King James Version
9 Then Saul,
(who also is called Paul,)
filled with the Holy Ghost,
set his eyes on him.
10 And said,
O full of all subtilty and all mischief,
thou child of the devil,
thou enemy of all righteousness,
wilt thou not cease to pervert
the right ways of the Lord?
In the previous post, we spoke of SPIRIT-filled Stephen, who was stoned for his beliefs.
Saul was there, and he repented of it.
But let us know how this former accuser, became converted to CHRIST.
Who better, than Paul to speak of it.
This, he spoke in his own defense, for he was accused of teaching others to forsake Moses, among other things.
Acts 22:3-21
King James Version
3 I am verily a man which am a Jew,
born in Tarsus,
a city in Cilicia,
yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel,
and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers,
and was zealous toward God,
as ye all are this day.
4 And I persecuted this way unto the death,
binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness,
and all the estate of the elders:
from whom also I received letters unto the brethren,
and went to Damascus,
to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem,
for to be punished.
6 And it came to pass,
that, as I made my journey,
and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon,
suddenly there shone from heaven
a great light round about me.
7 And I fell unto the ground,
and heard a voice saying unto me,
Saul, Saul,
why persecutest thou me?
8 And I answered,
Who art thou, Lord?
And he said unto me,
I am Jesus of Nazareth,
whom thou persecutest.
9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light,
and were afraid;
but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
10 And I said,
What shall I do, Lord?
And the Lord said unto me,
Arise,
and go into Damascus;
and there it shall be told thee
of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light,
being led by the hand of them that were with me,
I came into Damascus.
12 And one Ananias,
a devout man according to the law,
having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
13 Came unto me,
and stood,
and said unto me,
Brother Saul,
receive thy sight.
And the same hour I looked up upon him.
14 And he said,
The God of our fathers hath chosen thee,
that thou shouldest know his will,
and see that Just One,
and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men
of what thou hast seen and heard.
16 And now why tarriest thou?
arise,
and be baptized,
and wash away thy sins,
calling on the name of the Lord.
17 And it came to pass, that,
when I was come again to Jerusalem,
even while I prayed in the temple,
I was in a trance;
18 And saw him saying unto me,
Make haste,
and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem:
for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
19 And I said,
Lord,
they know that I imprisoned
and beat in every synagogue
them that believed on thee:
20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed,
I also was standing by,
and consenting unto his death,
and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
21 And he said unto me,
Depart:
for I will send thee far hence
unto the Gentiles.
From persecutor, to minister to the Gentiles.
We really have no idea how God will come into the lives of those He has plans for.
Romans 8:28
King James Version
28 And we know that all things work together for good
to them that love God,
to them who are the called
according to his purpose.
What do you think, are GOD's plans for you?
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