Paul the Preacher (5th Sunday of Easter)

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This week’s Acts reading comes at the heels of St. Paul’s conversion, which is describe for us in Acts 9:1-20. In verses 21-25, we see how right after Saul¹ is baptized, he wastes no time in beginning to proclaim the same Messiah whom he formerly rejected, using his immense scriptural learning to bear in defending his newfound faith, to the astonishment and chagrin of his former colleagues.

Three years later (according to the chronology in Gal. 1:18), Saul comes to Jerusalem in order to meet with the apostles. What happened in the intervening period is unknown to us, but he probably spent that time reflecting upon his conversion and growing in understanding his newfound faith to ensure that he had an accurate knowledge of it. He is seen with suspicion by the disciples at first, which was understandable given his past as an enemy of the Christians. Perhaps they thought his conversion was insincere, or that he was there to spy upon the Jerusalem church. It is only after St. Barnabas speaks on his behalf that he is accepted as part of the community (in line with Barnabas’ reputation as the “son of encouragement”). He then proceeds to preach to the Hellenists in Jerusalem—the very same people who had stoned St. Stephen to death before him in Acts 6-7—showing how the evangelistic witness to that community could not be stopped even by the death of the first martyr.

Verse 31 summarizes the growth of the Church at this time, how believers came from throughout Palestine and walked in the fear of the Lord. The conversion of a notorious enemy of the faith no doubt spurred on greater missionary zeal, and caused many Jews who were otherwise suspicious of the Gospel to become receptive to it. This shows us how God can turn even a great persecutor into a great promoter, or a great sinner into a great saint, and advance His Kingdom through them. We should pray that God may raise us up to be like St. Paul, boldly proclaiming the Gospel to all around us and leading others to eternal life.

J. Luis Dizon

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