Saul Persecutes the Church

Saul is taken to Jerusalem as a boy and is taught by Gamaliel, a respected Jewish Pharisee.

Saul looks after the coats of the men who stone Stephen to death in Jerusalem in 35AD.

Saul leads a violent persecution of the young Christian church in Jerusalem. He goes from house to house, dragging men and women off to prison. When believers are found guilty of what is considered to be ‘blasphemy’, Saul calls for them to be stoned to death.

In 35AD, armed with the Jewish Sanhedrin’s authority to persecute followers of ‘The Way of Salvation’, Saul sets off from Jerusalem to Damascus. Just before reaching Damascus, the risen Lord Jesus appears to Saul – who falls to the ground blinded. He is led by the hand into the city, and spends three days neither eating nor drinking.

Ananias – a disciple living in Damascus – has a vision of the Lord Jesus who tells him to go to Saul. Ananias has heard of Saul’s reputation and objects, but the Lord says, “Go! I have chosen Saul for an important work. He must tell about me to those who are not Jews, to kings, and to the people of Israel.”

After several days, Paul journeys into the neighboring desert area of Arabia Petraea – probably to seek God quietly in prayer about his future. He then returns to Damascus where he preaches the Good News to the Jewish community for three years.