12 Apostles
Jesus Christ carefully chose his twelve apostles when he started his earthly ministry. The word "carefully" might not be a proper expression. He prayed all night before he appointed them. Their names are as important as the names of twelve tribes of Israel. Their names are written on the twelve foundational stones of the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven, while the names of twelve tribes are written above the twelve doors of the city. Acts 9:15 says that the Lord Jesus had chosen Paul as an apostle ahead of time, as Paul mentions in Gal 1:15. In fact, it is unimaginable that it was not planned ahead because Jesus talked about estimating the cost before construction in Luke 14:26-33. Before his conversion, Paul, who was an expert of the
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The Lord did not stop Paul when he was persecuting the Christians in Jerusalem and even killed Stephen. He let Paul come to Damascus with the authority to bind and bring Christians to Jerusalem. Sometimes, the Lord miraculously saves some from persecution or tribulation as he took Peter out of the prison, and other times he does not stop Christians from being martyred as with the Apostle James and Stephen. When Jesus announced his coming passion to the disciples and Peter was against the idea, his word to Peter, "you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns,” reveals that his focus is in fulfilling God's will to save people from sin and death. And as he taught the disciples not to be afraid of "those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul," he sometimes does not save Christians from persecution. Jesus has still acted at "his hour" according to the Father's will.
When Jesus appeared to Paul, he simply asked why Paul persecuted him. It does not sound like a severe rebuke but a weak victim's cry. Jesus was gentle in dealing with Paul. After the encounter with Jesus, Paul was led into the city of Damascus and waited for instructions about what to do. Paul fasted for three days and nights, and Jesus told Ananias that Paul was praying. The Lord listened to his prayer. Before Paul was working for him, the Lord cared for him tenderly and closely. The Lord is such a good
The Lord did not stop Paul when he was persecuting the Christians in Jerusalem and even killed Stephen. He let Paul come to Damascus with the authority to bind and bring Christians to Jerusalem. Sometimes, the Lord miraculously saves some from persecution or tribulation as he took Peter out of the prison, and other times he does not stop Christians from being martyred as with the Apostle James and Stephen. When Jesus announced his coming passion to the disciples and Peter was against the idea, his word to Peter, "you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns,” reveals that his focus is in fulfilling God's will to save people from sin and death. And as he taught the disciples not to be afraid of "those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul," he sometimes does not save Christians from persecution. Jesus has still acted at "his hour" according to the Father's will.
When Jesus appeared to Paul, he simply asked why Paul persecuted him. It does not sound like a severe rebuke but a weak victim's cry. Jesus was gentle in dealing with Paul. After the encounter with Jesus, Paul was led into the city of Damascus and waited for instructions about what to do. Paul fasted for three days and nights, and Jesus told Ananias that Paul was praying. The Lord listened to his prayer. Before Paul was working for him, the Lord cared for him tenderly and closely. The Lord is such a good