But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
The churches in Judea did not know Paul by face but only by report. What they had heard was simply this, that the one who had persecuted believers in times past and had tried to destroy the faith was now preaching that same faith. He was proclaiming that faith in the regions of Syria and Cilicia, where his former persecution had become widely known. Afterward Barnabas brought him to Antioch to labor alongside him.
His work was entirely reversed, from tearing down the church as a persecutor to building it up as a preacher. As a preacher he proclaimed salvation through Christ's blood and suffered for Christ's name. Seeing this change of life, the churches glorified God for the revelation of His love in turning Saul the persecutor of the church into Paul the apostle.
His change proves that those who accept the truth in the present day can be trained and educated to become missionaries wherever they are located. Members in scattered regions and members of new churches in cities should therefore be put to work at once and entrusted with missionary responsibility as soon as they believe. Even a church of only half a dozen should study the Bible and learn how to work for others.
The churches in Judea did not know Paul by face but only by report. What they had heard was simply this, that the one who had persecuted believers in times past and had tried to destroy the faith was now preaching that same faith. He was proclaiming that faith in the regions of Syria and Cilicia, where his former persecution had become widely known. Afterward Barnabas brought him to Antioch to labor alongside him.
His work was entirely reversed, from tearing down the church as a persecutor to building it up as a preacher. As a preacher he proclaimed salvation through Christ's blood and suffered for Christ's name. Seeing this change of life, the churches glorified God for the revelation of His love in turning Saul the persecutor of the church into Paul the apostle.
His change proves that those who accept the truth in the present day can be trained and educated to become missionaries wherever they are located. Members in scattered regions and members of new churches in cities should therefore be put to work at once and entrusted with missionary responsibility as soon as they believe. Even a church of only half a dozen should study the Bible and learn how to work for others.