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Where was Paul?
Amrhrasach:
I’ve been reading “HOW WE GOT THE BIBLE”, Mobile conference 2007.
There is one thing that is perplexing to me and perhaps someone can help me get over this hump. My question(s): if Paul was the persecutor of the believers like none before him, then, where was Paul leading up to and during the time of Jesus’ crucifixion? Since the crucifixion occurred at Passover with over 2 million people in attendance it would seem that Paul would be right up front with the strap.
Was Paul converted at the time of the crucifixion, or at a later time?
It’s probably right in front of me but I’m not seeing the answer.
On a side note: You would not believe how the fixation of not seeing the answer to this question is causing such a testing of my belief and faith. It's aggravating because I'm sure it's elementary to many. Probably just me making a mountain in my own weird way.
Gary
From: “HOW WE GOT THE BIBLE”
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,5815.0.html
“I’ll show you why this is so important, because if Jesus Christ was the Son of God. If Jesus Christ died and was resurrected from the dead. If that is a historical fact. THEN YOU CAN BELIEVE ANYTHING THE MAN SAYS! Anything and everything, you see. Now let’s zero in on that a little bit. Paul says;
I Cor. 15:5 and that He was seen of Cephas, then by the Twelve.
v. 6 Then He was seen of five hundred brethren at once,
v. 7 Afterward He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.
v. 8 And last of all He was seen by me also,
So Paul saw Him. This is the Man they killed! HE WAS DEAD! Paul said, I SAW HIM. Peter saw Him - the Twelve saw Him - 500 at one time saw Him. Paul said most of those people were still alive and you can go and ask them. Now he’s just talking about 500 people he knows of specifically.
Listen, my friend, the late Dr. Earnest Martin pointed this out. That at Passover season that Josephus tells us the city of Jerusalem could swell to a population of over 2 million people. Because they came from the whole empire to keep the Feast. When was Christ killed? At Passover! There was something like 2 million people there. He was crucified up on a hill, overlooking the city. Don’t you suppose they knew that they crucified this Man, who claimed to be the Messiah? They were there on a religious convention and there is a Man hanging on a cross, who claims to be their Messiah and they didn’t know about it? The knew about it! It would not have been tolerated had the story been fabricated. That Man came back to life and a lot of them knew about it.
Fifty days later many of the same crowds were in Jerusalem for Pentecost. Now these timid Apostles, that were running away from their own shadow at Passover, remember they all forsake Him. But now they are boldly standing in the market places proclaiming that Jesus Christ has RAISED FROM THE DEAD! There were many witnesses to it. It could not be denied. Now this is only one proof of whether or not some things is of historical fact. Are there eye witnesses? Yes, many eye witnesses.
Josephus, one of the most renowned Jewish historians that ever lived, he lived in the first century AD and he said as a matter of fact, Jesus Christ did raise from the dead.
By the end of the century the whole Roman empire heard of this amazing event, and within two more centuries the entire Roman Empire was believers in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! The Apostles did not hood-wink the entire Roman Empire….Jesus really was THE SON OF GOD! The events surrounding Jesus’ death and resurrection were recorded within that same generation.
When he was writing his letters he said, I know most of those 500 that saw Him at one time and you can still talk to them, because many are still around. Consider one thing. He both understood Judaic theology and the classic works of the Gentiles. He was an intellectual both among the Jews and the Gentiles. He would have been the last person on earth to believe that Jesus was the Son of God. Paul persecuted TO DEATH those who followed the teachings of Jesus.
Another thing is Paul was maybe the greatest single champion for Jesus Christ, of any man that ever lived and he was no dummy. This guy studied under Rabbi Gamaliel, one of the greatest teachers of all times in the Jewish ways. Paul was from Tarsus the center for Stoic learning. You don’t bamboozle somebody like Paul. Especially because he is out persecuting the church and then he turns around and he defends it. What would change a well educated man like that? What would change him? For Paul to have his mind totally changed, required proof beyond question or contradiction. PAUL DIED FOR HIS BELIEF THAT JESUS WAS THE SON OF GOD! That He both died and was resurrected.”
9440geoff:
Hi Gary,
Php 3:5 I was circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews. As regards the Law, I was a Pharisee;
This is Paul's description of himself, and although I'm no expert, I know there were a lot of laws (and still are) regarding what Jews could and could not do on the sabbath, and during feasts. My guess is that Paul was tied up observing the laws at the time Jesus was crucified.
Geoff
Kat:
Hi Gary,
I found this timeline and it should help you see where Paul was during Jesus' life.
Timeline of Apostle Paul's Life and Missionary Journeys:
2 A.D. ?
Saul is born into an Israelite family of the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5). He is circumcised on the eighth day, in compliance with the law of God (Genesis 17:12, Leviticus 12:3, Philippians 3:5). Paul has at least one sister (Acts 23:16).
c. 12-15 A.D.
Saul goes to Jerusalem to attend a Pharisaic Rabbinical school. This school is headed up by Gamaliel (see Acts 5:34), who Jews consider to be one of the greatest teachers ever of Judaism.
Saul is personally taught by Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) and eventually becomes a Pharisee (Acts 23:6-8, 26:4-5; Philippians 3:5).
32 A.D.
A young, zealous Saul (Paul) consents to and witnesses Stephen's death (Acts 7:58-8:1), after which he leads persecution against believers of Christ (Acts 8:1-4).
Stephen, whose Grecian name means "crown," is stoned for his testimony about Jesus (Acts 6-7). Stephen was one of the first deacons specially appointed by the early church to serve (Acts 6:1-6) and is considered the first Christian martyr.
33 A.D.
Saul (Paul) receives written permission from the High Priest (Sanhedrin) to search in Damascus' synagogues for those who believe Jesus is the Messiah. Saul is also given the authority to arrest and bring these believers to Jerusalem for trial and punishment. (Acts 9:1-2)
Saul, accompanied by several others, travels to Damascus. As he approaches the city a burst of light suddenly appears and causes him to fall to the ground (Acts 9:3-4). He then hears the booming voice of Jesus saying: "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (Acts 9:4, NIV)
Saul is struck blind and led into Damascus by his traveling companions. Three days later Jesus inspires a disciple named Ananias to visit Saul and heal him of his blindness. After he is healed Saul is baptized and receives God's Holy Spirit. (Acts 9:4-18)
Paul (Saul) (first referred to as Paul in Acts 13:9) stays in Damascus and powerfully preaches the gospel. Paul's incredible ability to prove Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) so angers Jews in the city that they conspire to kill him (Acts 9:20-23). After learning of the plot against his life, Paul flees the city at night by having Christians lower him down a gate wall using a basket! Once out of the city he travels to Arabia, where for three years he is personally taught by Jesus (Galatians 1:11-12, 15-18).
36 A.D.
After three years in Arabia, Paul journeys back to Damascus in the Spring of the year (Galatians 1:17). He then travels to Jerusalem and stays fifteen days (Acts 9:26, Galatians 1:18-19). Although Paul tries to get to know other converted people in Jerusalem, the brethren are suspicious of him and stay away (Acts 9:26). Barnabas, a disciple known for encouraging others, takes Paul to the apostles and personally vouches for his converted character (Acts 9:27). Paul is then accepted by fellow Christians.
Paul's preaching once again infuriates some Jews to the point where they seek to kill him (Acts 9:29). When the brethren learn about the threat to Paul's life they escort him to Caesarea and then send him back to his hometown of Tarsus (Acts 9:30).
36 - 40 A.D.
Paul stays in his hometown of Tarsus from the summer of 36 A.D. to the summer of 40 A.D.
40 A.D.
Due to the rapid spread of the Gospel among Antioch Greeks, the Jerusalem church sends Barnabas to minister to the new believers (Acts 11:20-22). God uses Barnabas, after his arrival in Antioch, to add even more converts to the church (Acts 11:23-24). Barnabas soon travels to Tarsus, where Paul is located, to solicit his help with the newly converted Antioch brethren.
41 A.D.
Paul and Barnabas stay in Antioch for an entire year teaching the brethren (Acts 11:25-26).
44 A.D.
Food and relief are sent to Jerusalem by the hands of Paul and Barnabas (Acts 11:30). After delivering relief Paul and Barnabas, along with John Mark, return to Antioch (Acts 12:25).
44 - 46 A.D.
Apostle Paul's First Missionary (Evangelistic) Journey
46 - 49 A.D.
Paul and Barnabas in Antioch
49 A.D.
Jerusalem Conference
49 - 50 A.D.
Apostle Paul Begins His Second Missionary Journey
50 - 52 A.D.
Paul Continues and Completes His Second Missionary Journey
52 - 53 A.D.
Paul in Antioch; Peter is Rebuked
53 - 57 A.D.
Apostle Paul Begins His Third Missionary Journey
58 A.D.
Paul keeps Feast Day in Troas; Romans Arrest Him in Jerusalem
58 - 60 A.D.
Apostle Paul is a Prisoner in Caesarea; Appeals His Case to Caesar
60 - 61 A.D.
Apostle Paul Journeys to Rome
61 - 63 A.D.
Paul the Prisoner Arrives in Rome
63 - 67 A.D.
Paul is Set Free from Prison
67 - 68 A.D.
Paul is Again a Roman Prisoner
70 A.D.
Destruction of Jerusalem's Second Temple by the Romans.
mercy, peace and love
Kat
NoviceBeliever:
Thank you so much for this timely and edifying topic and the posts! I am in the midst of reading ACTs and this is a wonderful thread. NB
Amrhrasach:
--- Quote from: Kat on October 01, 2009, 11:01:56 AM ---
Hi Gary,
I found this timeline and it should help you see where Paul was during Jesus' life.
Timeline of Apostle Paul's Life and Missionary Journeys:
33 A.D.
Saul (Paul) receives written permission from the High Priest (Sanhedrin) to search in Damascus' synagogues for those who believe Jesus is the Messiah. Saul is also given the authority to arrest and bring these believers to Jerusalem for trial and punishment. (Acts 9:1-2)
Saul, accompanied by several others, travels to Damascus. As he approaches the city a burst of light suddenly appears and causes him to fall to the ground (Acts 9:3-4). He then hears the booming voice of Jesus saying: "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (Acts 9:4, NIV)Saul is struck blind and led into Damascus by his traveling companions. Three days later Jesus inspires a disciple named Ananias to visit Saul and heal him of his blindness. After he is healed Saul is baptized and receives God's Holy Spirit. (Acts 9:4-18)
Paul (Saul) (first referred to as Paul in Acts 13:9) stays in Damascus and powerfully preaches the gospel. Paul's incredible ability to prove Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) so angers Jews in the city that they conspire to kill him (Acts 9:20-23). After learning of the plot against his life, Paul flees the city at night by having Christians lower him down a gate wall using a basket! Once out of the city he travels to Arabia, where for three years he is personally taught by Jesus (Galatians 1:11-12, 15-18).
mercy, peace and love
Kat
--- End quote ---
So often I'm such a simpleton that I amaze even myself.
Thank you Kat and Geoff.
In what year was Jesus crucified? (That may seem dumb, but it isn't)
Gary
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