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[[Image:St. Paul.jpg|left]]

[[Image:St. Paul.jpg|left]]

'''Saint Paul''' ''Apostle of the Gentiles'', was originally called Saul of [[Tarsus]]. Never having seen or met [[Jesus]] himself in the flesh, he was suddenly converted to the latter's claims on his way to persecute his followers at Damascus, when he reportedly saw a blinding white light and fell to the ground convulsing and writhing uncontrollably with what he claimed to be a message from Jesus in his ears, even being rendered blind for several days afterwards. ([[Acts]] 9)

'''Saint Paul''' ''Apostle of the Gentiles'', was originally called Saul of [[Tarsus]]. Never having seen or met [[Jesus]] himself in the flesh, he was suddenly visited by Jesus while on his way to persecute his followers at Damascus. Paul saw a blinding white light and fell to the ground as Jesus talked to him asking Saul why he was persecuting him, then telling him to go into the city where he would be told what to do.  Saul got up, but when he opened his eyes, he found he was blind. Being led by the hand into the city by the men who were with him, for 3 days Saul could not see and would not eat or drink.  But a stranger named [[Ananias]] came to see him, a follower of Christ, having been led by God in a vision to where Saul was staying.  Placing his hands upon Saul as God told him to do, Saul was cured after something like scales fell from his eyes. Saul became baptized that very day. ([[Acts]] 9:1-19).  This incident is called the [[Road to Damascus]] experience.

He later claimed to have been "a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a [[Pharisee]]; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness which is in the [[Law]], found blameless." (Philippians 3:5b-6) As such, he originally hated the Christians and took a lead in persecuting them:  specifically, he was "in hearty agreement" with the stoning of [[Stephen]]. After his conversion, however, the diminutive Saul adopted the name 'Paul' ('little one'), apparently in order to fulfil [[Isaiah]]'s prophecy at 11:6, 'And a little young man [''naar''] shall lead them'.  He then started a series of missionary journeys to the [[gentiles]]. These were dedicated mainly to spreading his own particular version of Jesus' message - one that freed gentiles from the necessity of observing the Jewish Law, reportedly much to the scandal of the official Church at Jerusalem.

He later claimed to have been "a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a [[Pharisee]]; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness which is in the [[Law]], found blameless." (Philippians 3:5b-6) As such, he originally hated the Christians and took a lead in persecuting them:  specifically, he was "in hearty agreement" with the stoning of [[Stephen]]. After his conversion, however, the diminutive Saul adopted the name 'Paul' ('little one'), apparently in order to fulfil [[Isaiah]]'s prophecy at 11:6, 'And a little young man [''naar''] shall lead them'.  He then started a series of missionary journeys to the [[gentiles]]. These were dedicated mainly to spreading his own particular version of Jesus' message - one that freed gentiles from the necessity of observing the Jewish Law, reportedly much to the scandal of the official Church at Jerusalem.