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The Beginning of Paul's Ministry

Prof. M. M. Ninan

Beginning of Ministry

“The builder and the Architect of the Church”Liturgy of St.Jacob

The Beginning of Paul's Ministry

Returned to Damascus (Gal. 1:17)

Returned to Damascus (Gal. 1:17)

Acts 9:19 – 25 baffled

the Jews living in Damascusby proving that

Jesus is the Christ

Preaches in the synagogues--Acts 9:20-22

Paul began to preach the gospel "boldly in the name of Jesus" (Acts 9:27),

Jews plotted to kill him.

Paul in Damascus

Jews plotted to kill him

Acts 9:25; 2 Cor. 11:33

Paul in Damascus

Jews plotted to kill him

Kanissat Bab Kisan is, in English, Chapel of St. Paul. It is a gate at the southeastern part of the Old City where, tradition says, Saul was lowered in a basket to escape the Nabatean governor.

Acts 9:20-31

The reference 2 Corinthians to Aretas, the Nabatean king, fixes the date of Saul’s conversion between 34 and 37 AD.

Inside the relatively small and simple church there are a couple of relief sculptures illustrating the two great

moments in the life of Paul.

Paul went to Jerusalem to meet the Apostles.(Acts 9:26).

Damascus

Jerusalem

Act 9:26 And when he had come to Jerusalem he attempted to join the disciples

Barnabas persuaded the Jerusalem community to accept Paul as a disciple. He preached boldly in Jerusalem. Act 9:27-29

Jew from the Island of Cyprus: Apostle Joseph, the Levite

uncle of John Mark (Col 4:10)

Clement of Alexandria (Titus Flavius Clemens)

and Eusebius of Caesarea

says that Barnabas

was one of the seventy Disciples

123 70 150

123 70 150

but Acts (4: 36-37) favours the opinion that he was converted to Christianity shortly after Pentecost (about A.D. 29 or 30) and immediately sold his property and devoted the proceeds to the Church.

Barnabas is traditionally considered the founder of the Cypriot church and to have been martyred at Salamis c. 61.

The ancient Cypriot Orthodox Church

is one of the sixteen independent ('autocephalous')

Eastern Orthodox churches,

The bishop of the capital, Salamis (Constantia),

was constituted metropolitan by Emperor Zeno,

with the title of archbishop.

This independent position by ancient custom was recognized, against the claims of the Patriarch of Antioch, at the Council of Ephesus (431 CE), and by an edict of the Byzantine emperor Zeno.

Some say he founded the see of Milan.

Tertullian says that Barnabas, not Paul, wrote

the epistle to the Hebrews

Paul preached in Jerusalem for three weeks and had to go away.

Galatians 1:18-20   Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days; but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord’s brother.

•Sts. Peter and Paul from the gravestone of the boy Asellus ---Christus Rex

•The Embrace of Sts. Peter and Paul in the Vatopedi Monastery, Mt. Athos

Peter and Paul shared their common experience.

James, brother of Jesus.The first bishop of Jerusalem.

Acts. 9:30 He now returned to his home in Tarsus (Gal. 1:21), where, for probably about three years, we lose sight of him.

Caesarea

Peter is

told of th

e

change of p

lanChurch

age

inaugurated

Cornelius of Caesarea

Acts 10:1-48

Meanwhile Paul poured into the scriptures.

Church center moves to Antioch. ACTS 11:19-26

Apostles send Barnabas to Antioch

Alalah, Antakieh, Antakya,                 Antioch by Daphne, Antiochea, Antiocheia, Antiochia, Haleb-al-Shabba,Poseidium, Seleucia, Theopolis

ANTIOCH

The neo-convert Saul is welcomed into the apostolic community (Acts 9:27).

Four years later Barnabas enlists the aid of Saul for the task of guiding and directing the newly established Christian community at Antioch (Acts 11:19-26),

                                                                                                                                                                

Barnabas brought Saul into Antiochian ministry. Act. 11:25 -

It was in Antioch, that believers were first called Christians.

Act. 12:26

Ignatius of Antioch Ignatius became Bishop of Antioch around AD 69. He was arrested by soldiers loyal to Emperor Trajan during a time when Christians were being actively persecuted. After his arrest, he was sent to Rome to be executed by means of wild beasts. As the legend is told, Ignatius's faith remained steadfast, as he continued to loudly call upon Jesus' name as he was being torn to pieces.

Antioch sends famine relief to Jerusalem in the hands of Barnabas and Paul.

Act 12:27-30

The Apostle PaulA.D. 5 Born in TarsusA.D. 35 Converted on the road to DamascusA.D. 35-38 Ministers in Arabia and Damascus (Gal. 1:17)A.D. 38 Visits Jerusalem (Gal. 1:18)A.D. 38-43 Ministers in Syria and Tarsus (Gal. 1:21)A.D. 43-46 Serves in Antioch with Barnabas