Paul's conversion experience is discussed in both the Pauline epistles and in the Acts of the Apostles. The narrative of the Book of Acts suggests Paul's conversion occurred 4β7 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. Before his conversion, Paul was known as Saul and was "a Pharisee of Pharisees ", who " intensely persecuted " the followers of Jesus. Paul describes his life before conversion in his Epistle to the Galatians :.
For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. Paul also discusses his pre-conversion life in his Epistle to the Philippians , β6, [ 5 ] and his participation in the stoning of Stephen is described in Acts β In the Pauline epistles, the description of Paul's conversion experience is brief.
The First Epistle to the Corinthians [ 7 ] and β8 [ 8 ] describes Paul as having seen the risen Christ :. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians also describes Paul's experience of revelation. The passage begins with Paul seeming to speak about another person, but very quickly he makes it clear he is speaking of himself.
It is necessary to boast; nothing is to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heavenβwhether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. And I know that such a personβwhether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knowsβ was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat.
