Acts 22:6,7
While I was
on my way to Damascus, suddenly a
bright light from heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground and I heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why
are you persecuting me?"
*although, not to beat a dead horse, it was Saul of Tarsus, on his way to kill Christians, who was converted. Granted, know-ing that he that strong willed, determined and pigheaded (read: resolute) I have not a single doubt that as St. Paul he also needed conversion throughout this life, as we all do. But this is the biggie.
St Peter was big buds with Jesus, was called by him and was with him at the most significant moments of Jesus’ adult life and ministry - the travels and the teaching the healing, the glory on the mountain, the agony in the garden, the passion, death, resurrection and ascension and at the coming of Jesus’ Spirit, (which is what identifies an apostle,) albeit with a major stumble of two along the way. (One of the things that I love the most about our source material - read Bible - it that it so readily acknowledges, even highlights, the ills we are all heir
to - fear, doubt, jealousy, hard heartedness, fatigue and discouragement, in-fighting, hard heartedness, doubt and betrayal. None of it is left out of glossed over. It is all redeemed.
On the other hand Saul/Paul, did not know Jesus while Jesus was alive. They never met until Jesus knocked Saul off his high horse (nothing less would have gotten his attention) demanding to know why he was persecuting him. “And who are you?” Saul asked. “I’m Jesus” he answered, “whom you are persecuting.” And so, blinded and led by the hand to he knew not where, began the major journey from persecutor of Jesus and his Way, to one who was given “the right
hand of friendship” by those same followers, to be-
come the Apostle to the Gentiles. If you ask
“Will wonders need cease?” the answer is no.
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