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'''Saint Paul''' ([[Hebrew]]:'''שאול''' ''Shaul'' "asked [of God]") ''Apostle of the Gentiles'', also known as 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.  Paul 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 Paul 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 Paul was staying.  Placing his hands upon Paul as God told him to do, Paul was cured after something like scales fell from his eyes. Paul became baptized that very day. ([[Acts (of the Apostles)|Acts]] 9:1-19).  This incident is called the [[Road to Damascus]] experience.

'''Saint Paul''' ([[Hebrew]]:'''שאול''' ''Shaul'' "asked [of God]") ''Apostle of the Gentiles'', also known as 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.  Paul 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 Paul 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 Paul was staying.  Placing his hands upon Paul as God told him to do, Paul was cured after something like scales fell from his eyes. Paul became baptized that very day. ([[Acts (of the Apostles)|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 conversion he undertook 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 saint Stephanus (Stephen). After conversion he undertook 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.

'''Feastday:''' June 29.

'''Feastday:''' June 29.