Waylan Jennings sang a song about going back to Luckenbach Texas, he, Willie and the "boys". What he was saying is let's get back to "basics".

OK, let's go over, once again why Paul is so important to YOU, a Gentile or a Jew who chooses to believe, because God has given us the Grace to understand and believe!

Paul was born a Jew, in the tribe of Benjamin. Now, Benjamin was originally an independent tribe, that was absorbed by Judah. I don't know the importance of that, but I thought you should know this occurred, sometime after the twelve tribes settled in Palestine. Saul, first king of Judah, was from the tribe of Benjamin.

Paul was born Saul in Tarsus, which was a Greek city, a part of Roman domain, a busy international trade center on the coast of what is now Turkey.  There he would encounter people of all nationalities due to his trade, the same as his father's..he was a tentmaker. So, even though he was an observant Jew, he was required by his trade to have intercourse with many Gentiles..non Jews, and he was conversant in Greek, which was the international language. 

Now, when we think of tents back then, they were woven of wool, and treated in such a way as to make them impervious to water. They were used by the Roman army, as well as many itinerant travellers. The advantage of Paul with a trade like this, is that he was self-employed,  He didn't need money to be a missionary, carrying the truth to  the "world". In his letter he reminds his followers that he never asked for financial assistance for himself, only for "mother" church in Jerusalem.. he was never a burden.

I bleieve he became a Roman citizen, because he was a supplier of tents to the Roman army, or because his father was, at any rate, he was a Roman citizen.  

Think of how important this is  as a member of the minority. The most powerful government in that world was Rome and he had the same rights  as any Roman!  This meant, most importantly, that he crossed borders, using the vast Roman road network with impunity..so valuable to his missionary journeys, and enjoyed the same privileges under Roman law.

Getting aheaad of myself..His father must have sensed something special in him, and sent him to Jerusalem to be taught the ways of the Jews.   

 He learned "jewery" at the foot of the greatest teacher in the world..Gamaliel..said to be the "Beauty of the Law". He not only was steeped in the "Law", but in the ways and means of be being a "Jew"..history, holy days and there meaning, dietary laws, mores, etc.  

Afterwards, I believe it could be said that he was an ardent Jew, steeped in the ways of the ancients..the prophets and judges, becoming a member of the Sanhedrin, the supreme religious ruling body in Jerusalem and a Pharisee, "keepers of the Law" .

Aside, in order to become a member of the Sanhedrin, a man  had to be at least 30 years old, married and a father of a son.  I imagine these were requirements to provide experience in life and "judging" in family to provide one with the necessary understanding of the "human condition" to judge others. 

What happened to his family is not known.  In my play, in my mind,  they die from a epidemic.

So, here's this most dedicated  Jew, given the position of Chief persecutor, and I imagine prosecutor, who by his own admission, was foremost in the performance of his task in hounding so-called "Christians", Jewish followers of Jesus to bring them to "heal", or face retribution.  What puishment was administered it doesn't say, but Steven was stoned for his "heresy".

What could possibly change him from that "firebrand" to become the most dedicated and zealous follower of Jesus..leader of those very same people he persecuted?

A miracle!  

It wouldn't be possible for him to change so drastically, as dedicated as he was, for any other reason, while he was on the road to Damascus, to bring Jesus' followers back to Jerusalem to be prosecuted.

That miracle was the brilliant and blinding face of Jesus the Christ.  God couldn't face Paul, it would bring Paul's death, so He sent His Son to create a "new" Saul/Paul, so he was only made blind!

Such things can't happen, so many say, but I would remind you of what happened to me, a non-entity in this world of billions.  

God sent His "messengers" to me, as you discovered in my video, GOD'S MESSENGERS, because Paul was His special Apostle, and He didn't want me to foul up the play on Paul, ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN, that I was preparing and performing.. I rest my case.

Now Paul is  determined to get the word out..believe in Jesus, in what He stood for.

Then, another miracle occurred, because Paul was separated by God for a special mission.

God's Spirit, the Great Comforter brought His teachings to Paul.

He learned from the fount of knowledge itself..what proof could be more compelling, that Paul's teachings are "gospel"?  paulnbob