Dr Paul Allen

La conversion de Saint Paul by Luca Giordano (1690), Museum of Fine Arts of Nancy. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus . 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God .” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ . 23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. 26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him...

Ministry of the Apostles, a complex multi-figure icon with a full-height image of Jesus Christ, surrounded by sectors with scenes of His disciples' calling, ministry and martyrdom. Icon from the Yaroslavl Museum Preserve. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “And when he had come to Jerusalem , he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord , who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.” Acts 9:26–27 Is there anything you would die for? Let’s say that you went around telling everyone that you loved a certain band, but this wasn’t true. Everyone else seemed to love this band, so you wanted to follow along. Now, would you say this if your life depended on telling the truth? The text says that Saul “preached boldly in the name of Jesus.” Why would this be the thing that...

Ministry of the Apostles, a complex multi-figure icon with a full-height image of Jesus Christ, surrounded by sectors with scenes of His disciples' calling, ministry and martyrdom. Icon from the Yaroslavl Museum Preserve. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord , went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus , so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem . 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.8 Saul rose from...

Miniature ofrom Folio 8r of the Syriac Bible of Paris shows Moses before Pharaoh. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “And he said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said, ‘I am Jesus , whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus . And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.” Acts 9:5–9 Sometimes God uses the most unlikely of people to accomplish his mission. This is a common theme throughout the Bible. God called out to Moses and told him to confront the most powerful man in the world at that time, Pharaoh, who was enslaving God’s people . Moses had a big problem. He was a nobody, and he couldn’t speak well. But God promised to be with him. God told Joshua to lead his people into the promise la...