| EXAMINING
THE
AUTHORITY OF PAUL AS AN APOSTLE During the ministry of Jesus, Saul (Paul) was a dedicated member of a powerful, exclusive Jewish sect called Pharisees. Their pretensions to sanctity had labeled them as hypocrites. When these overbearing vainglorious Jews confronted Jesus, he called them:
became the first Christian missionary and an Apostle to the Gentiles after converting himself to Christianity by a "vision", which he claims he had, while on the road to Damascus (c. 35). The missionary changed his name from Saul to Paul and became the biggest contributor to the Books of the New Testament. A question of the fundamental importance is: What happened during his journey from Jerusalem to Damascus? The next equally important question is: When and from whom did Paul receive the authority to act as an Apostle or a Minister? Having an encounter of such a great consequence that transforms one's life from a zealous Persecutor to a dedicated Minister, should normally make a deep imprint upon one's mind. It is expected that the fundamental details of the "vision" during this crucial encounter would be "SINGULAR" (consistent one), no matter how many times the narration is repeated by that person. Examining the two narrations, both made by Paul himself in the first person and recorded in the Book 'The Acts of the Apostles', concerning what did transpire during his crucial journey from Jerusalem to Damascus, we discover the inexplicable inconsistencies which raises a question: Did Paul had an encounter with Jesus on his way to Damascus?  Narration
No. 1:
<Acts 22:1ff>. While defending himself before the people of Jerusalem, Paul narrated the incident in the Hebrew dialect; "Brethren and fathers, hear my defence which I now offer to you." And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew dialect, they became even more quite; and he said, `I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city..... <Verses 6ff>. "And it came about that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' And I answered, 'Who art Thou, Lord?' And He said to me, `I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.' And those who were with me beheld the light, to be sure, but did not understand that voice of the One who was speaking to me. And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise and go into Damascus; and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.' But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus." The story continues and a man named Ananias comes to see Paul in Damascus and he for the first time breaks the news to Paul of his appointment. <Verse 14>. "And he (Ananias) said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear an utterance from His mouth." Note: In this narration,
Jesus Christ simply tells Paul to go into the city of Damascus; "and there
you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do." The above
dialogue clearly indicates: the appointment was not made on "the road".
Narration
No. 2:
Acts 26:12ff. While defending himself before King Agrippa Paul narrates
the incident in first person; "While thus engaged as I was journeying to
Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, at midday,
O King, I saw on the way alight from heaven, brighter than the sun, shinning
all around me and those who were journeying with me. And when we had all
fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect,
'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against
the goads'. And I said, 'Who are Thou, Lord?' And the Lord said, `I am
Jesus whom you are persecuting. But arise, and stand on your feet; for
this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness
not only to the thing which you have seen, but also to the things in which
I will appear to you; delivering you from the Jewish people and from the
Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may
turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order
that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those
who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'
Four Fundamental Questions: 1. Did Jesus Christ personally made the appointment and delgate the authority himself to Paul on "the road", as narrated in the second narration? 2. If YES: why do we have the story of Ananias breaking the news to Paul of his appointment by 'the God of our fathers', being repeated twice in Acts Chapters 9 and 22? 3. If NO: can the writings of Paul be trusted? 4. Why there is no mention about "receiving
forgiveness
Please send your comments directly to the
author,
Akbarally Meherally, by e-mail at trustone@bc.sympatico.ca
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