It would require a large volume to consider fully and properly the character and work of this apostle. We have only space to take a hasty glance at the subject. But even this, it is hoped, may prove useful to those who read it.
St. Paul spoke of himself as “the least of all the apostles.” I. Cor. xv: 9. It was natural and proper enough for him to think lowly of himself. But he stands alone in this opinion. Nobody agrees with him here. We all love to think and speak of him as—“the great apostle of the Gentiles.” When first converted, he began his ministry by preaching to his own countrymen, the Jews. But finding their prejudices against “Jesus of Nazareth,” were so strong that they would not listen to him, he changed his course and turned to the Gentiles. And well he may be called—“the great apostle.” He was great in every view we can take of him. Let us notice now, as briefly as we can, some of the elements of greatness about this apostle.
In the first place, he was great in the natural talents that it pleased God to give him. He had a stronger, clearer mind than any other of the apostles. He could take hold of the greatest subjects brought before him and handle them and master them with wonderful power. He had great reasoning powers. He could argue and reason about anything in the grandest way. And then he had great powers as a speaker. He was marvellously eloquent. See what an illustration we have of this in his famous speech on the top of Mar’s Hill, in the city of Athens, as we read it in Acts xvii: 16-32. We have another illustration of this in his speech before Agrippa, in Acts, twenty-sixth chapter. I would gladly give anything I have in the world to have enjoyed the privilege of hearing Paul deliver that speech. When Agrippa interrupted him by saying, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian;” only think how touching it must have been to see Paul lift up his chained hands towards heaven and say with the tenderest feeling—“I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am; except these bonds!”
The Church of Jesus Christ
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.—Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.—St. Matt. xviii: 20; xxviii: 20.
NOTE BY THE ARTIST
Yet this is not the close of the Great Story, and the painter’s work is incomplete unless he endeavors to visualise the Truth, that, as the Master has promised, his presence and his blessing are with his faithful worshipers even unto the end of the world. The picture represents no special people or period, and the Byzantine architecture most fitly symbolizes One, Universal Church, of which Jesus Christ is the Founder and the Head.
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He was great in his early opportunities. He was born at Tarsus, and had a better education than any of the other apostles. His family were well off. It is no argument against this to say that he was a tent-maker by trade. For it was customary among the Jews, even with the richest families, to teach their sons some useful trade. Paul went through the best schools that were to be had then. He had studied all about history, and philosophy, and poetry. And he was learned also in all matters concerning the religion of the Jews. He tells us himself that he was “brought up at the feet of Gamaliel”—who was, at that time, the most famous of all their teachers.