Paul Defends His Apostleship
11 Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by
me is not based on human thought.[a] 12 For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not
taught it, but it came by a revelation from Jesus Christ.
13 For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I
persecuted God’s church to an extreme degree and tried to destroy it.14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries
among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my
ancestors. 15 But when
God, who from my birth set me apart and called me by His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me, so that I could preach
Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.[b] 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who had become apostles
before me; instead I went to Arabia and came back to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to get to
know Cephas,[c] and I stayed with him 15 days. 19 But I didn’t see any of the other apostles except
James, the Lord’s brother. 20 Now I am not lying in what I write to you. God is my witness.[d]
21 Afterward, I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 I remained personally unknown to the Judean
churches in Christ; 23 they
simply kept hearing: “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith he
once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.
Questions:
- What
was the gospel (good news) that was revealed to Paul by Jesus Christ?
A: The
good news was/is that God sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins so that we
could become part of his family and live forever by his grace, not by our good
works.
2.
What “former way of life” was Paul referring to in verses 13-14?
A: Paul’s
former way of life was advancing in Jewish religion trying to earn eternal life
by following the rules of his religion, Paul persecute Christians and tried to
destroy Christian churches.
3.
Though God did not reveal his son Jesus to Paul, until Paul was an
adult, according to verse 15, when did God set Paul apart and call him by his
grace?
A: God
set Paul apart from his birth.
4.
What was Paul’s way of life way of life after God revealed
Jesus to him?
A: After
Jesus was revealed to Paul he preached the good news to Gentiles(non-Jews) and
eventually got to know the Jewish Christian leaders like Cephas/Peter and
James.
5.
What was it about Paul’s testimony that caused the Judean churches to glorify
God?
A:
Hearing that the one who formerly persecuted christians was now preaching about
Jesus.
Dear God,
Thank you for our leaders and Mr. Alfaro, Mrs. Drake, and Mr. Beaty. Help all
the athletes do well and help everyone do good on their tests. Help us be
lights on our campus and introduce others to you. Thank you for this day and
for thank you for Mrs. Torosian letting us have FCA. Help us to glorify you in
everything we do.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Summary
The bible is not based on
human thought, but it is God speaking through apostles who wrote the bible.
Paul used to persecute God’s church, but then God showed his light through Saul
who then became Paul. Paul then began to preach among the Gentiles about God,
Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Good Word. Then Paul went to the Judean
churches in Christ and kept saying “he who formerly persecuted us now preaches
the faith ha once tried to destroy.” The churches soon glorified God because of
Paul who used to persecute Christians and God’s church.
