What do you remember about Paul from previous lessons?
- his name was changed from Saul
- Paul was called by the Lord to be a missionary and a special witness of Jesus Christ
- He spent the rest of his life in missionary service.
- The people and even the disciples didn’t really believe that he was converted at first – he had been completely against the preaching of the Gospel and have even seen one of the apostles, Stephen, killed.
When Paul was converted, only some of the Jews in Jerusalem and surrounding areas had heard about Jesus Christ.
Paul’s four missionary journeys took him to Jewish people and also to Gentiles (those who were not of the Jewish nationality) in many countries.
These Gentiles did not know about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. They worshiped false gods and idols.
Everywhere Paul went he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
This was Paul’s last visit to Jerusalem, and while he was there the Jews who did not believe in Jesus wanted to kill him.
Because he was a Roman citizen, he turned to Roman leaders in Jerusalem and Caesarea for protection. They protected him by making him a Roman prisoner and eventually sent him to Rome for trial.
Through all his trials, Paul took every opportunity to testify of Jesus Christ.
Questions
Why were the Jews angry with Paul? (Acts 22:17–21.) Everywhere Paul went he was testifying of Jesus. Prior to this, he had been as other Jews who didn’t believe in Jesus.
Why didn’t they kill Paul right away? (Acts 22:24, 29.) Paul was a Roman.
How did the Lord comfort Paul?
And the night following the aLord bstood by him, and said, Be of good ccheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at dRome.
How did Festus react to Paul’s testimony? (Acts 26:24.)
How did King Agrippa react? (Acts 26:28.)
What reasons might King Agrippa have had to not fully accept Paul’s testimony and become a Christian?
Fear of rejection from his counterparts in the government, fear of losing his position of power and authority…
What are some things that keep people from accepting the gospel today?
- Fear of rejection
- Fear of what others will think (family, friends, people of former faith)
- Fear of having to change habits and live up to covenants that don’t always seem easy
- Rumors people hear from other non-members that aren’t true
- Fear of changing their culture
My Thoughts
It’s so interesting to study this history of Paul the Missionary who was called to be a special witness of Christ. It’s especially interesting because of the experience I’ve had with Luke:
| King Agrippa | Luke |
| He listened to Paul | He’s communicated with me about beliefs in Jesus |
| He may have believed the words Paul shared | I’m not even sure if he really even read the words I shared with him about my beliefs in Jesus |
| After hearing the words of Paul, he said he “almost was convinced to be a Christian…” | Luke is very invested in his beliefs as an employee of a religious organization.
Luke’s family is all so “invested” in their religion too. Even if the things I shared touched his heart, it may be difficult for him to ever fully accept them. The positive thing is that Paul was possibly in a similar situation: he was preaching against the |
Quotes on Missionary Work from President Benson
“Primary boys, plan and look forward to serving a full-time mission for the Lord…” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1989, p. 104; or Ensign, May 1989, p. 82)
“Yes … prepare now [when you are nine, ten, or eleven]. Prepare yourselves physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. Always be obedient to authority. Start a savings account for your mission if you haven’t done so already. Pay your tithing, and seek a testimony of the gospel through study and prayer” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1985, p. 49; or Ensign, May 1985, p. 37).
What talents or abilities can you develop now that will help you be a better missionary for the Lord?
Why is it especially important to study the scriptures in preparation to teach the gospel?
From the talk “Waiting on the Road to Damascus” by President Uchtdorf
“The truth is, those who diligently seek to learn of Christ eventually will come to know Him.”
“To better hear His voice, it would be wise to turn down the volume control of the worldly noise in our lives. If we ignore or block out the promptings of the Spirit for whatever reason, they become less noticeable until we cannot hear them at all. Let us learn to hearken to the promptings of the Spirit and then be eager to heed them.”
“It has been my experience that some of the most powerful promptings we receive are not only for our own benefit but also for the benefit of others. If we are thinking only of ourselves, we may miss some of the most powerful spiritual experiences and profound revelations of our lives.”
“Often, the answer to our prayer does not come while we’re on our knees but while we’re on our feet serving the Lord and serving those around us. Selfless acts of service and consecration refine our spirits, remove the scales from our spiritual eyes, and open the windows of heaven. By becoming the answer to someone’s prayer, we often find the answer to our own.”
“The most effective way to preach the gospel is through example. If we live according to our beliefs, people will notice. If the countenance of Jesus Christ shines in our lives,10 if we are joyful and at peace with the world, people will want to know why. One of the greatest sermons ever pronounced on missionary work is this simple thought attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi: “Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words.”11 Opportunities to do so are all around us. Do not miss them by waiting too long on the road to Damascus.”
Hasta luego!
Nate
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