The conversion of St. Paul
The martyrdom of St. Stephen was the signal for a concerted and
widespread persecution of the Church: “And on that day a great persecution
arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered
throughout the region of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.”
While Rome ruled Jerusalem, the Jews themselves could not carry out the
death penalty, thus inhibiting their efforts to destroy the “sect of the
Nazarene.” However, unexpectedly, there would open a brief window of
opportunity. The Emperor Tiberius died in 37 AD and his successor,
Caligula, had yet to appoint a replacement for the Governor, Pontius Pilate.
Further, the lacuna in Roman governorship would enable the Jewish leaders
to extend their planned persecution against Christians living immediately
outside Judea.
One Jewish Christian community to be targeted was the Church in
Damascus, Syria. No ordinary Jew could be trusted for such an important
mission. So the High Priest granted Saul, otherwise known in Greek as
Paul, the necessary letters of authority. Paul was of the tribe of Benjamin
but a native of Hellenistic Tarsus in Cilicia and a Roman citizen. He was
present at the martyrdom of St. Stephen and watched with great approval.
He was the “Pharisee of Pharisees” having studied under Gamaliel, and
fervently and honestly abhorred the followers of the Nazarene as enemies
of God and destroyers of the Jewish Law. He had already zealously sought
them out in Jerusalem and volunteered to pursue the fugitives who had
escaped to Syria. In mid 37 AD, Paul set forth along the road to Damascus,
“breathing out threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord.” The
Acts of the Apostles relates what happened next:
“Now as he journeyed he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light
from heaven flashed about him. And he fell to the ground and heard a
voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ And he
said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ and he said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are
persecuting; but arise and enter the city, and you will be told what
you are to do’” (9, 3-6).
Paul could both hear and see Jesus; his traveling companions could only
hear Him. Paul was brought to a house in Damascus on Straight Street and
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