The First Reading, Acts 9: 1-20, is about the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, the Lord’s chosen instrument to the Gentiles, and what an instrument! Who would have thought that Saul, terrorist to Christians, would be ever be counted among their most zealous and illustrious evangelizer! For Saul, whose name was changed to Paul, was gifted with a vision of Jesus that gave rise to a deep faith that would sustain him as he preached to the Gentiles even as other disciples continued to doubt him. He went on three apostolic missions, with Antioch as starting point, invariably ending in Jerusalem, writing in the midst of all these his Letters to various groups.
In a council held sometime during his first mission, Paul’s ideas were vindicated: Gentiles were deemed exempt from the Mosaic law, notably circumcision, except that the Gentiles had to abstain from sacrifices to idols, blood, things strangled and fornication. While the circumstances led to a dispute between Peter and Paul, Paul’s manner of living as the Jews did seemed to have made Peter come around to Paul’s arguments.
The second mission was made notable by his founding a new church because of discord with the Jews. During this time, he was directed by the Holy Spirit to portions of Europe. On the third mission, Paul finally reached Asia. He worked at tents while preaching the Gospel. His pains at this time included the continuing jealousy of the Jews, copycat exorcisms and superstitious pagans. Once, a silversmith selling souvenirs of the goddess Diana turned a crowd against him because of loss of revenue from pilgrims who no longer purchased the items. His third mission will be remembered for the Letters to the Corinthians, Galatians and Romans.
The people persisted with making trouble for Paul. His capture was highlighted by his five defense statements recorded in the Acts. Paul’s trial in Rome resulted in his acquittal. Paul then seems to have traveled to Spain although by this time the Acts accounts had ended and no longer recorded his travels. He was again captured and sent to Rome for trial. Paul was reported by Eusebius of Caesarea as beheaded under Nero in AD 64 or 67.
