Paul’s story found in three key places in Acts: 9:1-18; 22:4-16; 26:9-19. The first of these is narrated by Luke, the second is our present section with Paul defending himself in his own words before the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem, and the third is Paul testifying before King Agrippa.

In the current section, Paul is defending himself against the charge that he is opposed to Moses and the temple. He is rather testifying that Jesus the Messiah who was raised from the dead after His rejection and crucifixion. Jesus Himself appeared to Paul and called Paul to Himself.

Paul had been violently opposed to Christians but now was serving Christ. This work of God did not imply that Paul was anti-Jewish. Paul was a zealous Jew who was called by Christ and sent to preach the gospel.

We will soon see that the fact he was also sent to Gentiles provoked a hostile reaction in the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem. We also discuss how Paul received the objective revelations which made him an apostle directly from Christ.