Daily Devotional for Wednesday, May 10

Paul’s Activities as a Persecutor

“I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things
contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth,” Acts 26:9.

To King Agrippa, Paul rehearsed his former actions against the name of Jesus. He conspired and schemed against Jesus’ disciples. He thought up “many things” to do to buffet them. He imprisoned them, condemned them to death, punished them, forced them to blaspheme against God and drove them to far away cities. He was so treacherous, when he first began preaching, people in Damascus thought it impossible he could be the same man who devastated the believers in Jerusalem (Acts 9:21). In Jerusalem, the believers were terrified and would not accept him, thinking he was only pretending so he could capture them (Acts 9:26).
Although Paul turned from his actions as a persecutor of Jesus’ followers, he regularly talked about how vicious he once was. He was not proud of his actions in any way and did not boast of them, but he used his former life as a witness to show that God can change even the hardest and most determined heart and use him in advancing His kingdom. Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:13, 15, 16, “Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”
Paul’s life, his legalistic and murderous past, his faith in Christ and his ministry in the gospel were and continue to be a pattern or example so others can know God’s great patience, realize their sin, and believe on Him.

THOUGHT: As both the persecutor and the persecuted, Paul knew the evil ignorance of the Jews and exactly what the believers faced. His advice and encouragement were valuable.

Kelli Reynolds