Saint Paul's entire life can be explained in terms of a single experience: his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. In an instant, he realized that all the zeal of his dynamic personality was wasted, and his life changed at that very moment. Perhaps he had never seen Jesus, who was only a few years older. But he had acquired a fanatical hatred for everything Jesus stood for, as he began to harass the Church: "...going from house to house and dragging men and women, he delivered them to prison" (Acts 8:3b ). Now he himself had "entered" possessed, all his energy focused on one goal: to be a slave of Christ in the ministry of reconciliation, an instrument to help others experience the one Savior. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay He is an example that anyone, even the most hardened unbeliever or the vilest heretic, can be created anew by our loving Savior. Paul was educated as a Pharisee, he was a tent maker by trade, but he was best known for his hatred of Christians. His actions could be easily justified because being an ardent Jew, he believed that Jesus' teachings violated Mosaic law and zealously harassed, and even imprisoned, anyone who followed these teachings. Impact of his conversion Saul's sudden change caused confusion among those around him, as he was known as someone who hated Christians, who sought them out to eliminate those he truly considered to be breaking Jewish law. Suddenly, he went from contempt for Jesus' disciples to fervent adherence to the Gospel of this same Jesus. No one could have predicted this conversion; it is one of the great miracles of humanity. As the most fervent convert, Paul simply could not get enough of Christ. With faith and courage ignited by the Holy Spirit, Paul would spend the rest of his life going from country to country and city to city proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah, organizing and encouraging Christians to be steadfast disciples of Jesus and non-believers to open their hearts. to Christ, repent and be baptized. He would become known as the Apostle to the Gentiles (non-Jews) and his travels, letters and teaching changed the world. Often in trouble, Paul was confronted, imprisoned (although angels rescued him), physically abused, and repeatedly endangered and harassed for preaching the message he had previously attacked. Despite all the dangers he encountered, Paul never wavered or let his God down. Ultimately, he would be taken to Rome as a prisoner and beheaded for his teachings. Why Paul? Why would Jesus choose people like Paul? There were certainly other devoted followers of Jesus available in those early days of the Church—disciples willing to give their lives to proclaim Jesus Christ as the savior of the world. But Jesus chose and converted this Pharisee, known as Saul, saying, “This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and Israelites” (Acts 9:15). God chose this man who had a strong hatred for everything Jesus stood for, a man who would enter into the homes of Christians and “tear away men and women” and then “deliver them to prison” (Acts 8:3). . This man became God's chosen instrument to spread the message of Jesus throughout the Middle East and parts of Europe. Indeed, the ways of our Lord are mysterious. A light from heaven illuminated Saul and he fell to the ground. He heard a voice crying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? Saul seems to have.