acts 25:9-11, But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me on these charges? ” But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know. If, then, I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
[14] Acts 27:1, When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, they proceeded to deliver Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan cohort named Julius.
[15] Acts 27:23-24, For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.’
[16] Acts 28:14, There we found some brethren, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and thus we came to Rome.
[17] Acts 28:30-31, And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.
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