Submitted by true believer (India), May 3, 2006 at 07:10
Before his conversion Paul (who was originally named Saul of Tarsus) was notorious for persecuting Christians. Jesus Christ rose from the dead and all His disciples who saw the resurrected Christ believed in Him and became Christians.At that time Paul was an orthodox Jew and was instrumental in the persecution of Christians before his own conversion to Christianity, which came much after the crucifixation and resurrection of Jesus Christ. What about st. Peter who preached in Rome to the Gentiles ? Or St. Mark who preached in Egypt to the Gentiles or St. Thomas who preached in India again to the Gentiles. These were the original disciples of Jesus Christ who was with him when he was on earth. Just because Paul preached in Athens to the Gentiles does not mean that he founded Christianity. I am quoting verses fronm the Holy Bible to support my claims.
Stoning of Stephen and the Persecution of the Church
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Acts-7:51-60
Acts 7:51"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!
Acts 7:52 Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—
Acts 7:53 you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it."
Acts 7:54 When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.
Acts 7:55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
Acts 7:56 "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man[JESUS] standing at the right hand of God."
Acts 7: 57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,
Acts 7:58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of the young man named Saul.
Acts 7:59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
Acts 7:60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.
Acts 8:1 And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.The Church Persecuted and Scattered. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
Acts 8:2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison
Acts 8:3 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem;
Acts 8:4 and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Conversion of Paul (Saul)
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Acts 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Acts 9: 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Acts 9: 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Acts 9: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Acts 9: 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Acts 9: 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Acts 9: 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
Acts 9: 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
Acts 9: 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
Acts 9: 10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
Acts 9: 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
Acts 9: 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
Acts 9: 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
Acts 9: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
Acts 9: 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Acts 9: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
Acts 9: 17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Acts 9: 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Acts 9: 19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
Acts 9: 20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Acts 9: 21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
Acts 9: 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
Acts 9: 23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
Acts 9: 24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
Acts 9: 25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
Acts 9: 26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
Acts 9: 27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Acts 9: 28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
Acts 9: 29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
Acts 9: 30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
Acts 9: 31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
Acts 9: 32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.
Acts 9: 33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.
Acts 9: 34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.
Acts 9: 35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
Acts 9: 36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
Acts 9: 37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
Acts 9: 38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
Acts 9: 39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
Acts 9: 40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
Acts 9: 41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
Acts 9: 42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
Acts 9: 43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.
Change of name (Saul is also called Paul)
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Acts 13:7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
Acts 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
Acts 13:9 Then Saul, who also [is called] Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
Acts 13:10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, [thou] child of the devil, [thou] enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
You are refering to these verses in the bible about Gentiles. Jesus did not call the Gentiles dogs.This is evident from the Holy Bible verses given below
Mk 7:24-30
Mk 7:24 And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know [it]: but he could not be hid.
Mk 7:25 For a [certain] woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:
Mk 7:26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
Mk 7:27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast [it] unto the dogs.
Mk 7:28 And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.
Mk 7:29 And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
Mk 7:30 And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
Jesus was sent by the Father YAHWEY as promised to King David that one of his descendants will be a King who would rule forever. Jesus had first come for the Jews and almost all of his followers were Jews. This does not mean that Jesus never healed the Gentiles.See Luke 7:1-10 where jesus heals a Roman Centurion's servant. Both the Centurion and his servant were Gentiles. See Luke 7:1-10
Lk7: 1 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
Lk7:2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
Lk7:3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
Lk7:4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:
Lk7:5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.
Lk7:6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:
Lk7:7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
Lk7:8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
Lk7:9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Lk7:10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
Or take the case of ten Healed of Leprosy by Jesus. One of them was a Gentile and the irony is that he was the only one who came back to thank Jesus for the healing Luke 17:11-19
Lk 17:11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
Lk 17:12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a]met him. They stood at a distance
Lk 17:13 And called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
Lk 17:14 When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.
Lk 17:15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.
Lk 17:16 He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
Lk 17:17 Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?
Lk 17:18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"
Lk 17:19 Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."
Jesus was also equally frank and forthright with the Jews
The bible also says in John 1:12-13
Jn 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name
Jn 1:12 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Which also means that any body who believes in Jesus will be a child of God irrespective of his being a Jew or a Gentile ant this also includes you Ahmed.
The arrival of Jesus is also mentioned in the Old Testament Bible in the book of Isaiah a Jewish prophet who was born 800 years before Jesus.
Isaiah 53: 1-12
Is. 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
Is. 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him.
Is. 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Is. 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Is. 53:5 But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Is. 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Is. 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Is. 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Is. 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither [was any] deceit in his mouth.
Is. 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Is. 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Is. 53:12 Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Whom are trying to deceive Akbar ? Where go you get these funny theories ? Next time please do your homework by reading the Holy Bible before you you post something ridiculous like this. You should read the bible properly instead of picking up bits and pieces from the Bible and trying to slander Christianity and spread lies. Paul was the true follower of Jesus and he died for his faith.
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