Video Transcript: Tarsus

Tarsus, best known as the home of the apostle Paul was the capital of the  ancient province of Cilicia. And it is located near the eastern Mediterranean  coast of Turkey, a city renowned in antiquity as the center of culture and  learning. Tarsus was visited by such figures as Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and  Cleopatra. Recent excavations have uncovered more remains of the city from  Hellenistic and Roman times, including a paved colonnaded Street, just on the  edge of the Old City, are the Ruins of St. Paul's house. And supposed  birthplace, which can be viewed underneath sheets of Plexiglas. A well known  as St. Paul's well stands just beyond the traces of the house. Legend says that  the apostle Paul often drank from this well, and you can drink from its water  even today. Come with me on a journey, the quest for answers, looking for the  first followers of Christ in Turkey. Situated today 16 kilometers inland from the  Mediterranean Sea. Tarsus was a sea port in the time of Paul, because the  Cydnus River which flowed through the city on the way to the Mediterranean,  was navigable and ships could sail up the Cydnus from the sea to Tarsus. In the  middle of a traffic circle in Tarsus On The Road to Mersin, is a Roman gate  called Cleopatra's gate. North of the gate in the Kapisi district of the city, is the  so called St. Paul's Well, tradition claims that it has special curative powers. The well which is claimed to be over 30 meters deep, is supposedly located where  St. Paul's house once stood. Although there is no historical basis for these  claims. The well does apparently date back to Roman times. archaeologists  have uncovered Roman pavement about one meter below the current ground  level. A little further north in the city. On the opposite side of the road to Mersin,  is the Makam Camii. Islamic legend claims that near this mosque is buried the  body of the prophet Daniel from the Old Testament, the main character in the  book of Daniel, who was carried away into Babylon as one of the exiles. A  funerary monument in the mosque just behind me is supposedly the tomb of  Daniel. There are no doubts that Tarsus is best known as the birthplace of Paul,  the apostle. For more than a century some scholars have claimed that Paul  should be understood as the second founder of Christianity. What they mean is  that Christianity is more than just the religion that Jesus preached. It is also the  religion that preaches about Jesus, and more than any other person, it was the  Apostle Paul who shifted the focus of the religion, from the proclamation of  Jesus to the proclamation about Jesus. One could in fact, make a case that  without Paul, Christianity, as we know it today would never have been possible.  In the Western world, which continues to be nominally at least Christian would  never have adopted this faith, and would have remained firmly committed to the  various polytheistic religions of the Roman Empire. Let's embark on a brief  historical journey into Paul's life. During the closing years of Caesar Augustus's  reign, a boy was born to a Jewish family in Tarsus, the capital of the Roman  province of Cilicia. In modern day Turkey, the family traced his descent from the  tribe of Benjamin, and they named their son after the most illustrious member in 

their family's history, Saul the first king of Israel. As a Roman citizen. The boy  had three names by one of them, he became famous. Paul. Paul grew up in the  prosperous metropolis of Tarsus, a city noted for its philosophy science,  education and culture, a culture in which there was a mingling of Greek, Roman  and Jewish elements. Industries in Tarsus included weaving and tent making a  craft Saul would use later to subsidize his travels. In his writings, we find  reflections of sights and scenes in Tarsus when he was a lad. In sharp contrast  with the Rural illustrations of Jesus, the metaphors of Paul sprang from city life.  Although born in Tarsus, Paul testified to the Jews in Jerusalem, that he had  been brought up in the city at the feet of Gamaliel. It is not clear when Paul was  first brought to Jerusalem, but it's likely that sometime between the ages of 13  and 20, he began his formal rabbinical studies. His teacher, Gamaliel, was the  grandson of Hillel, who became the Pharisaic school whose teachings run  through the writings of the Talmud to this day. This is the same Gamaliel whose  reason persuaded the Sanhedrin to spare the lives of Peter and the apostles.  No doubt. It was while studying under Gamaliel and Hillel school that Paul  began to advance in Judaism beyond many Jews of his own age, and became  extremely zealous for the traditions of his father's. However, Saul did not adopt  his teachers' moderation, especially towards members of this messianic sect.  Saul joined the growing number of Jewish leaders who steadily harassed and  even killed followers of the way as it was called, during one meeting of the  Sanhedrin, a follower of the way, Stephen, appeared before the council. His  replies infuriated the members of the Sanhedrin, who began taking off their  cloaks and picking up rocks. Saul volunteered to watch their cloaks as they  pummeled Stephen to death. Harassment of the way now intensified, and so  secured official papers from Jerusalem high priest, requesting that the mosque  or synagogue extradite members of the way to Jerusalem for trial. On his way to Damascus, however, Saul's plans and his life were changed. About noon as  Saul and his group near Damascus, a bright light flashed around them, Saul fell  to the ground and he heard a voice, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? He  was mystified. Who are you, Lord, he asked, not knowing what had thrown him  to the ground. Then he heard, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get  up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do. Saul's traveling  companions had seen the light, and they heard the noises, but they couldn't  make sense of it. As they helped Saul up they discovered that he couldn't see at all. They had to lead him by hand the rest of the way into Damascus. Saul didn't  eat or drink for three days, though it's not clear whether this was a self imposed  fast or the result of trauma. On one of those days, he experienced another  vision in which a man came to him and laid hands on him in prayer. The vision  came true. A man named Ananias came and prayed for Saul. That's when, as  the historian Luke put it, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes. Saul  received not only his physical eyesight, but a new spiritual outlook as well. He 

was convinced that Jesus the executed Nazarene, itinerant was alive and calling him to special service. Astonishingly, Saul, a devout Jew, now believed his life  mission was to talk about Jesus to non Jews. Saul submitted to baptism, the rite of initiation for followers of the way. He then disappeared into Arabia for three  years, from about AD 33 to 36, where he went, and what he did remains a  mystery. But during this time, he received revelations. He said Jesus came to  him and taught him a message of forgiveness, and salvation through faith. Saul  decided to visit the leaders of the way in Jerusalem, especially Peter and  James. And despite his dramatic turnaround, Saul remained unknown and  distrusted by adherents of the way in Judea. Rumors circulated that Saul's  conversion was a fake, a clever trick to ferret out more Christ followers to put in  jail. Joseph of Cyprus, known as Barnabas, gained a welcome for Saul by  introducing him to the church. During his years, Saul's life was in real danger.  On two occasions, devout Jews, perhaps former colleagues, tried to murder him in order to save his life. Saul returned to his hometown. He stayed in and around Tarsus for the next decade. By the middle of the first century, the way that  spread north to Antioch in Syria, its members, many of whom were Greeks, non  Jews, had become known as Christians Barnabas, one of the leaders traveled  to Tarsus to get Saul. Together, they spent a year teaching converts right here.  The leaders apparently impressed with Saul and Barnabas work with Greek  converts, determined that these two should take the Christian message to  Cyprus and Asia Minor. So they departed on what has become known as Paul's  first missionary journey. several aspects of this trip deserve special note first,  Saul began using his Roman name, Paul. Second. Early on, perhaps on Cyprus, Paul became the leader of the mission. Luke, who chronicled their journey no  longer writes of Barnabas and Paul, but of Paul and Barnabas. Finally, on this  journey, Paul's missionary style blossomed, particularly his drive to win followers for Jesus Christ, and his willingness to cross political, cultural and religious  barriers to do so. He came back to Antioch, and from there went to Jerusalem  from what is known as the Council of Jerusalem to discuss a major theological  issue. From the council, a decree was issued stating that Gentile Christians did  not have to observe the Mosaic Law of the Jews. With this issue settled, Paul  invited Barnabas on another journey to see how their new converts were faring.  Barnabas insisted on taking John Mark, an early Companion of the first journey,  but Paul balked, John Mark had deserted them on their first mission trip, and  that insisted Paul disqualified him. Paul and Barnabas argue sharply, and they  parted their ways. Barnabas and John Mark sailed to Cyprus, Paul took a new  partner, Silas, and went through Syria and Cilicia delivering the news about the  Jerusalem Council, Paul and Silas now began what is termed Paul's second  missionary journey. Along the way, Paul picked up a convert named Timothy.  Later, Luke, a Greek physician, who wrote a history of the movement also joined the group. On his second mission trip, Paul founded churches in Philippi, 

Thessalonica and Berea, among other places. Paul's longest stay on his second trip was in the large commercial city of Corinth, where mistreatment by the Jews in the synagogue again led him to begin work among Greeks. During Paul's 18  months of ministry in Corinth, from AD 50-52, a dynamic new church was born.  

Paul returned once again to this city, Antioch. Then he started out on his third  missionary journey, he settled down in Ephesus for more than two years. Then  he was off to Jerusalem. In part, he wanted to deliver a famine relief fund. He  had been collecting from Gentile churches for Jerusalem Christians, to show  them the solidarity of Christians elsewhere. But Paul was a realist, and he  recognized his reputation among Jews in Judea, would likely lead to more  persecution and perhaps arrest. When his friends tearfully tried to dissuade him, he forged ahead. He said he felt compelled by the Spirit to go so that he could  complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me the task of testifying to the  gospel of God's grace. After delay, due mostly to another plot against his life,  Paul and his companions arrived in Jerusalem and about AD 57. When in  Jerusalem, Paul was seized and the Jewish leaders were about to kill him when  Roman troops showed up, arrested Paul and chained him. For the next few  years he was dragged before one Roman official after another. Later at his  request, he was brought to Rome. As with most incidents in Paul's life, even the journey to Rome was not uneventful. After a delay of three months in the spring  of AD 60, Paul and his guard finally reached Italy. In Rome, Paul was put under  house arrest but he invited Jews to come to his rented home and And he  debated with them. As usual when they stopped giving him an ear, Paul turned  his message to the Romans. For two years he continued teaching any who  visited. We do not know the results of Paul's legal hearing, which probably took  place in AD 62 early Christian tradition indicates that he was martyred by the  sword during Nero's persecution in July of 64 AD. Still, Paul had carried his  message to people of many religions and cultures, PT Forsythe once said, You  must live with people to know their problems, and live with God in order to solve  them. Paul networked an entire empire in life and by letter, sharing his soul and  Christ's message with Jew and Greek bond and free male and female. He once  said, I have become all things to all men that I might win some it's clear that  nobody has ever done it better. God selected a man who had a strong hatred for all that Jesus stood for, to spread the message of Jesus across the Middle East  and parts of Europe. Certainly, our Lord works in mysterious ways. Paul was a  powerful instrument in God's hands. Paul's influence on Christianity, and indeed  on the world of history can be seen at at least five areas. Firstly, through  persecution. The fact is, persecution helped spread the word of God through out the Roman Empire. Shortly after Saul approved of Stephen's stoning and death,  there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem.  And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria,  except the apostles. So what about those Christians who escaped and were 

scattered about? The Bible says, Those who are scattered went about  preaching the Word. The very thing that the Jewish religious leaders were trying  to eliminate by persecuting them, and even murdering them, caused the church  to spread far and wide. Thus, Paul, prior to conversion, was actually helping  spread the gospel by his trying to destroy it. But you can't destroy what Jesus  said the gates of hell would not prevail against. Secondly, Paul's influence on  Christianity can be seen through his missions. God told Ananias to go and seek  Saul, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the  Gentiles, and kings and the children of Israel. This was Paul's mission. Paul  himself said, I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has  already been named. But those who have never been told of him will see and  those who have never heard will understand. It's not as if Paul had a choice in  the matter. He said, For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach  the gospel. Paul's experience was similar to the apostles Peter and John who  declared, We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. The apostle  Paul said that God commanded him go for I will send you far away to the  Gentiles. There was no plan B for Paul. Thirdly, the apostle Paul spread the  good news through the written Word through his letters, which later became  canonized and are now part of the New Testament. The main point is All  Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for  correction, and for training in righteousness. The apostle Peter later added that  no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation, for no  prophecy was ever produced by the will of man. But men spoke from God as  they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. So the Bible wasn't a product of man,  but of God Himself. When Paul spoke the word of God, he often quoted Old  Testament scripture, because that was all that they had at the time. But to say  that the Bible was a product of man is like saying this script is a product of my  keyboard. Yes, I had to use my keyboard to type it but the keyboard had to be  moved along with my mind telling my fingers what to type. So it's foolish to  believe this script is a product of my keyboard. I am the one who wrote it, not my keyboard itself. Fourthly, Paul's influence on Christianity can be seen through  the power of God's Spirit. God used Paul to influence the culture of his day. The  many letters Paul wrote, which we find in the New Testament, were all written  under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Paul could have done nothing without  Christ and his spirit. So unless the Spirit of God moves the people of God to  understand the word of God, there would be no children of God. The Apostle  knew that the word of God had power. He wrote, I am not ashamed of the  gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the  Jew first and also to the Greek. For the word of the cross is folly to those who  are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. What Paul  wrote is similar to what God had said through the prophet Isaiah many years  before, my word that goes out from my mouth, it shall not return to me empty, 

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in the thing for  which I sent it. Finally, Paul's influence of Christianity can be seen through his  life in dedication, there is much we can learn from the life of the apostle Paul, far from ordinary, Paul was given the opportunity to do extraordinary things for the  kingdom of God. The story of Paul is a story of redemption in Jesus Christ, in a  testimony that no one is beyond the saving grace of the Lord. The remarkable  story of Paul repeats itself every day, as sinful, broken people all over the world  are transformed by God's saving grace and Jesus Christ. We learned from the  life of Paul that anyone can be a humble, powerful witness for Jesus Christ.  Another lesson is that anyone can surrender completely to God. The other day, I came across a description that could be mine. I have never written a New York  Times bestseller, and no one has publicly endorsed recommended or vouched.  For me, I don't speak on any circuits and have given no TED Talks. No buildings, streets or hospitals have been named in my honor. I have an unimpressive  family background and do not come from a long line of important people. And  that is okay, really is just fine. Why? God is utterly unimpressed by my resume.  God scoffs at any attempt by me or you to prove our worthiness. Our  accomplishments do not justify our existence. Our accolades cannot merit us  any greatness. God is unimpressed by our collection of readers likes retweets,  friends, connections, or admirers. The reality is that God uses ordinary people in extraordinary ways for His glory. God deliberately chooses imperfect vessels,  those who have been wounded those with physical or emotional limitations.  Then he prepares them to serve and he sends them out with their weaknesses  still evident, so that his strength can be made perfect in those weaknesses. God used Peter who had a temper Rahab who was a prostitute, David who had an  affair, God use Noah who got drunk Sarah who was impatient Elijah who was  depressed. God used Abraham who was old Ruth who was a foreigner, Paul  who was a murderer in the same way that God used all those and many others  he can and wants to use you. He is inviting you to be his hands his feet, his  mouth to the world because God doesn't call the qualified he qualifies the called. What will be your answer? (Song) You haven't realized the mission of Christ.  What he expects of you. once again to remind you of the message, so that you  may be living servant, a reflection of His life. freeing the living water flowing for  others to the answer for some Are you they knew enough your heart into sight  love to be the God the ruler of your chance to the world in me to live our mission is to be be more with Christ and we the brand freeing the living water flowing for  others seeking at the end of time will come when God becomes a living the Holy Spirit are you you the answer we seeking. Let's pray Our Father and our God,  we praise You today because you are faithful. We thank you for the life of the  apostle Paul, the incredible ways in which you used him. And Father, we believe that in the same way you want to use us, your people, to do great things for you  in these days, we need your spirit. We pray that you would work in us through us

and in spite of us, but that you would accomplish your will in these days. God we are your hands, your feet, your voice to the world. We pray that you will be  honored in your church. And then as we give ourselves to you unreservedly this  day that you for Your glory would use even us. We pray it in Jesus name. Dear  friend, thank you so much for watching us today. Don't forget to share with your  friends and relatives. The quest for answers looking for the first followers of  Christ here in Turkey, please visit our website. On our website. You can leave us a message, your prayer requests and order a copy of today's show for the  complete series. If you feel moved to support our ministry, you can make your  donation on our website as well. I hope to see you soon