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A boy called
Saul, who was
from the
Mediterranean
city of Tarsus,
lived with his
family two
thousand years
ago… He was a
Hebrew since
birth. He
demonstrated to
be an extremely
zealous for the
traditions of
his countrymen,
and of his
ancestors. He
showed a
tendency for
religion and for
the law.
He became a very
virtuous man,
intelligent and
loyal the order.
He was soon
projected above
his other
colleagues. He
was a Roman
citizen, a fact
which afforded
him a somewhat
privileged
social status
with respect to
laws, property,
and governance.
He was full of
pride. He
defended his
religion, the
Judaic "moral
code", with
great leadership
and was able
influence a lot
of people.
Saul couldn’t
understand how
many people,
including Jews,
would follow
Jesus of
Nazareth; a
carpenter who
died crucified
as a criminal.
Saul started to
persecuted the
early
Christians;
Jesus’
followers. He
would oblige
them to give
Jesus up and go
back to Judaism.
Saul was a
Pharisee who
"violently
persecuted" the
followers of
Jesus; he would
even torture and
kill people.
He violently
persecuted the
church of God
and was trying
to destroy it.
One day he
decided to go to
Damascus, in
Syria, to
persecute some
Christians. The
trip was long
and tiring…
He was en route
to Damascus and
suddenly
featured a
blinding light
as if the sky
was opening up
like a curtain.
It was midday
and the sun was
really strong,
but the light
was much
stronger than
usual.
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The young
Pharisee then
lost his balance
and fell from
the animal into
the sand. Saul
raised his head
up and saw
another light
arising in front
of him. He was
then able to see
a man full of
light around him
walking on his
direction. This
man’s garment
was also radiant
and his eyes
radiated peace;
they were full
of love. Saul
could feel some
divine sadness
coming from the
unknown man.
The young
Pharisee
observed the man
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when
suddenly
an
unforgettable
voice
inquired: |
— Saul, Saul,
why do you
persecute me?
— "Who are you,
Lord?" Saul
asked.
- "I am Jesus,
whom you are
persecuting,"
Jesus replied
humbly.
The proud
Pharisee looked
at the ground
and started to
cry loudly.
Saul then
understood the
people he was
persecuting had
a good reason to
follow Jesus.
He now realised
all the bad
things he was
doing and
regretted his
attitude.
The Master came
close and looked
at him with
kindness. Jesus
touched Saul’s
shoulder and
said, with
affection:
— Do not resist
against the iron
point of a
goad!
Saul understood
what Jesus was
trying to say.
He knew the iron
point of a goad
was something
used to recon
duct the slaves
to the right
path; especially
the animals
since it cause
massive pain
when it touched
the skin. Saul
realised he was
getting an
incentive to
redirect his
life. He
analysed his
present
existence and
sufferings and
decided he
needed to think
for a while on
what he just
saw.
He was already
been influenced
by a Divine
power for some
time which were
leading him to
meditate on the
new teachings
brought by
Jesus. Christ
was calling
everywhere and
all the time,
but he couldn’t
understand his
message.
This was the
last resource
used by the
spiritual world
so he could wake
up to the
reality of
Jesus’
teachings. Jesus
Himself became
visible to him,
in the desert,
so he would not
commit any other
mistakes.
He now realised
he could not
resist to Jesus,
who was the real
Messiah. He then
asked:
"What shall I
do, Lord?'
Saul asked.
- "Now get up
and go into the
city, and you
will be told
what you must
do." Saul was
supposed to go
to the city of
Damascus.
Soon later, Saul
could no loger
see Jesus.
He was blind. He
called his
companions, told
them he just saw
Jesus. They then
led him by the
hand into
Damascus,
because the
brilliance of
the light had
blinded him. He
was taken to
that city into a
hostelry by his
companions. He
rented a room in
that place and
waited…
A man named
Ananias came to
see him three
days later. He
was a devout
observer of the
law and highly
respected by all
the Jews living
there. Ananias
was an extremely
kind man and
actually was one
of the
Christians Saul
was supposed to
arrest.
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Ananias kindly
told Saul Jesus
sent him to help
him regain his
sight. Jesus
wanted Saul to
be his witness
to all men of
what he saw and
heard. He stood
beside Saul and
said, "Brother
Saul, receive
your sight!" And
at that very
moment Saul was
able to see
him.
Ananias and Saul
became very good
friends. Saul
changed
completely after
learning Jesus’
teachings from
his new friend.
Paul's belief in
Jesus
dramatically
changed the
course
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of his
life. |
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Saul decided to
change his name
to Paul to start
fresh, since the
name Paul means
Saul in the
Roman language.
He dedicated his
life to the
dissemination of
Jesus’ teachings
by travelling
tirelessly
everywhere he
could, spreading
Jesus’ message.
Paul of Tarsus
was able to
accomplish his
mission of
disseminating
Christianity for
more than thirty
consecutive
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years.
When
Paul
disincarnated,
he was welcomed
in the spiritual
world by
Jesus,
who
wanted
to thank
him for
his hard
work.
Through
Paul’s
activity
and
writings,
his
beliefs
eventually
changed
religious
thought
throughout
the
Mediterranean.
He
transformed
his life
into an
example
of
labour
through
dozens
of years
of
struggle
by
founding
churches
and
rendering
them
assistance. |
Jesus wanted to
thank him for
the noble work
Saul did, by
dedicating
comfort, hope
and love to
everyone around
him.
(Text adapted
from the Book
Title: Paul and
Stephen.
Spirit Author:
Emmanuel Medium:
Francisco
Cândido Xavier.)
Aunt Celia
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