Пятница

(Acts 8:40–9:19; John 6:48–54) St. Paul at first so zealously defended the Old Testament orders because he was sincerely convinced that it was the immutable will of God that those orders should remain unchanged. He was not jealous because it was his father’s faith, but because he offered zealous service to God. This was the spirit of his life - to dedicate himself to God and direct all his strength to what is pleasing to Him. Therefore, in order to convert him or in order to force him not to stand so much for the Old Testament, but, on the contrary, to take the side of the New Testament, it was enough to tangibly show that God no longer wants the Old Testament, but wants a new one, and transferred all His favor from the first to the second. This is what brought about the appearance of the Lord in him on the way. Then it became clear to him that he was directing his zeal in the wrong direction, where it should be, and that by acting this way, he was not pleasing God, but was going against His will. This vision of the state of affairs, with the help of the grace of God, immediately changed his aspirations, and he cried out: “Lord, what will you command me to do?” (Acts 9:6) And from that moment he turned all his zeal to what was indicated to him, and all his life he did not forget this event in his life, but gratefully remembering it, he inflamed his zeal - sparing no effort, to work for the Lord, his Savior. This is how they act and this is how everyone who sincerely turns to the Lord should act. You might be interested in: