Thursday 10th December 2020 Devotion
Scripture:- Acts 9:1-22
Topic:- Who Was Apostle Paul [1]
Text:- Acts 9:5
The Apostle Paul has been the subject of movies, books, and too many sermons and Sunday School lessons to count.
But if you think you know everything there is to know about this influential missionary and writer of half of the New Testament, think again.
We hope this article makes for some fascinating reading for you and a provided new perspective on the man who “saw the light” (Acts 9:3) and went on to play a huge role in giving us the Word of God that is a lamp and light in lives today. See Psalm 119:105.
Here’s what we need to know about Apostle Paul:
1. Paul and Cleopatra had something in common. Paul was born in the Roman city of Tarsus, the same city where Cleopatra staged a colorful and seductive first meeting with Marc Antony.
Hoping to become military allies, he had invited the Queen to meet with him in Tarsus.
She responded by sailing into the city on a golden barge equipped with silver oars, purple sails, and adorned with flowers and exotic perfumes. She herself was dressed as Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love.
Roughly 50 years later, Paul was born in the same city, located in what is today southern Turkey.
He speaks of his native city to a Roman soldier, saying, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city.” See Acts 21:39.
2. Paul had a good reason for becoming a tent maker. When it came time for the youthful Paul to learn a trade, he learned how to make tents—and for good reason!
Paul’s native province of Cilicia was well known for producing and exporting a goat-hair cloth sought after for making tents.
The cloth was woven from the long-hair of a peculiar breed of goats native to the area.
3. Paul was a couple of years younger than Jesus.
Scholars put the birth year of Paul between 2 to 6 years after the birth of Christ.
4. Some of Paul’s relatives are mentioned in the Bible.
In Acts 23 we have mention of Paul’s father who was a Pharisee (v 6), his sister, and his nephew (v16) who saves him from a plot against his life.
We learn more about his distant relatives when he writes, in Romans 11:1, “I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.”
And we know that Benjamin was the second son of Rachel and Jacob (Genesis 35: 16-18) so there are a couple more relatives right there.
5. Finally, some scholars think he was named after King Saul, another distant relative since Paul came from a devout Jewish family and was of the lineage of Benjamin, as was King Saul, the first king of Israel.
Prayer Point:- Oh Lord God, use me as a great tool in Your hand henceforth by fire, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Have A Fulfilled Thursday!
