Editing Saint Paul (section)

== Overview ==

* Paul is author of 14 of the 27 books of the New Testament
* Before his conversion, Paul persecuted Christians
* Christ converted him with an explicit purpose to convert the Gentiles
<blockquote>But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites,m16and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name. ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/9?13 Acts 9:13-16])</blockquote>
* ironically, Paul desperately wanted to convert Jerusalem
** In Acts 22:18: he relates that the Lord told Paul to leave Jerusalem:
<blockquote>I was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw the Lord saying to me, ‘Hurry, leave Jerusalem at once, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’" ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/22?18 Acts 22:18])</blockquote>
* even more ironic is that Paul wanted to convert the Empire but he was sent to Rome and to Caesar as a prisoner:
<blockquote>And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all you here present with us, look at this man about whom the whole Jewish populace petitioned me here and in Jerusalem, clamoring that he should live no longer. I found, however, that he had done nothing deserving death, and so when he appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him." ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/25:24 Acts 24:24-25])</blockquote>even though it wasn't even necessary: <blockquote>And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/26?32 Acts 26:32])</blockquote>But Paul embraced the Lord's purposes and methods:<blockquote>But I have enjoyed God’s help to this very day, and so I stand here testifying to small and great alike, saying nothing different from what the prophets and Moses foretold, that the Messiah must suffer and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” (Acts 26:22-23)</blockquote>Among Paul's most important accomplishments are:

* At the Council of Jerusalem, '''settling the dispute with "Judaizers"''' that gentile Christian converts were not subject to Mosaic Law (Acts 15)

* '''Converting Jews outside of Israel''', ex 
** [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/18:4 Acts 18:4]: "Every sabbath, he entered into discussions in the synagogue, attempting to convince both Jews and Greeks."
** [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/18?19 Acts 18:19]: "When they reached Ephesus, he left them there, while he entered the synagogue and held discussions with the Jews."
** it wasn't always successful, such as in [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/18:6 Acts 18:6]: "When they opposed him and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, 'Your blood be on your heads! I am clear of responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.'" (Acts 18 describes conversion of several Jews, including the couple Aquila and Priscilla, Titus Justus, and Crispus.)

* '''Converting the Greeks and establishing Churches''', ex:
** Acts 18:
** [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/18?22 Acts 18:22]: Upon landing at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church* and then went down to Antioch.
** Corinth was crucial, as it was both a crossroads of the Roman Empire and a place of great hedonism 
* '''Correcting the established Churches''' in the Epistles
* Explaining and clarifying '''"Life in Christ"''' in the Epistles

Of all his virtues, Paul was above all else '''perseverant''':

* At Corinth, the Lord told him,
<blockquote>One night in a vision the Lord said to Paul, “Do not be afraid. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you. No one will attack and harm you, for I have many people in this city.” ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/18:10 Acts 18:10])</blockquote>
* In 2 Corinthians Paul describes what he suffered for the Lord: see Epistles section below for '''Paul’s Boast: His Labors''' (2 Cor 11 & 12)