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Lesson #8
Excursus: A Portrait of St. Paul
Review
We first met Saul at the stoning of Stephen, where he
supervised Stevens murder. On that same day, Saul
began trying to destroy the church; entering house
after house and dragging out men and women, he
handed them over for imprisonment (8: 3). As we
entered Lesson #7 we learned that Saul, still
breathing out murderous threats against the disciples
of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for
letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he
should find any men or women who belonged to the
Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains
(9: 1-2).
Sauls dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus
transformed him from Saul, the greatest of sinners (1
Timothy 1: 15), to Paul, the greatest of saints. But the
transformation didnt take place overnight. After his
of St.
Paul to go.
conversion, Saul stillExcursus,
had AaPortrait
long
way
Preview
Lesson #8 offers an excursus, an
exploration of Saul of Tarsus, later known
as St. Paul. Who was he? Where did he
come from? What was his background?
Why was he in Jerusalem? What were his
motives for hating Christ?
Im a little
afraid of
him!
Tarsus
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I always
thought the
early
Christians
were poor!
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It seems to me
that St. Paul had
a superb classical
education, one
Not me. him
that groomed
for a brilliant
career in law
or politics.
Im glad he
made a
better career
choice!
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was?
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How did
you know
that?
Youre a
dog!
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Maybe it began at
Passover, A.D. 32,
when Jesus rides
into Jerusalem on
Not
me.
what we
call
Palm
Sunday.
Recall the story in
Luke 19: 28-40.
Humm.
I think youre
on to
something
here!
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Confrontation
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(19: 35-38)
Confrontation
32
Confrontation
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This saying is
trustworthy and
deserves full
acceptance:
Christ Jesus
came into the
world to save
sinners. Of
these I am the
foremost.
El Greco. St. Paul (oil on canvas),
1600.
Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Lewis,
Missouri.
(1 Timothy 1:
15-17)
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