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NASB | Ephesians 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 4:12 [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God's people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church]; |
Bible Question: Why was Saul converted? |
Bible Answer: Thanks for your question, Vkilcrest. In Acts 9:15, our Lord spoke of Saul (later Paul the apostle) in a vision to Ananias, a disciple at Damascus, saying, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel." The literal meaning of the term "chosen vessel" is "a vessel of election." ..... Following Paul's salvation came the service for which he was divinely elected. Seamlessly Paul carried out his mission. His ministry began with his preaching to the Jews (Acts 13:14; 41:1; 17:1; 18:4; 19:8). And even though he routinely presented the gospel to the Jews first in the cities he visited, Christ listed Gentiles first in Acts 9:15, and Paul spoke of himself as the apostle to the Gentiles in Romans 11:13. Paul's divine calling also included ministry to kings, and we see this being carried out with Agrippa in Acts 25:23-26:32. And possibly with Caesar (see Acts 25:10-12). ...... Our Lord made another statement about Saul in His vision to Ananias. In the next verse, Acts 9:16, Jesus said, "For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake." And indeed the apostle Paul did suffer many things during his gospel ministry, a summary of which he gave in 1 Corinthians 11. Who among men has suffered so much and yet given so much for the cause of Christ as Paul? --Hank |