Saint Paul, a tireless apostle of the Word of God among the nations
Under the call of the "preacher of the truth" and the "teacher of nations", the Church of St.. Paul. God was gradually preparing him for the assignment, that he wanted to entrust to him. Saul, A Jew by birth, but a Roman citizen, he was born in Tarsus. And already in his childhood he got acquainted with the life of a big city. There was a lively intellectual and commercial movement in Tarsus. People of different nationalities moved through this city, from East and West. It aroused in the boy's sensitive soul interest in the wider world.
On the other hand, in a family environment, cultivating religious and national Jewish traditions, Saul learned to respect God's laws, trust in God's providence. He was eager to live according to God's commandments.
When he had 16 years, his parents sent him to Jerusalem, to the school of the most eminent scholar at the time, Rabbi Gamaliel. Here he got to know the Scriptures in depth., he fell in love with the law and native traditions ; he lived by the strictest principles of his religion. He persecuted Christians, until God instructed him, that he is doing wrong. On the way to Damascus, where he was going, to make arrests among the followers of Christ, he turned and believed in Christ, He spent three years in Arabia pondering the teachings of Christ. She ignited such great love for Jesus in Paul's heart, that he had devoted himself entirely to preaching the Gospel, mostly in pagan countries. To this end, he made three great missionary journeys.
During the first, in years 46-49, he set out from Antioch to Cyprus, and then he reached Southeast Asia Minor, Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Listry, Derbe and returned to Antioch. At the end 49 In the year Paul went to Jerusalem to meet the apostles for the first time. He set off from Jerusalem on his second missionary journey (51-54 r.). It led through Central Asia Minor to Troas, from where instructed by God (The Macedonian summoned him in a dream : "Come to our aid") he went via Macedonia to Greece, stopping in turn in Philippines, Thessalonica, Athens, Corinth, then he returned to Antioch by boat through Ephesus and Caesarea. On the third trip (54-58 r.) he spent a long time in Ephesus, then he visited Macedonia, Greece and returned via Miletus, Rhodes, Cyprus to Jerusalem. During his missionary journeys, Paul traveled over 20 thousand. km within 13 years.
He suffered a lot during his missionary journeys, and his life was at times in danger. Pia Górska in the book entitled. "Servants of God” this is how he writes about it :
“Saul went to the synagogue and began teaching the crowds. After his first words, the audience was overwhelmed by horror : he was talking about Christ !… He confessed the Gospel. There was no longer the "fierce Saul" in Damascus - but a Christian, fearless Apostle, ready to put his life at the service of the Lord… Midnight was getting closer. The blue dusk of a starry night lay over the dormant Damascus. Someone is knocking on Ananias' door… Speak, what happened and who you are… - I'm Jude, in whose house on Prosta Street you baptized Paweł three years ago… say, is it true, that you are hiding Paweł? Ananias shuddered. "Why are you asking that?" ?
- Because, that I want to save him… for a secret order had come from the king, to kill Paul… So you have to, to walk as quickly as possible, because they can catch him tonight… Paweł has to come out not only from this house, but from Damascus itself… - But how, when you know, that the gates are guarded day and night ?…
- We'll let him down the wall on a rope… There was a long whistle from the city side…
- For God's sake ! It is a signal, Ananias whispered. - Come on, soon, Paul ! You are already standing in the basket ? Well ! Now in the name of God, we let him down. The students grabbed the basket with Paweł cuddled inside it, they threw him towards the window, through which the black abyss of the heavens appeared, and they lowered him carefully. The Apostle is saved!" Another time : “The storm was fully raging in the Mediterranean Sea, and the ship, tossed by the wind, seemed to collapse every now and then under the pressure of the piled up snowmen… Terror seized everyone. Nobody thought about saving a life, they all waited with helpless despair… The ship will crash… or it will eventually sink into the abyss. Then Paweł, seeing travelers who are dead from fear, approached them, gave them spirit, comforted… providing, that they will not die (Dz 27, 25). The words of the captive, who so seldom meddled with travelers' affairs and conversations, spending time talking to God alone, calmed the travelers. After a while the storm and raging snowmen seemed to subside ".
Paul suffered a lot for Christ. He was stoned. A ship has crashed three times, on which it was swimming. But nothing could stop him : nor a prison, neither the rods nor the stoning, nor fear of death - he was ready to endure everything : dangers at sea, in the desert, persecution, hunger, diseases, cold and storms - as long as there are no obstacles to the Gospel of Christ (by. 2 Disease 4, 8-11. 24).
By 22 years he went from place to place teaching about Christ. He preached the Good News until his death. What distinguished this extraordinary man ? First of all, he was very hardworking. He devoted his days and nights to work - he did not want to be a burden to anyone. He compared himself to a feeder, who feeds her children, to my father, who exhorts and curses. He could be strict in the fight for truth and good, he strongly condemned the opponents of the Gospel - their perverse way of dealing. As a true apostle of the Good News, he preached Christ constantly on his travels, discussed, he argued. Everywhere, where has he been, Christian communities were established, and he himself, after putting them on, went on to sow the seeds of God's truth. He also found time, to write, or rather, to dictate letters to municipalities, which he assumed. He consistently and systematically carried out missions among the Gentiles, thanks to which people got to know the Church of Christ in many provinces of the Empire and believed in Jesus Christ.
What is the secret of Paul's success ? - You can answer briefly : in his collaboration with God. It was God who made him so zealous, selfless and completely devoted to Christ and His cause. He worked amid hardships and adversities as a servant of Christ with great patience, gentleness and love (by. 2 Disease 6, 4 n). He always remembered, that God himself is the source of conversion and sanctification, and he is only an instrument in his hand. He cannot oppose the appointment, which he received from God, cannot run away from him. He remembered that, that he does not preach himself, but "Christ Jesus as Lord" (by. 2 Disease 4, 2.5). The last years of Paul's apostolic work were in the heart of the ancient world - in Rome. These were years of suffering and torment. The Apostle knew, that he was going to die. Whether he stepped back or hesitated ? No. He undertook the journey, though he knew, that he will not come back from her. Trapped in Rome, he sensed his near end. This is what he wrote about it in his letter to Timothy : ,,… the moment of my separation has come. I did a good job, I have finished the run, I have kept my faith. Lastly, a wreath of justice was put aside for me, which the Lord will reward me on that day, the righteous judge " (2 Tm 4, 6-8).
We know from tradition, that Paul was probably beheaded with the sword in 67 year, on the road leading to Ostia and with his death for Christ, he sealed his long apostolic work.
Though many centuries have passed and so many events have taken place, about st. We still remember Paweł. We call him "the Apostle of the Nations", for he has done so much to spread the kingdom of God on earth.
Worth reading: St.. Paul – curriculum vitae