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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:
"You are of your father the devil,
and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning,
and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh
a lie he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."
John 8:44
Saul, a zealous persecutor of the devoted
disciples of Christ,
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
of sins... by
faith in Jesus", within the instructions given by Ananias to Paul?
Please send your comments directly to the
author,
Akbarally Meherally, by e-mail at
trustone@bc.sympatico.ca
AGA KHAN'S DIVINITY
* BIO-DATA * CONFESSIONS
OF FAITH * CRISIS
DU'A OF ISMAILIS Part 1
* DU'A OF ISMAILIS Part 2 *
EPISTLE BY PAUL
FAQ BIBLE Q. 1 to 12
* FAQ BIBLE Q. 13 to 16 *
FAQ BIBLE Q. 17 to 25
GOSPEL OF GOD
HISTORY OF THE
AGA KHANS Sect. 1 * HISTORY OF THE AGA KHANS
Sect. 2 HISTORY OF THE
AGAKHANI ISMAILIS Section 1
HISTORY OF ISMAILIS
Section 2 * HISTORY OF ISMAILIS Section
3
HISTORY OF ISMAILIS Section
4 * HISTORY OF ISMAILIS Section 5
HISTORY OF ISMAILIS Section
6 * HISTORY OF ISMAILIS Section 7
INDEX *
ISLAMIC RITUALS
* JESUS & CHRISTIANS IN QUR'AN
JESUS & MUHAMMAD
* PAUL'S AUTHORITY
PROPHECIES No. 1
* PROPHECIES No. 2
UNDERSTANDING ISMAILISM
Sect. 1 * UNDERSTANDING ISMAILISM
Sect. 2 UNDERSTANDING ISMAILISM
Sect. 3 * UNDERSTANDING ISMAILISM
Sect. 4 UNDERSTANDING ISMAILISM
Sect. 5 * UNDERSTANDING ISMAILISM
Sect. 6
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