by Debbie Wicker BCC
We have almost completed our overview of the major events of the Bible, and now we arrive at one of the most fascinating figures in the New Testament: Paul.
Paul’s story is extraordinary because he began his life as the exact opposite of a Christian believer. Before becoming the apostle Paul, he was known as Saul — a highly educated Jewish Pharisee who fiercely opposed Christianity.
A Pharisee was not simply a religious man. Pharisees were experts in the Torah and the Old Testament Scriptures. Saul knew the Jewish law in astonishing detail and was deeply devoted to Jewish tradition and leadership.
Ironically, the man who would later become Christianity’s greatest missionary once hunted Christians and approved of their deaths.
Saul Approves the Stoning of Stephen
One of the earliest Christian martyrs was Stephen, a man filled with the Holy Spirit who boldly proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah. When Jewish leaders challenged him, Stephen refused to deny his faith.
Instead, he rebuked them directly:
“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!”
— Acts 7:51
The crowd became furious. Stephen looked toward heaven and declared that he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. In rage, the crowd dragged him outside the city and stoned him to death.
The Bible specifically notes that a young Pharisee named Saul approved of the execution:
“And Saul approved of their killing him.”
— Acts 8:1
At this point in his life, Saul saw Christians as enemies of God.
Saul’s Dramatic Conversion
Everything changed when Jesus personally confronted Saul on the road to Damascus.
Saul was traveling there with authority to arrest Christians when suddenly a brilliant light appeared from heaven. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say:
“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
— Acts 9:4
Saul asked who was speaking.
Jesus answered:
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”
— Acts 9:5
Saul was struck blind for three days until a disciple named Ananias came to him as instructed by God. Jesus then revealed His purpose for Saul:
“This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.”
— Acts 9:15
This moment transformed Saul forever. The persecutor of Christians became Paul, the greatest missionary of the early Church.
Why Would Jesus Choose Paul?
This raises an important question:
Why would Jesus choose Paul instead of one of the original disciples who had followed Him for three years?
The Bible does not fully explain why, but several powerful reasons stand out.
1. Paul Understood the Torah Completely
Paul possessed an unmatched understanding of the Old Testament and Jewish law.
Because he had been trained as a Pharisee, he fully understood the prophecies concerning the Messiah and the deeper meaning of Jesus’ mission. When Paul preached to Jewish audiences, he could explain in remarkable detail why Jesus fulfilled the Scriptures.
His arguments were so powerful that many Jewish leaders became enraged and sought to kill him.
Paul was uniquely equipped to connect the Old Testament promises with the coming of Christ.
2. Paul Was a Roman Citizen
Paul was not only Jewish — he was also a Roman citizen.
This gave him enormous advantages in spreading the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire. Roman citizenship provided legal protections, social status, and credibility that most of the other disciples did not possess.
Jesus intended for the Gospel to spread beyond Israel and into the Gentile world. Paul’s education, intelligence, and Roman background made him the ideal messenger to carry Christianity into the heart of the empire.
Eventually, Paul would preach in Rome itself — the center of world power at that time.
3. Paul Fully Understood Salvation by Faith
Most importantly, Paul clearly understood one of the central truths of Christianity:
Gentiles did not need to become Jewish in order to follow Jesus.
This was revolutionary.
Many early believers struggled with the question of whether non-Jews needed to follow Jewish laws such as circumcision, kosher dietary rules, and other religious customs.
Paul boldly taught that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
He wrote:
“A person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.”
— Galatians 2:16
And later:
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”
— Galatians 2:20
Paul understood that human beings cannot save themselves through good works or religious rituals. Salvation is a gift of God’s grace through Jesus Christ.
That message opened the door for the entire non-Jewish world to receive the Gospel.
Salvation Comes Through Jesus Alone
Paul repeatedly emphasized that salvation does not come from human effort.
A person does not earn eternal life by being “good enough.” We are saved because Jesus died for our sins and rose again.
If human beings could save themselves through works, then Christ would not have needed to suffer and die on the cross.
Paul understood this truth deeply, and he proclaimed it fearlessly across the Roman world.
Conclusion
Jesus chose Paul because Paul was uniquely prepared for the mission.
- He understood the Jewish Scriptures better than almost anyone else.
- He possessed the education and status needed to speak throughout the Roman Empire.
- Most importantly, he fully understood the message of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
The man who once persecuted Christians became the greatest defender of Christianity.
That transformation itself is one of the most powerful testimonies in the entire Bible.
About the Author
Debbie Wicker is a Board Certified Christian Counselor who brings a thoughtful mental health perspective to the study of the Bible. With more than 15 years of counseling experience, Debbie helps individuals understand Scripture not only spiritually, but emotionally and psychologically as well.
Before entering counseling, Debbie was a partner in a Big 8 public accounting firm, where she built a successful career in management consulting. After a mid-life career change, she felt called to integrate faith and mental health — equipping others to grow spiritually while addressing real-life struggles with wisdom and compassion.
Through the-Bible.net, Debbie writes to help readers better understand God’s Word, human nature, and the transforming power of Christ.