Before becoming the Apostle Paul, Saul was a zealous persecutor of early Christians. His dramatic transformation shows how God can redeem even the most unlikely people for His purposes.
Who Was Saul Before His Conversion?
Saul was born in Tarsus, a major Roman city known for education and culture. He had impressive credentials:
Born to a Jewish family with Roman citizenship
Educated under Gamaliel, the most respected rabbi
Expert in Jewish law and traditions
Zealously religious and “blameless” by legal standards
Passionate defender of Judaism against early Christians
Why Did Saul Persecute Christians?
His intense religious training and zeal led him to view Christianity as a dangerous threat that needed to be eliminated. He genuinely believed he was serving God by persecuting believers.
How Did God Use Saul’s Background?
Rather than discarding Saul’s past, God repurposed his:
Deep knowledge of scripture to preach Christ
Debating skills to defend the faith
Roman citizenship to spread the gospel
Cultural understanding to reach both Jews and Gentiles
Passionate personality to fuel missionary work
What Can We Learn from Saul’s Story?
God can redeem anyone, regardless of their past
Our “before Christ” story can be used to help others
Religious knowledge alone doesn’t equal relationship with God
God often uses our background and skills in unexpected ways
We shouldn’t be ashamed of our past but use it to glorify God
Life Application
Consider these questions:
What parts of your past are you trying to hide that God could use?
How might your “before Christ” story help others?
Are you relying on religious knowledge rather than relationship?
This week’s challenge: Share your testimony with someone, including the parts you usually hide. Remember that God can use your whole story – even the difficult parts – to draw others to Him.