Paul the Apostle... He used to be one of the biggest enemies of the early church until Jesus appeared to him, and he became the most influential follower of Christ.
Saul of Tarsus, who was later renamed Paul when he converted to Jesus. He spent years persecuting the Christians -- arresting them and executing them according to Jewish law. Since the Romans weren't fond of the Christians either, they tolerated this persecution as well. When Paul became a Christian he traveled all over Israel, some of its neighbors, to Rome, and even as far as Spain, spreading the gospel of Jesus. A good majority of the New Testament was written by Paul, and much of what we consider foundational Christian doctrine was written by him. This is what we call a very dramatic transformation from persecutor of Christ, to his most devout follower.
Paul even notes in the Bible that when confronted by people who can't understand the new him, that he used to be a pharisee. At one point he was a persecutor of Christians, but he had a sincere encounter with God, with the forces of good that provide the back bone of this universe and it changed him forever. How could he ever go back when he knew what was at stake? That he could either serve the living God, and bring others to a place of love and comfort, or he could surrender them to the powers of darkness. Paul believed in this mission so sincerely that he suffered for it, and he even died for it. If Jesus could change a man like that then he has far more power than our current wicked culture can understand.
Scripture is full of truth and wisdom.
What is he referring to by saying tyrannical pharisee?
Paul the Apostle... He used to be one of the biggest enemies of the early church until Jesus appeared to him, and he became the most influential follower of Christ.
Saul of Tarsus, who was later renamed Paul when he converted to Jesus. He spent years persecuting the Christians -- arresting them and executing them according to Jewish law. Since the Romans weren't fond of the Christians either, they tolerated this persecution as well. When Paul became a Christian he traveled all over Israel, some of its neighbors, to Rome, and even as far as Spain, spreading the gospel of Jesus. A good majority of the New Testament was written by Paul, and much of what we consider foundational Christian doctrine was written by him. This is what we call a very dramatic transformation from persecutor of Christ, to his most devout follower.
Paul even notes in the Bible that when confronted by people who can't understand the new him, that he used to be a pharisee. At one point he was a persecutor of Christians, but he had a sincere encounter with God, with the forces of good that provide the back bone of this universe and it changed him forever. How could he ever go back when he knew what was at stake? That he could either serve the living God, and bring others to a place of love and comfort, or he could surrender them to the powers of darkness. Paul believed in this mission so sincerely that he suffered for it, and he even died for it. If Jesus could change a man like that then he has far more power than our current wicked culture can understand.