Today I would like to look at Saul’s meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus. If we look at Acts Chapter 9, Saul encounters Jesus, on the road and Jesus blinded him, to prove his power and might over him. The blinding was also a consequence for his actions against Jesus’ followers. He was given three days to contemplate his actions. A point I would like to make here is Saul spent that time repenting for his actions, towards the followers of Jesus. He accepted the responsibility for his misunderstood beliefs that Jesus wasn’t the Messiah.
Why would Jesus commission Saul to minister to the Gentiles? I would like to delve deeper into this question. To understand this one must first understand the operations of the Sanhedrin, and there limited role in Governing Roman occupied Judea. In a rather loose co-existence with the Roman Governor they had very little authority even unto their own people and no authority what so ever over a Roman Citizen. Saul being both a member of the Sanhedrin, and a Roman Citizen would have given him an authoritative voice among the Jews, and immunity from the very persecution that he was caring out for the Sanhedrin.
Now let’s apply a different angle on this subject, before the crucifixion of Jesus, Jesus took aside one of his first followers, a man at the time known only as Simon. And asked him “whom do you think I am” Simon replied you are the “Messiah” Jesus then informed him that he had knowledge given to him by the Father Adonai for he did not tell him this. Jesus then said from this day forward you shall be known as Kefa (Greek translation Petre which was later anglosized to Peter) which means Rock, and said that upon this rock I will build my community. (Later translations from the Aramaic use community to mean church).
Saul, not being a follower of Jesus during his life time, would not have known that Jesus had commissioned Peter to be the Rock upon which he would build his community. If one looks closer at Acts Chapter 9:10 we can see that Saul was chosen by Jesus to spread his message to the Gentiles, not to take charge of the community. Thus starting the big battle between Saul and Peter, Saul being a Pharisees who had an understanding of the Talmud with which Peter would not have been so influenced by.
Saul being accustomed to being a leader amongst the Jewish community could have had a natural tendency to over step his charge. Remember when Saul makes such comments as in Titus Chapter 1:10 “For there are many especially from the Circumcision faction, who are rebellious who delude people’s minds with there worthless and misleading talk” The Circumcision faction Saul is referring to here is Peter and his followers. These second verse is Galatians 2:14 “But when I saw they were not walking in a straight path, keeping in line with the truth of the good news, I said to Peter right in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, why are you forcing the gentile to live like a Jew?””
The context of Saul’s chastising Peter was the fact that he had been eating with the Gentiles, prior to Saul’s factions arrival and then separated himself form the Gentiles, after Saul’s arrival. Understand Saul’s complaint is over the Talmudic Laws of keeping Kosher. Which brings us back to the difference between what Jesus taught about Talmud (Doctrine) vs. Torah?
Most of the conflicts came between Peter and Saul over the laws of the Talmud, the laws generated by the Sanhedrin and the elder’s of the Jewish community. The Doctrine that Jesus was rebuking.
The Lord Bless you and Protect you!
The Lord deal kindly and graciously with you!
The Lord bestow His favor upon you and grant you peace!
The Articles presented here are copy written by The Light In Christ Ministry in Sherman
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