Saul persecuted the church . Don’t do same.

Saul persecuted the church, don’t do same. 

Acts  8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.  8:2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.  8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Saul prior to his conversion did great havoc against the church. 

Acts  7:58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.

Acts  9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,  9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.  9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:  9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?  9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Acts  22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.  22:4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

After his conversion, he became Paul and laboured more abundantly than any one in the new testament. 

Acts  26:9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.  26:10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.  26:11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

1 Corinthians  15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.  15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Galatians  1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

1 Timothy  1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

Galatians  1:21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;  1:22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:  1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.  1:24 And they glorified God in me.

He is now in heaven with Christ, wearing the crown of righteousness. 

2 Timothy  4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Praise the Lord, you too have been converted. Live and labour for Him till He comes.

2 Corinthians  5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:  5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Let us pray.