In the first century
a Jew was born in this
00:01:36.34\00:01:38.52
city, who was
destined to blaze across the
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Roman world proclaiming
the everlasting Gospel.
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From Jerusalem to
Rome and possibly even
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to the gates of
Hercules, this fatigueless
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traveler proclaim
that Jesus Christ was Lord.
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He traveled more
miles in the first century
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than most Americans
traveled in the 20th
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century and yet he
was not an explorer,
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or geographer, or
politician, he was an
00:02:05.60\00:02:08.62
Apostle. He was one
sent forth to proclaim
00:02:08.63\00:02:12.80
the good news that
Jesus Christ was Lord.
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The New Testament
registers over 13,000
00:02:17.57\00:02:21.14
miles that he
traveled, visiting many of the
00:02:21.15\00:02:24.76
cities, towns and
villages of the Roman Empire.
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In this fascinating
series in the Footsteps of
00:02:29.53\00:02:33.03
Paul, we will trace his
journey through the Roman
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world. We will seek to
understand the cultural
00:02:37.33\00:02:41.03
context and the
historical setting of the world
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in which he traveled,
and then to understand
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the message he
communicated. We begin in
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Tarsus where he
was born and spend his
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early childhood,
then we will travel to
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Jerusalem where he
was schooled at the feet
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of one of the
greatest rabbis of the age.
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From the Holy City we
will follow his footsteps
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up to Jordan Valley
and over the Golan Heights
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to Damascus
where he was converted.
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From the world's
oldest continually inhabited
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city, we'll travel
to Antakya, queen of the
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east and third largest
city of the Roman world.
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This is where the
followers of Jesus were
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first called
Christians, and it was from this
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Church that Paul was
sent out as a missionary.
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From Antakya we will
trace his footsteps to the
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Roman province of
Asia, visiting some of the
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greatest cities of the
day, from the shores of
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the Aegean; he saw
vision of a man for
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Macedonia
calling him to come over.
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We will follow his
journey to the port of
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Neapolis where he
first brought the Gospel
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to Europe, and then
walk the Roman road out
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to Philippi where
he founded a Church.
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He was strangely
rewarded for delivering a
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demon possessed
girl here by being deacon
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and thrown into
prison. Ultimately Paul's
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ministry in Europe
led him into Athens,
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the philosophical
center of the world.
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Here he proclaim
Jesus before some of the
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greatest mines in the
world are Mars Hill or
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the Areopagus. One
philosopher accepted the
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Gospel and became a believer.
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Paul would return to
Jerusalem where he would
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be arrested, and sent
for trial before seizure.
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Our series will
conclude in Rome where he
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will be tried and
ultimately beheaded.
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This will be an
enriching and unforgettable
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experience as we
trace the journeys of
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Paul on the screen
and in your syllabus.
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And by applying the
lessons of faith from
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Paul's life in the
first century to ours in the
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21st century, our
faith will grow and deepen.
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In this first chapter
in the series we will begin
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here in Tarsus, the
place where Paul was
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born seeking to
understand his roots,
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and what qualified
him to become the Apostle
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to the Gentiles. By
God's providence his
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family heritage,
his education, and his
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culture all converts
together to equip him
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with a special
understanding of the
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Roman world and grant
him special privileges
00:05:17.42\00:05:21.19
to travel throughout the empire.
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When we first
encounter Paul in the Book
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of Acts, he is not
called Paul at all;
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he is referred to by
his Hebrew name Saul.
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Now, if you were
name your son after one
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of Israel's kings you
will probably name him
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David not Saul. Why
would they name their
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child Saul instead of
one of the moral lustrous
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kings like David,
because Saul was not from
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the tribe of Judah
like Jesus or David,
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and instead he was
from the tribe of Benjamin.
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Let me read to you
a fascinating insight
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about his
background found in Philippians
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chapter 3 and verse
3: "For it is we who
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are the circumcision,
we who worship by the
00:06:04.09\00:06:06.38
Spirit of God, who
glory in Christ Jesus,
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and who put no
confidence in the flesh,
00:06:09.19\00:06:11.29
though I myself
have reasons for such
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confidence. If
anyone thinks he has reasons
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to put confidence in
the flesh, I have more:
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circumcised on the
eighth day, of the people
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of Israel, of the
tribe of Benjamin,
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a Hebrew of
Hebrews; in regard to the law
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of Pharisee; as for
zeal, persecuting the church;
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as for legalistic
righteousness, faultless.
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Not only was Saul an
Israelite he was a Jew,
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born of the tribe of
Benjamin, circumcised on
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the eighth day
according to the custom
00:06:43.29\00:06:45.32
of Moses. He was
a son of a Pharisee,
00:06:45.33\00:06:49.64
now the Pharisees
were the Hasidim that
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is the pious ones.
Their modern counterparts
00:06:52.57\00:06:56.56
can be seen today
worshiping at the Western
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Wall in Jerusalem or
walking the streets of
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New York, and Los
Angeles. Their numbers
00:07:01.49\00:07:04.29
never exceeded 6000
in New Testament times.
00:07:04.30\00:07:07.43
They meticulously
attempted to obey all of
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the details of God's
law, living out the Torah
00:07:11.01\00:07:14.88
in every detail of
their lives. Saul noted the
00:07:14.89\00:07:20.02
learning thread that
Christianity brought to
00:07:20.03\00:07:22.92
Judaism. And he
attempted to counter that
00:07:22.93\00:07:25.93
thread by public
debate and ultimately by
00:07:25.94\00:07:29.70
persecuting the
believers. Yes, Saul was
00:07:29.90\00:07:33.53
Jewish through-and-
through. His pedigree
00:07:33.54\00:07:36.99
was impeccable. His
knowledge of the Hebrew
00:07:37.31\00:07:40.44
scripture is
extensive. His love for the
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traditions of
their fathers complete.
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This was the man who
was destined to become
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the mighty Apostle
Paul, but as Jewish
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background alone
could not prepare him to
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become the
Apostle to the Gentiles.
00:07:56.16\00:07:58.79
You see a Pharisee's
perspective was far to
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narrow, it was too
centered in Palestine.
00:08:02.43\00:08:05.61
And so, God
chose Saul, not Saul,
00:08:06.19\00:08:09.67
the Pharisee from
Jerusalem, but Saul of
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Tarsus. We read in
Acts chapter 21 verse 39:
00:08:12.61\00:08:16.75
"I am a Jew, from
Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen
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of no ordinary
city." Yes, Saul was born
00:08:21.11\00:08:24.62
here in Tarsus, which
was the capital of the
00:08:24.63\00:08:27.62
Roman providence of Cilicia.
00:08:27.63\00:08:30.38
And we might wonder, what was an
00:08:30.73\00:08:32.58
observant Jewish
family doing here,
00:08:32.59\00:08:35.40
some 500 miles from Jerusalem.
00:08:35.60\00:08:37.83
According to tradition,
Saul's family migrated
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from upper Galilee to
this area, sometime before
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the birth of Jesus.
We do know that Saul's
00:08:47.55\00:08:51.16
father received his
citizenship from Rome,
00:08:51.33\00:08:54.30
so that this man
was born free as a Roman
00:08:54.61\00:08:58.94
citizen, this granted
him special privileges.
00:08:58.95\00:09:02.74
Yes, Saul says, I
was a Jew from Tarsus in
00:09:03.25\00:09:07.66
Cilicia, a citizen
of no ordinary city.
00:09:07.67\00:09:11.41
Tarsus claim to fame,
what is unique geographical
00:09:17.01\00:09:20.59
setting. It was
located on the Cydnus River
00:09:20.60\00:09:23.88
where it empties in
to the Mediterranean.
00:09:24.37\00:09:26.70
Tarsus was the Roman
capital of the province
00:09:27.56\00:09:30.53
of Cilicia. Tarsus
guarded the Cilician Gates to
00:09:30.54\00:09:36.28
the north. This was
the major trade route
00:09:36.29\00:09:39.57
connecting the east
with Anatolian plateau on
00:09:39.79\00:09:43.55
the other side of
the Taurus Mountains.
00:09:43.56\00:09:46.07
This was extremely
strategic and because
00:09:46.40\00:09:49.69
of this, the Romans
made this the capital of
00:09:49.70\00:09:53.52
the province of
Cilicia. The Cydnus River
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descends from the
Taurus Mountains far to
00:09:57.41\00:10:01.54
the north, the snow fed
river is extremely cold,
00:10:01.55\00:10:05.63
and that's what
the word Cydnus means,
00:10:05.74\00:10:08.18
the cold river. I'm
walking along the ancient
00:10:08.40\00:10:14.35
Roman road; the
Romans constructed this
00:10:14.69\00:10:17.33
bridge over the
Cydnus or Tarsus River.
00:10:17.34\00:10:20.31
This road connected
Tarsus down on the coast
00:10:21.34\00:10:24.84
with Anatolian
plateau in the highlands,
00:10:25.11\00:10:28.54
but Taurus
mountain range is a snow
00:10:28.84\00:10:31.47
covered range most
of the year extremely
00:10:31.48\00:10:34.84
high, and very
difficult to cross.
00:10:34.85\00:10:38.05
There was only one
natured gap in the Taurus
00:10:38.32\00:10:41.57
Mountains and that
was carved by this river,
00:10:41.58\00:10:44.99
this Cydnus, also
known as the Tarsus River.
00:10:45.31\00:10:48.84
This river carved
through a gap known as the
00:10:50.00\00:10:53.53
Cilician Gate. The
Roman road parallel that
00:10:53.54\00:10:58.42
river, they
build bridges over it.
00:10:58.43\00:11:01.13
Alexander the
Great, marched his armies
00:11:02.48\00:11:04.64
down to the Cilician
Gates to the fertile plateau,
00:11:04.65\00:11:08.60
and when it reached
the hot humid plateau
00:11:09.93\00:11:12.52
here where I'm
standing, he went swimming;
00:11:12.53\00:11:15.26
but frigid waters
cause the chill for Alexander
00:11:16.48\00:11:20.02
which nearly
caused him his life.
00:11:20.03\00:11:22.38
Think of how the
course of history would
00:11:23.00\00:11:24.73
have changed, if
Alexander would have died
00:11:24.74\00:11:27.47
here. This river is
rich in its history,
00:11:27.48\00:11:32.89
for it was on this
river the Cleopatra sailed up
00:11:33.35\00:11:36.97
after crossing a
Mediterranean on her
00:11:37.28\00:11:39.28
barge to meet Mark
Anthony who was residing
00:11:39.29\00:11:43.62
at his imperial
palace here in Tarsus.
00:11:43.63\00:11:46.29
And the Taurus
Mountains to the north a
00:11:47.91\00:11:49.89
very special variety
of dill was bread with a
00:11:49.90\00:11:52.40
unique fleece. From
the hair at Cilician,
00:11:52.41\00:11:55.55
a cloth was
woven for making tents.
00:11:55.86\00:11:57.94
The fibers in this
cloth had an unusual
00:11:58.45\00:12:00.44
properties
allowing sunshine to stream
00:12:00.45\00:12:02.66
through, smoke from
the cook stove to be
00:12:02.67\00:12:05.18
emitted while
repelling rain. This was the
00:12:05.19\00:12:08.44
Gore-Tex fabric of
the day. The tents of
00:12:08.45\00:12:11.59
Tarsus were known
far and wide for their
00:12:11.60\00:12:14.05
exceptional
quality and durability.
00:12:14.06\00:12:16.33
Saul learned this
important trade from his
00:12:16.92\00:12:18.83
father, and would use
it to pays his expenses
00:12:18.84\00:12:21.69
in the different
cities from Jerusalem to Rome.
00:12:21.70\00:12:24.65
Because of the
city support for Caesar,
00:12:25.83\00:12:27.92
it was declared a
free trade city which meant
00:12:28.16\00:12:30.35
that it had the
right to import and export
00:12:30.36\00:12:32.83
goods without
paying Roman taxes.
00:12:32.84\00:12:34.87
This contributed to
its exceptional growth as
00:12:35.38\00:12:37.94
a commercial center.
The city also possessed
00:12:37.95\00:12:40.91
a university and was
the greatest philosophical
00:12:40.92\00:12:43.76
center outside of
Athens in Alexandria.
00:12:43.77\00:12:46.48
It was governed by
scholars proud of their
00:12:46.80\00:12:49.10
stellar heritage,
but Paul was not educated
00:12:49.11\00:12:52.21
in the prodigious
schools of the Gentiles.
00:12:52.22\00:12:54.39
Instead he was
educated in the synagogue
00:12:54.75\00:12:56.78
where he learned to
speak both Hebrew and
00:12:56.79\00:12:58.76
Aramaic. In
addition he spoke Greek,
00:12:58.77\00:13:01.39
the common language
of the day, and as a
00:13:01.40\00:13:03.59
Roman citizen
was fluent in Latin,
00:13:03.60\00:13:05.87
the official
language of the empire Dallas.
00:13:06.17\00:13:09.53
Paul heard the
stoics debating in the
00:13:09.83\00:13:11.50
marketplace, but as
a son of a strict Jew,
00:13:11.51\00:13:14.41
he would not have
been permitted to associate
00:13:14.80\00:13:16.43
with them. Saul grew up
living in three cultures,
00:13:16.44\00:13:19.46
his religious culture
was by strict standard
00:13:20.05\00:13:22.44
Jewish, he was a
Pharisee of the Pharisees.
00:13:22.45\00:13:25.35
The cultural and
business context of the city
00:13:25.95\00:13:28.17
he grew up in was
Greek, and Saul was
00:13:28.18\00:13:31.26
thoroughly familiar
with it. He could easily
00:13:31.58\00:13:34.13
move in the world of
business and commerce.
00:13:34.14\00:13:36.16
He might even have
traded in goat hair;
00:13:36.69\00:13:39.32
the raw material for
manufacturing tents was
00:13:39.63\00:13:42.88
he was actually
them, and being a Roman
00:13:42.89\00:13:45.90
citizen granted him
tremendous privileges.
00:13:45.91\00:13:48.66
He had the right to
travel throughout the empire
00:13:48.90\00:13:51.36
without being
questioned, and as a citizen he
00:13:51.37\00:13:54.51
could never be
crucified. Tarsus was in
00:13:54.52\00:13:57.56
outstanding location
for business, education,
00:13:57.57\00:14:00.88
and culture, but
his father was concerned
00:14:00.89\00:14:03.42
about the hidden
influences on the boy and
00:14:03.43\00:14:06.24
sent him to Jerusalem
to finish his education.
00:14:06.25\00:14:09.12
This would have been
the first of many voyages
00:14:10.11\00:14:12.10
he would undertake
during his lifetime.
00:14:12.11\00:14:14.23
Saul would have left
the court of Tarsus and
00:14:17.10\00:14:19.82
sailed here to
Caesarea. This was the finest
00:14:19.83\00:14:23.67
fort on the Eastern
Mediterranean and built
00:14:23.68\00:14:26.09
by Herod the Great,
himself, he named it
00:14:26.10\00:14:28.89
after his
patron Augustus Caesar,
00:14:28.90\00:14:32.03
the Greek word
for this was Sebastos,
00:14:32.45\00:14:35.22
which meant
magnificent the same as the
00:14:35.23\00:14:38.54
name Augustus in
Latin. Yes, this was a
00:14:38.55\00:14:41.66
magnificent fort
built in honor of Augustus
00:14:41.67\00:14:45.61
Caesar. We don't
know if this was Saul's
00:14:45.62\00:14:48.44
first time to this
fort or not, but we do know
00:14:48.64\00:14:51.61
it would not be his
last, he would sail in and
00:14:51.62\00:14:54.40
out of it on numerous occasions,
00:14:54.41\00:14:56.56
as he would later
become Paul the Apostle
00:14:56.80\00:15:00.00
to the Gentiles.
But from here he had not
00:15:00.28\00:15:03.71
come to see the
splendid city that Herod had
00:15:03.72\00:15:05.94
built and named
after his patron Augustus
00:15:05.95\00:15:08.65
Caesar. He had come
because this was the
00:15:08.66\00:15:11.17
port serving
Jerusalem. The pilgrimage to
00:15:11.18\00:15:17.64
Jerusalem was the
ultimate for Jews both
00:15:17.65\00:15:20.36
in Saul's day and in
ours. The Psalms summed
00:15:20.37\00:15:23.88
it well, in
Psalm 137 when he said,
00:15:23.89\00:15:27.08
O Jerusalem, O
erusalem, if I forget you
00:15:27.17\00:15:30.51
may my right hand
loose its ability.
00:15:30.52\00:15:33.48
May my tongue
cleave to the roof of my
00:15:33.94\00:15:35.95
mouth if I do not
set Jerusalem above my
00:15:35.96\00:15:38.65
highest joy. When
Saul came to the city,
00:15:38.66\00:15:42.59
the Temple Mount
dominated the sight
00:15:43.07\00:15:45.95
behind me. Today
the dome of the rocks
00:15:45.96\00:15:48.71
stands there, the
third holiest site in the
00:15:48.72\00:15:51.18
Muslim world.
This is the place where
00:15:51.19\00:15:53.95
according to
Muslim tradition Mohammed
00:15:53.96\00:15:56.48
ascended to heaven
in a night journey,
00:15:56.49\00:15:59.13
but when Saul came
to the city Herod's
00:15:59.84\00:16:02.46
temple dominated
this site. This was the
00:16:02.47\00:16:05.49
most beautiful
building ever constructed upon
00:16:05.50\00:16:08.05
the earth. Herod
had greatly enlarged the
00:16:08.06\00:16:11.37
plaza upon which
Solomon's temple stood.
00:16:11.38\00:16:14.53
It was large enough
for 12 soccer fields with
00:16:15.47\00:16:19.73
the bleachers to
be inside the plaza.
00:16:19.74\00:16:22.77
It was a
magnificent structure, fabulous
00:16:23.35\00:16:27.33
buildings, white
marble; everything inside of
00:16:27.34\00:16:32.45
the building was
steadier and covered with gold.
00:16:32.46\00:16:35.34
Yes it was the
ultimate journey for a Jew in
00:16:35.35\00:16:38.89
both Saul's day and
ours to come to the city
00:16:38.90\00:16:42.67
of Jerusalem. We're
standing here on the
00:16:42.68\00:16:46.02
Mount of Olives
overlooking the Temple
00:16:46.03\00:16:48.66
Mount. This is the
religious center for the
00:16:48.67\00:16:52.64
three
monotheistic religions today,
00:16:52.65\00:16:54.85
for Judaism because it
was the site of the holy
00:16:55.36\00:16:58.97
temple of Yahweh,
the only temple Yahweh
00:16:58.98\00:17:02.39
ever had up on the
earth. It is precious for
00:17:02.40\00:17:06.15
Christians because
it was here in this city
00:17:06.16\00:17:08.57
that Jesus often
taught and where he was
00:17:08.58\00:17:11.81
rejected and
ultimately crucified, and rose
00:17:11.82\00:17:15.40
from the dead. And
it is holy for Muslims
00:17:15.41\00:17:18.42
because this was
the site where according
00:17:18.85\00:17:21.40
to their tradition,
Mohammed ascended to
00:17:21.41\00:17:23.57
heaven in that
night journey. When Saul
00:17:23.58\00:17:27.26
came into the city it
was filled with over 480
00:17:27.27\00:17:31.27
synagogues or
schools. Saul was confronted
00:17:31.28\00:17:34.98
with many different
sects. There were different
00:17:34.99\00:17:37.69
types of Jews here.
There were the Sadducees,
00:17:37.70\00:17:41.29
the aristocratic
wealthy Jews who control the
00:17:41.30\00:17:46.26
keys to both power
in the city, and in the
00:17:46.27\00:17:49.71
temple. Then there
were the Herodians,
00:17:49.72\00:17:53.72
the Herodians
were the one's who had
00:17:54.22\00:17:57.06
adapted Greek
culture, and tried to mingle
00:17:57.07\00:18:00.40
Greek culture with the
ancient Jewish religion.
00:18:00.41\00:18:03.46
Herod the Great
would have been the part
00:18:05.12\00:18:06.75
of the Herodian group,
they were looking to build
00:18:06.76\00:18:10.54
various Greek
structures in the holy city
00:18:10.55\00:18:13.80
and participate in Greek life.
00:18:13.81\00:18:15.80
And then they were
the Essenes, the Essenes
00:18:16.36\00:18:19.50
removed themselves
from the city of Jerusalem,
00:18:19.51\00:18:22.96
they would live out on
the dessert very simply
00:18:22.97\00:18:25.10
in a communal life.
And then there were the
00:18:25.11\00:18:27.85
scrupulous
Pharisees who attempted to
00:18:27.86\00:18:30.78
honor the Lord by
faithfully obeying every
00:18:30.79\00:18:33.84
detail of the law.
The word bar mitzvah comes
00:18:33.85\00:18:38.05
from this time, it means
literally son of the law.
00:18:38.06\00:18:42.06
According to Act's
chapter 22 and verse 3,
00:18:42.83\00:18:45.66
Saul chose to attend
the school of Gamaliel,
00:18:45.93\00:18:49.11
grandson of the
greatest rabbi of the era,
00:18:49.44\00:18:52.14
they believed in the
scriptures and held to
00:18:52.77\00:18:55.35
the hope of the
resurrection of the dead.
00:18:55.36\00:18:57.43
They were
Pharisees which comes from a
00:18:58.72\00:19:00.73
Hebrew word
meaning separated ones.
00:19:00.74\00:19:03.08
They were the
successors of the Hasidim
00:19:03.71\00:19:06.20
or pious ones. They
were very, very orthodox
00:19:06.21\00:19:09.52
and deeply
concerned about preserving the
00:19:09.53\00:19:12.26
religious
purity of their people.
00:19:12.27\00:19:14.37
They vigorously
rejected Hellenistic practices,
00:19:15.26\00:19:18.29
and long for the
coming of the Messiah.
00:19:18.61\00:19:20.88
At the time of
prayer Saul would have worn
00:19:21.94\00:19:24.19
the liturgical
vestments, he would have worn
00:19:24.20\00:19:26.68
the Tallit or the
prayer shawl, and would have
00:19:26.69\00:19:29.25
put on the Tefillin,
the leather straps worn on
00:19:29.26\00:19:32.49
the forehead and the
right hand that contained
00:19:32.50\00:19:35.32
a copy of the law. In
Galatians chapter 1 verse
00:19:35.33\00:19:39.13
14 he wrote: I was
advancing in Judaism
00:19:39.14\00:19:42.39
beyond many Jews
of my own age and was
00:19:42.40\00:19:45.09
extremely zealous
for the traditions of my
00:19:45.10\00:19:47.69
fathers. While his
career soared, he recognized
00:19:47.70\00:19:51.54
that there was
something missing in his
00:19:51.55\00:19:53.37
life. Soon news of the
Galilean prophet began to
00:19:53.38\00:19:58.97
filter in. while
Gamaliel his teacher had not
00:19:58.98\00:20:02.82
taken a direct stand
against the teachings
00:20:02.83\00:20:05.30
of Jesus. Saul could
see that this new way
00:20:05.31\00:20:10.20
threatened the very
foundations of Judaism.
00:20:10.60\00:20:13.98
And so Saul saw took
it upon himself to debate
00:20:14.55\00:20:17.80
against these
believers in Jesus to show the
00:20:17.81\00:20:22.32
ridiculous nature of
their claims, that some
00:20:22.33\00:20:25.71
guy could die
and comeback to life.
00:20:26.16\00:20:29.42
Certain influential
leaders saw great promise
00:20:30.61\00:20:33.19
in Saul not only as
a Rabbi defending the
00:20:33.20\00:20:37.27
Pharisaic traditions
of their fathers but as a
00:20:37.28\00:20:40.62
fearless Zealot, who
could place a check on
00:20:40.63\00:20:43.52
Christianity. He
was commissioned by the
00:20:43.53\00:20:46.47
chief priest who were
largely Sadducees to rude
00:20:46.48\00:20:49.35
out the followers of
the Nazarene. He soon
00:20:49.36\00:20:52.65
became a specialist in
re-feuding the followers
00:20:52.66\00:20:55.90
of Jesus. He was
certain that all of
00:20:55.91\00:20:59.36
these teachings that
Jesus was the Messiah
00:20:59.37\00:21:02.44
and had been raised
from the dead were only
00:21:02.45\00:21:04.53
a pack of lies,
and yet you see he
00:21:04.54\00:21:07.19
interrogated believers in Jesus.
00:21:07.20\00:21:09.87
His heart was
troubled; in the back of his
00:21:10.62\00:21:13.50
mind there was a small question,
00:21:13.51\00:21:15.55
could it be that it
was true to stifle his
00:21:16.17\00:21:20.89
conscience, to put
out the questions in his
00:21:20.90\00:21:24.70
mind, he threw
himself whole heartedly in to
00:21:24.71\00:21:28.77
persecution of
believers. He describes it in
00:21:28.78\00:21:32.41
Galatians chapter 1
verse 13: For you have
00:21:32.42\00:21:36.57
heard of my previous
way of life in Judaism,
00:21:36.58\00:21:39.95
how intensely I
persecuted the church of
00:21:40.55\00:21:43.36
God and tried to
destroy it. Saul became an
00:21:43.37\00:21:47.40
expert in trying to
deprogram the unfortunate
00:21:47.41\00:21:50.58
ones who had
fallen for this new cult.
00:21:50.59\00:21:52.78
Not only that he tried
to rescue the Pharissean,
00:21:53.39\00:21:56.08
he began to
persecute the leaders of the
00:21:56.42\00:21:58.90
church as well. But in
spite of his best efforts
00:21:58.91\00:22:02.77
the ranks of Christianity
continued to explode
00:22:03.34\00:22:06.77
here in the city of Jerusalem.
00:22:06.78\00:22:08.35
Acts chapter 6 and
verse 7 says that even
00:22:09.06\00:22:11.95
a great number of
priests began to believe
00:22:11.96\00:22:14.09
in Jesus as their
Messiah, and some of the
00:22:14.10\00:22:18.70
believers seemed to
have the same miracle
00:22:18.71\00:22:21.87
working powers
that Jesus was purported
00:22:21.88\00:22:24.17
to have had. One
such man was named Steven,
00:22:24.18\00:22:27.35
he was performing
great wonders among the
00:22:27.76\00:22:30.16
people. Stephen was
one of the original Seven
00:22:30.17\00:22:33.30
Deacons who had been
ordained by the church
00:22:33.31\00:22:35.90
to minister primarily
to the Greek speaking Jews
00:22:36.17\00:22:39.01
of the Diaspora.
Those Jews would gathered
00:22:39.02\00:22:42.08
here from all over
the Greek speaking world.
00:22:42.09\00:22:45.28
Soon a great
disturbance broke out,
00:22:46.00\00:22:47.86
there was a public
debate and no one could
00:22:48.54\00:22:50.81
refutes
Stevens's arguments. He was
00:22:50.82\00:22:53.61
brought before the
Sanhedrin where he would
00:22:53.62\00:22:55.48
have come face
to face with Saul,
00:22:55.49\00:22:57.49
but even Saul's
brilliant mind could not match
00:22:57.99\00:23:01.54
the simple
testimony of Steven given from
00:23:01.83\00:23:05.04
his heart, a heart
that have been touched
00:23:05.05\00:23:07.29
by the resurrected
Jesus. Soon the Sanhedrin
00:23:07.55\00:23:12.31
rushed toward him
and insane moment,
00:23:12.32\00:23:14.37
and drag him out the
lions gate, also know as
00:23:14.38\00:23:18.03
St. Steven's Gate
into the Kidron valley,
00:23:18.04\00:23:20.38
and here in the
Kidron valley they picked up
00:23:20.71\00:23:22.70
stones and they threw
them crushing the very
00:23:22.71\00:23:24.69
life out of Steven.
Steven was the first
00:23:24.70\00:23:28.12
Christian martyr
the first one to die for
00:23:28.13\00:23:31.04
Jesus. Luke notes:
And Saul was there giving
00:23:31.05\00:23:35.11
approval to his
death. On that day a great
00:23:35.12\00:23:38.58
persecution broke
out against the church at
00:23:38.59\00:23:40.53
Jerusalem, and all
except the apostles were
00:23:40.54\00:23:43.53
scattered
throughout Judea and Samaria.
00:23:43.54\00:23:46.62
When you cannot
refute someone's testimony,
00:23:48.32\00:23:50.59
you do the next best
thing, you try to silence
00:23:51.20\00:23:55.08
their voice and
that's what happened here in
00:23:55.09\00:23:58.46
Jerusalem, when
they could not refute the
00:23:58.47\00:24:01.31
teachings of Steven
they silenced his voice
00:24:01.32\00:24:04.49
forever they
thought. And yet Steven's
00:24:04.65\00:24:07.97
testimony was even
louder because now the
00:24:07.98\00:24:11.00
church was scattered
throughout all of Judea
00:24:11.01\00:24:13.70
and into Samaria.
Luke continues on in
00:24:13.93\00:24:16.76
chapter 8, Saul began
to destroy the church,
00:24:16.77\00:24:20.29
going from house to
house, he dragged off
00:24:20.62\00:24:23.70
men and women and
put them in prison.
00:24:23.78\00:24:25.87
Saul was consumed
with purifying the religion
00:24:26.83\00:24:29.80
from the Galatian
Heresy. After cleaning up
00:24:29.81\00:24:32.90
Jerusalem plans were
laid for Saul to travel
00:24:32.91\00:24:35.51
to Damascus where
he would purify the
00:24:35.52\00:24:38.23
synagogues of the
dreaded heresy there.
00:24:38.24\00:24:40.61
Saul would leave the
city of Jerusalem with letters
00:24:41.40\00:24:44.97
from the chief
priest giving him authority
00:24:44.98\00:24:47.62
to arrest the
believers in Damascus and bring
00:24:47.63\00:24:50.51
them back to
Jerusalem to stand trial.
00:24:50.52\00:24:52.67
He was given a
contingent of the temple police,
00:24:53.51\00:24:56.05
but since he was
Pharisee or a separated one,
00:24:56.39\00:24:59.29
he would not walk
with the temple police but
00:24:59.30\00:25:01.18
would walk by
himself. It will be a 150 mile
00:25:01.19\00:25:04.70
journey down to
Jericho up the Jordan valley,
00:25:04.71\00:25:08.36
and around the Sea of
Galilee, and then over
00:25:08.54\00:25:10.95
the Golan Heights.
This would be at least a
00:25:10.96\00:25:14.43
seven day journey an
ample time for the Holy
00:25:14.44\00:25:17.22
Spirit to workup on
his mind. As Saul walked
00:25:17.23\00:25:20.78
along trudging mile
after mile up the Jordan
00:25:20.79\00:25:24.52
Valley, he tried to get
one image out of his mind,
00:25:24.53\00:25:28.21
the image was that of
Steven face lit up like
00:25:28.44\00:25:31.21
an angel, as he was
brought into the Kidron
00:25:31.22\00:25:33.95
valley, as Steven
saying that I see heaven
00:25:33.96\00:25:38.44
open, then I see the
Son of Man standing at
00:25:38.45\00:25:41.29
the right hand of
the Father's throne.
00:25:41.30\00:25:44.12
You know its very
interesting that other
00:25:45.13\00:25:47.62
places in the New
Testament say that when
00:25:47.63\00:25:49.51
Jesus ascended into
heaven, he sat down at
00:25:49.52\00:25:51.89
the right hand of the
Father, but when Steven
00:25:51.90\00:25:54.71
the very first
Christian to die for his beliefs
00:25:54.72\00:25:57.51
in the Lord is
being stoned in the Kidron
00:25:57.52\00:26:00.24
valley, Steven looks
up and says I see him
00:26:00.25\00:26:03.01
standing at the
right hand of the Father's
00:26:03.02\00:26:05.10
throne as if Steven
sees his Lord jumping up
00:26:05.11\00:26:08.67
and Jesus is saying
Steven hang in there,
00:26:08.68\00:26:10.90
be faithful even
to the point of death,
00:26:11.26\00:26:13.75
and I'll give you
the crown of life.
00:26:14.15\00:26:16.32
You see Jesus had
been crucified in the city
00:26:16.83\00:26:20.64
of Jerusalem, but he
had come back to life
00:26:20.65\00:26:23.59
on the third day, he
had been seen perhaps
00:26:23.60\00:26:27.67
Steven was one of
the 120 that had seen
00:26:27.68\00:26:31.15
Jesus alive in
the city of Jerusalem.
00:26:31.16\00:26:33.74
And now he sees him
in heaven and because
00:26:35.80\00:26:39.52
of that Steven is able
to witness for his Lord
00:26:39.53\00:26:42.84
even when they
are taking his life.
00:26:42.85\00:26:45.59
As Steven falls to
the ground, the stones
00:26:46.35\00:26:49.20
crushing the life out
of him, he says Father
00:26:49.21\00:26:52.97
forgive them, Jesus
don't hold this against
00:26:53.35\00:26:57.39
them, forgive them.
Saul cannot get those
00:26:57.40\00:27:01.49
words out of his mind
as he walks up the Jordan
00:27:01.50\00:27:04.59
Valley, he
struggles with those words,
00:27:04.60\00:27:06.52
how could someone
forgive the very people
00:27:06.53\00:27:10.54
who are taking his life.
Saul couldn't shake that,
00:27:12.25\00:27:15.79
he would not be able
to forget it, and as he
00:27:17.09\00:27:19.62
comes to the crust
of the hill going into
00:27:19.63\00:27:21.89
Damascus, his life
would be forever changed. But
00:27:21.90\00:27:26.93
that will be the
subject of the next chapter
00:27:26.94\00:27:29.38
in this thrilling series
on the Footsteps of Paul.
00:27:29.39\00:27:32.05
As we walk the
Damascus road with Saul,
00:27:32.46\00:27:35.52
and we see his
dramatic conversion that
00:27:35.78\00:27:38.25
happens when he
reaches that emerald green
00:27:38.26\00:27:41.12
city. Now from here
on the Mount of Olives,
00:27:41.13\00:27:45.63
I invite you to join
me as we pray together.
00:27:46.20\00:27:49.60
Our Father in
heaven, we thank you so much
00:27:50.91\00:27:53.05
for the testimony of
someone named Steven,
00:27:53.78\00:27:56.71
who was faithful to
You even to the point of
00:27:57.58\00:27:59.85
death, and yet he
held no resentment,
00:27:59.86\00:28:03.40
no anger towards
those who were killing him.
00:28:03.41\00:28:05.77
But was able to ask
that his executors be
00:28:06.30\00:28:09.69
forgiven, and we
thank you that, that prayer
00:28:09.70\00:28:13.14
is about to be
answered as we'll see on the
00:28:13.47\00:28:16.89
Damascus road. Thank
you for your power even
00:28:16.90\00:28:20.81
to reach a persecutor
like Saul, and to turn
00:28:20.82\00:28:24.34
his heart towards
you. Help us like Steven
00:28:24.35\00:28:27.60
to be faithful to
you wherever you lead,
00:28:27.61\00:28:30.05
we pray in Jesus
name, amen. From here on the
00:28:30.30\00:28:34.80
Mount of Olives we
wish you God's blessing
00:28:34.81\00:28:37.41
and encourage you
to join us for the next
00:28:37.42\00:28:39.64
chapter in this thrilling
series on the Footsteps
00:28:39.65\00:28:42.13
of Paul, as we trace
his journey from Jerusalem
00:28:42.14\00:28:45.54
to Jericho, up
the Jordan valley,
00:28:45.55\00:28:47.96
around the Sea of
Galilee, and to the city of
00:28:47.97\00:28:51.69
Damascus where his
life is changed and history
00:28:51.70\00:28:55.33
is altered. Join us for
that thrilling teaching.
00:28:55.34\00:28:58.51