JESUS COMMISSIONED PAUL TO PREACH TO THE JEWS AND GENTILES

Acts 22, Paul said: Brothers and fathers, listen to me as I offer my defense.” “I am a Jew,” he said, “born in Tarsus, but educated here in Jerusalem. I learned to follow our Jewish laws and customs very carefully. I became very anxious to honor God in everything I did, just as you have tried to do today. And I persecuted the Christians, hounding them to death, binding and delivering both men and women to prison. The High Priest or any member of the Council can testify that this is so. For I asked them for letters to the Jewish leaders in Damascus, with instructions to let me bring any Christians I found to Jerusalem in chains to be punished. “As I was on the road, nearing Damascus, suddenly about noon a very bright light from heaven shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Paul, Paul, why are you persecuting me?’ “‘Who is it speaking to me, sir?’ I asked. And he replied, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting.’ “And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ “ ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told what awaits you in the years ahead.’ “I was blinded by the intense light. Ananias, as godly a man obeying the law and well thought of and standing beside me said, ‘Brother Paul, receive your sight!’ And that very hour I could see him! “Then he told me, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Messiah and hear him speak. You are to take his message everywhere. Go and be baptized and be cleansed from your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ FRIENDS, JESUS CHOSE PAUL TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE JEWS AND GENTILES. Hebrews 12:2, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.