Images of St. Paul

Young Saul, Pharisee student

Learned a portable trade

Enlightened from above (Ac 9 etc)

His own description of this:

Baptised; future predicted

To Jerusalem, Tarsus, Antioch

What his conversion cost him “Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss” Ph. 3

Lays bare his motivation

Paul’s story, complemented by Luke’s narrative framework

Barnabas Mentored Paul from the start brought him to the apostles, and described for them how on the road he had seen the Lord, …and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. AA 9:27f

Introduced him to the Antioch Community Acts 11:25

They went on mission together (Ac 13-14)

In Jerusalem, Peter lends support

A vital agreement was reached

But later, when they met in Antioch... (Ga 2)

“I confronted him to his face, for he was clearly in the wrong..... And even Barnabas was won over to their insincerity!” Outcome of that quarrell: Short-term: Paul lost status in Antioch; Barnabas sided with Peter; Paul regarded as trouble-maker Long-term: Paul’s principle (Equality for Gentile Xtians) was vindicated, as vital for the Church’s future

Luke’s serene portrayal of Paul – Why?

The second missionary journey

The first european converts: in Philippi

Philippians: a joyful epistle. “Gaudete”T

The Christian call: to imitate Christ

Via Thessalonica & Athens and on to Corinth (Ac 17-18)

The ruins of Ancient Corinth

Important port, on an Isthmus: Sailortown

Friends and hosts, Prisca & Aquila (Ac 18)

Many Corinthians turned to Christ (18:1-18). Hence the subsequent letters

Next stop: Ephesus: stay of 3 years

Where he had success, and met with fierce opposition AA 19:23ff

What Paul wrote from Ephesus...

The letter to the Ephesians.. A quite superb vocational text

To Jerusalem to be reconciled (& 2 years imprisonment Ac 21-26)

The appeal to Caesar (Ac 25:12)

When later he arrived in Rome..

With one soldier in charge (28:16)

Last word (28:30-31)

Martyred, by the sword

First welcomed, and later revered, (“twin pillars”)