Finish Well

Paul was very zealous for Judaism.

Gal 1:14

I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

Also remember what we read in Phil 3:5 where Paul expounds on being a Pharisee and Hebrew of Hebrews.

Paul used his strict Pharisaical background.

Acts 23:6

Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead."

We read in Acts 22:3 that Paul trained under Gamaliel, but who was Gamaliel?

Acts 5:34

But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.

We know that he had a sister in Jerusalem when the Jews plotted to kill him.

Acts 23:16

But when the son of Paul's sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

Paul may have been married.

1 Cor 9:1-6 The rights of an apostle.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? {2} Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. {3} This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. {4} Don't we have the right to food and drink? {5} Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas ? {6} Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living?

Paul was a member of the Jewish council.

Acts 26:10

And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.

2. A chronology of major events in Paul's life

We begin with Paul's (Saul's) persecution of every Christian he could find.

Acts 6:15-7:3 - Stephen condemns the Jewish religious leaders (but not Judaism):

All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. [A display of Supernatural Radiance] {7:1} Then the high priest asked him, "Are these charges true?" {2} To this he replied: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. {3} 'Leave your country and your people,' God said, 'and go to the land I will show you.'.....

And Stephen describes the experiences of the Patriarchs and Joseph and Moses and David and Solomon and the building of the temple.

Skipping to verse 48:

Acts 7:48-53

"However,