Colossians: Saul's story

Once there was a man named Saul who murdered those who followed Jesus. Saul went from village to village looking for Jesus followers, and when he found them, he dragged them out of their houses and arranged to have them stoned. Once when a famous Christian missionary was being stoned, Saul, held the robes of those who threw the stones that killed him. Saul hated the followers of Jesus and did everything that he could to stop them.

While he was traveling looking for Christians to imprison or kill, he decided to head to Damascus.

(Acts 9) 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
5 "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6 "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!"

 "Yes, Lord," he answered.
11 The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
13 "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

From this point on, Saul became known as Paul. Paul had caused many to suffer for their belief in Jesus, but none as much as he was to endure. God charged Paul with taking the Gospel to the furthest reaches of the world. Paul did this very successfully, but at great personal price. Later in Paul’s life, after he had done what God required of him, he wrote about his suffering to a church that he had cared for deeply. He wrote:

(2nd Corinthians 11:) “Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. … Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own people, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.”

Saul's dramatic conversion to Jesus, and his acceptance of the suffering of following Jesus changed the world. With great personal cost, he spread the truth about Jesus to the far reaches of the Roman world. While Jesus suffering on the cross made a way for all to be restored in their relationship with God, Paul's suffering ensured that everyone heard about the amazing God who loved his creation so much that he suffered for them.