Saul the Persecutor

Saul was born in the city of Tarsus. Eventually, he relocated to Jerusalem where he studied under Gamaliel and became a Pharisee. None of the apostles were Old Testament scholars; yet Jesus wanted a man that had not only mastered the Old Testament, but was also knowledgeable of the Talmud and the Kabbalah.

It is likely that Saul was one of the men that debated Stephen because he was present at the stoning of the deacon and developed a strong hate for the followers of Jesus. God also created Saul of Tarsus to be the instrument that would scatter the early church, and after his conversion, he would go on to set forth the doctrine of Jesus that continues to the present day.

Saul was chosen vessel from the womb; however, the process of becoming a scholar, persecutor, and finally an apostle and champion of the gospel is perplexing until you realize that God is operating on a higher plane of existence and His ways are not our ways.