Paul's Call to be an "Apostle" (Commissioned Representative) for 
Jesus according to his Letter to the Galatians

Gal  1: 1 Paul an apostle -- not from men nor through man,
Gal  1: 1 but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who
Gal  1: 2 raised him from the dead -- and all the brethren
Gal  1: 3 who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:

Gal  1:11     For I would have you know, brethren, that the
Gal  1:11 gospel which was preached by me is not man's
Gal  1:12 gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was
Gal  1:12 I taught it, but it came through a revelation of
Gal  1:13 Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life
Gal  1:13 in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God
Gal  1:14 violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced
Gal  1:14 in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my
Gal  1:14 people, so extremely zealous was I for the
Gal  1:15 traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set
Gal  1:15 me apart before I was born, and had called me
Gal  1:16 through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son
Gal  1:16 to me, in order that I might preach him among the
Gal  1:17 Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood,
Gal  1:17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were
Gal  1:17 apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia;
Gal  1:18 and again I returned to Damascus.
Gal  1:18     Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem
Gal  1:18 to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen
Gal  1:19 days. But I saw none of the other apostles except
Gal  1:20 James the Lord's brother. (In what I am writing to
Gal  1:21 you, before God, I do not lie!) Then I went into
Gal  1:22 the regions of Syria and Cili'cia. And I was still
Gal  1:22 not known by sight to the churches of Christ in
Gal  1:23 Judea; they only heard it said, "He who once
Gal  1:23 persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once
Gal  1:24 tried to destroy." And they glorified God because
Gal  2: 1 of me.
Gal  2: 1     Then after fourteen years I went up again to
Gal  2: 1 Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with
Gal  2: 2 me. I went up by revelation; and I laid before
Gal  2: 2 them (but privately before those who were of
Gal  2: 2 repute) the gospel which I preach among the
Gal  2: 2 Gentiles, lest somehow I should be running or had
Gal  2: 3 run in vain. But even Titus, who was with me, was
Gal  2: 3 not compelled to be circumcised, though he was a
Gal  2: 4 Greek. But because of false brethren secretly
Gal  2: 4 brought in, who slipped in to spy out our freedom
Gal  2: 4 which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might
Gal  2: 5 bring us into bondage -- to them we did not yield
Gal  2: 5 submission even for a moment, that the truth of
Gal  2: 6 the gospel might be preserved for you. And from
Gal  2: 6 those who were reputed to be something (what they
Gal  2: 6 were makes no difference to me; God shows no
Gal  2: 6 partiality) -- those, I say, who were of repute
Gal  2: 7 added nothing to me; but on the contrary, when
Gal  2: 7 they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel
Gal  2: 7 to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been
Gal  2: 8 entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (for
Gal  2: 8 he who worked through Peter for the mission to the
Gal  2: 8 circumcised worked through me also for the
Gal  2: 9 Gentiles), and when they perceived the grace that
Gal  2: 9 was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who
Gal  2: 9 were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and
Gal  2: 9 Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we
Gal  2: 9 should go to the Gentiles and they to the
Gal  2:10 circumcised; only they would have us remember the
Gal  2:11 poor, which very thing I was eager to do.
Gal  2:11     But when Cephas came to Antioch I opposed him
Gal  2:12 to his face, because he stood condemned. For
Gal  2:12 before certain men came from James, he ate with
Gal  2:12 the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and
Gal  2:12 separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.
Gal  2:13 And with him the rest of the Jews acted
Gal  2:13 insincerely, so that even Barnabas was carried
Gal  2:14 away by their insincerity. But when I saw that
Gal  2:14 they were not straightforward about the truth of
Gal  2:14 the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, "If
Gal  2:14 you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not
Gal  2:14 like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to
Gal  2:15 live like Jews?" We ourselves, who are Jews by
Gal  2:16 birth and not Gentile sinners, yet who know that a
Gal  2:16 man is not justified by works of the law but
Gal  2:16 through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have
Gal  2:16 believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified
Gal  2:16 by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law,
Gal  2:16 because by works of the law shall no one be
Gal  2:16 justified. 


Paul's Call to be an "Apostle" (Commissioned Representative) for 
Jesus according to the Book of Acts

Act  7:58 Then they cast him out of the
Act  7:58 city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down
Act  7:58 their garments at the feet of a young man named
Act  7:59 Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed,
Act  7:60 "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And he knelt down
Act  7:60 and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold
Act  7:60 this sin against them." And when he had said this,
Act  8: 1 he fell asleep.
Act  8: 1     And Saul was consenting to his death.
Act  8: 1     And on that day a great persecution arose
Act  8: 1 against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all
Act  8: 1 scattered throughout the region of Judea and
Act  8: 2 Sama'ria, except the apostles. Devout men buried
Act  8: 3 Stephen, and made great lamentation over him. But
Act  8: 3 Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house
Act  8: 3 after house, he dragged off men and women and
Act  8: 4 committed them to prison.

Act  9: 1     But Saul, still breathing threats and murder
Act  9: 1 against the disciples of the Lord, went to the
Act  9: 2 high priest and asked him for letters to the
Act  9: 2 synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any
Act  9: 2 belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring
Act  9: 3 them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he journeyed he
Act  9: 3 approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from
Act  9: 4 heaven flashed about him. And he fell to the
Act  9: 4 ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul,
Act  9: 5 Saul, why do you persecute me?" And he said, "Who
Act  9: 5 are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you
Act  9: 6 are persecuting; but rise and enter the city, and
Act  9: 7 you will be told what you are to do." The men who
Act  9: 7 were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing
Act  9: 8 the voice but seeing no one. Saul arose from the
Act  9: 8 ground; and when his eyes were opened, he could
Act  9: 8 see nothing; so they led him by the hand and
Act  9: 9 brought him into Damascus. And for three days he
Act  9:10 was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Act  9:10     Now there was a disciple at Damascus named
Act  9:10 Anani'as. The Lord said to him in a vision,
Act  9:11 "Anani'as." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." And
Act  9:11 the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street
Act  9:11 called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas
Act  9:11 for a man of Tarsus named Saul; for behold, he is
Act  9:12 praying, and he has seen a man named Anani'as come
Act  9:12 in and lay his hands on him so that he might
Act  9:13 regain his sight." But Anani'as answered, "Lord, I
Act  9:13 have heard from many about this man, how much evil
Act  9:14 he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem; and here
Act  9:14 he has authority from the chief priests to bind
Act  9:15 all who call upon thy name." But the Lord said to
Act  9:15 him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to
Act  9:15 carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and
Act  9:16 the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much
Act  9:17 he must suffer for the sake of my name." So
Act  9:17 Anani'as departed and entered the house. And
Act  9:17 laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul,
Act  9:17 the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by
Act  9:17 which you came, has sent me that you may regain
Act  9:18 your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Act  9:18 And immediately something like scales fell from
Act  9:18 his eyes and he regained his sight. Then he rose
Act  9:19 and was baptized, and took food and was
Act  9:19 strengthened.
Act  9:19     For several days he was with the disciples at
Act  9:20 Damascus. And in the synagogues immediately he
Act  9:21 proclaimed Jesus, saying, "He is the Son of God."
Act  9:21 And all who heard him were amazed, and said, "Is
Act  9:21 not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of
Act  9:21 those who called on this name? And he has come
Act  9:21 here for this purpose, to bring them bound before
Act  9:22 the chief priests." But Saul increased all the
Act  9:22 more in strength, and confounded the Jews who
Act  9:22 lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the
Act  9:23 Christ.
Act  9:23     When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to
Act  9:24 kill him, but their plot became known to Saul.
Act  9:24 They were watching the gates day and night, to
Act  9:25 kill him; but his disciples took him by night and
Act  9:25 let him down over the wall, lowering him in a
Act  9:26 basket.
Act  9:26     And when he had come to Jerusalem he attempted
Act  9:26 to join the disciples; and they were all afraid of
Act  9:26 him, for they did not believe that he was a
Act  9:27 disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him
Act  9:27 to the apostles, and declared to them how on the
Act  9:27 road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and
Act  9:27 how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name
Act  9:28 of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at
Act  9:29 Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the
Act  9:29 Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the
Act  9:30 Hellenists; but they were seeking to kill him. And
Act  9:30 when the brethren knew it, they brought him down
Act  9:31 to Caesare'a, and sent him off to Tarsus.
Act  9:31     So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee
Act  9:31 and Sama'ria had peace and was built up; and
Act  9:31 walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort
Act  9:32 of the Holy Spirit it was multiplied.

Act 21:37     As Paul was about to be brought into the
Act 21:37 barracks, he said to the tribune, "May I say
Act 21:37 something to you?" And he said, "Do you know
Act 21:38 Greek? Are you not the Egyptian, then, who
Act 21:38 recently stirred up a revolt and led the four
Act 21:38 thousand men of the Assassins out into the
Act 21:39 wilderness?" Paul replied, "I am a Jew, from
Act 21:39 Tarsus in Cili'cia, a citizen of no mean city; I
Act 21:40 beg you, let me speak to the people." And when he
Act 21:40 had given him leave, Paul, standing on the steps,
Act 21:40 motioned with his hand to the people; and when
Act 21:40 there was a great hush, he spoke to them in the
Act 22: 1 Hebrew language, saying:
Act 22: 1     "Brethren and fathers, hear the defense which
Act 22: 2 I now make before you."
Act 22: 2     And when they heard that he addressed them in
Act 22: 2 the Hebrew language, they were the more quiet. And
Act 22: 3 he said:
Act 22: 3     "I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cili'cia, but
Act 22: 3 brought up in this city at the feet of Gama'li-el,
Act 22: 3 educated according to the strict manner of the law
Act 22: 3 of our fathers, being zealous for God as you all
Act 22: 4 are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death,
Act 22: 4 binding and delivering to prison both men and
Act 22: 5 women, as the high priest and the whole council of
Act 22: 5 elders bear me witness. From them I received
Act 22: 5 letters to the brethren, and I journeyed to
Act 22: 5 Damascus to take those also who were there and
Act 22: 6 bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.
Act 22: 6     "As I made my journey and drew near to
Act 22: 6 Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven
Act 22: 7 suddenly shone about me. And I fell to the ground
Act 22: 7 and heard a voice saying to me, `Saul, Saul, why
Act 22: 8 do you persecute me?' And I answered, `Who are
Act 22: 8 you, Lord?' And he said to me, `I am Jesus of
Act 22: 9 Nazareth whom you are persecuting.' Now those who
Act 22: 9 were with me saw the light but did not hear the
Act 22:10 voice of the one who was speaking to me. And I
Act 22:10 said, `What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said
Act 22:10 to me, `Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you
Act 22:10 will be told all that is appointed for you to do.'
Act 22:11 And when I could not see because of the brightness
Act 22:11 of that light, I was led by the hand by those who
Act 22:12 were with me, and came into Damascus.
Act 22:12     "And one Anani'as, a devout man according to
Act 22:12 the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived
Act 22:13 there, came to me, and standing by me said to me,
Act 22:13 `Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And in that
Act 22:14 very hour I received my sight and saw him. And he
Act 22:14 said, `The God of our fathers appointed you to
Act 22:14 know his will, to see the Just One and to hear a
Act 22:15 voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness
Act 22:15 for him to all men of what you have seen and
Act 22:16 heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be
Act 22:16 baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his
Act 22:17 name.'
Act 22:17     "When I had returned to Jerusalem and was
Act 22:18 praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and
Act 22:18 saw him saying to me, `Make haste and get quickly
Act 22:18 out of Jerusalem, because they will not accept
Act 22:19 your testimony about me.' And I said, `Lord, they
Act 22:19 themselves know that in every synagogue I
Act 22:20 imprisoned and beat those who believed in thee.
Act 22:20 And when the blood of Stephen thy witness was
Act 22:20 shed, I also was standing by and approving, and
Act 22:21 keeping the garments of those who killed him.' And
Act 22:21 he said to me, `Depart; for I will send you far
Act 22:22 away to the Gentiles.'"
Act 22:22     Up to this word they listened to him; then
Act 22:22 they lifted up their voices and said, "Away with
Act 22:22 such a fellow from the earth! For he ought not to
Act 22:23 live." And as they cried out and waved their
Act 22:24 garments and threw dust into the air, the tribune

Act 25:23     So on the morrow Agrippa and Berni'ce came
Act 25:23 with great pomp, and they entered the audience
Act 25:23 hall with the military tribunes and the prominent
Act 25:23 men of the city. Then by command of Festus Paul
Act 25:24 was brought in. And Festus said, "King Agrippa and
Act 25:24 all who are present with us, you see this man
Act 25:24 about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me,
Act 25:24 both at Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought
Act 25:25 not to live any longer. But I found that he had
Act 25:25 done nothing deserving death; and as he himself
Act 25:26 appealed to the emperor, I decided to send him.
Act 25:26 But I have nothing definite to write to my lord
Act 25:26 about him. Therefore I have brought him before
Act 25:26 you, and, especially before you, King Agrippa,
Act 25:26 that, after we have examined him, I may have
Act 25:27 something to write. For it seems to me
Act 25:27 unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to
Act 26: 1 indicate the charges against him."
Act 26: 1     Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to
Act 26: 1 speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his
Act 26: 2 hand and made his defense:
Act 26: 2     "I think myself fortunate that it is before
Act 26: 2 you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today
Act 26: 3 against all the accusations of the Jews, because
Act 26: 3 you are especially familiar with all customs and
Act 26: 3 controversies of the Jews; therefore I beg you to
Act 26: 4 listen to me patiently.
Act 26: 4     "My manner of life from my youth, spent from
Act 26: 4 the beginning among my own nation and at
Act 26: 5 Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. They have
Act 26: 5 known for a long time, if they are willing to
Act 26: 5 testify, that according to the strictest party of
Act 26: 6 our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. And now I
Act 26: 6 stand here on trial for hope in the promise made
Act 26: 7 by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes
Act 26: 7 hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night
Act 26: 7 and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O
Act 26: 8 king! Why is it thought incredible by any of you
Act 26: 9 that God raises the dead?
Act 26: 9     "I myself was convinced that I ought to do
Act 26: 9 many things in opposing the name of Jesus of
Act 26:10 Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem; I not only
Act 26:10 shut up many of the saints in prison, by authority
Act 26:10 from the chief priests, but when they were put to
Act 26:11 death I cast my vote against them. And I punished
Act 26:11 them often in all the synagogues and tried to make
Act 26:11 them blaspheme; and in raging fury against them, I
Act 26:12 persecuted them even to foreign cities.
Act 26:12     "Thus I journeyed to Damascus with the
Act 26:13 authority and commission of the chief priests. At
Act 26:13 midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from
Act 26:13 heaven, brighter than the sun, shining round me
Act 26:14 and those who journeyed with me. And when we had
Act 26:14 all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying
Act 26:14 to me in the Hebrew language, `Saul, Saul, why do
Act 26:14 you persecute me? It hurts you to kick against the
Act 26:15 goads.' And I said, `Who are you, Lord?' And the
Act 26:16 Lord said, `I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
Act 26:16 But rise and stand upon your feet; for I have
Act 26:16 appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you
Act 26:16 to serve and bear witness to the things in which
Act 26:16 you have seen me and to those in which I will
Act 26:17 appear to you, delivering you from the people and
Act 26:18 from the Gentiles -- to whom I send you to open
Act 26:18 their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to
Act 26:18 light and from the power of Satan to God, that
Act 26:18 they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place
Act 26:19 among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
Act 26:19     "Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was not
Act 26:20 disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared
Act 26:20 first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and
Act 26:20 throughout all the country of Judea, and also to
Act 26:20 the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to
Act 26:21 God and perform deeds worthy of their repentance.
Act 26:21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple
Act 26:22 and tried to kill me. To this day I have had the
Act 26:22 help that comes from God, and so I stand here
Act 26:22 testifying both to small and great, saying nothing
Act 26:22 but what the prophets and Moses said would come to
Act 26:23 pass: that the Christ must suffer, and that, by
Act 26:23 being the first to rise from the dead, he would
Act 26:23 proclaim light both to the people and to the
Act 26:24 Gentiles."
Act 26:24     And as he thus made his defense, Festus said
Act 26:24 with a loud voice, "Paul, you are mad; your great
Act 26:25 learning is turning you mad." But Paul said, "I am
Act 26:25 not mad, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking
Act 26:26 the sober truth. For the king knows about these
Act 26:26 things, and to him I speak freely; for I am
Act 26:26 persuaded that none of these things has escaped
Act 26:27 his notice, for this was not done in a corner.
Act 26:27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know
Act 26:28 that you believe." And Agrippa said to Paul, "In a
Act 26:29 short time you think to make me a Christian!" And
Act 26:29 Paul said, "Whether short or long, I would to God
Act 26:29 that not only you but also all who hear me this
Act 26:29 day might become such as I am -- except for these
Act 26:30 chains."

//end of Galatians and Acts selections; RAK (10/29/98)//