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Miracle with Paul: how a persecutor of believers suddenly believed in Christtranslated

July 10, 2026 · 1 min read

…Two young men are walking along a narrow street leading from the Jerusalem Temple. They are arguing heatedly about something. They stop at an intersection, start shouting, waving their arms, each proving his point. It seems that just a little more and the young men will attack each other!

Finally one turns around and quickly leaves. It’s hard to imagine that these debaters have a lot in common - they are relatives, for many years they studied in the same city with the same teachers... Soon they will have another meeting. And it will be much worse than an ordinary quarrel on the street... But first things first.

Two ways

Stephen and Saul were the names of these young men. They were related to each other. Both are Jews, both came to Jerusalem to study the ancient law of Moses. Maybe they even met in classes with the same mentors, listened to the same teachings. What divided them so much and made them argue like crazy?

And here's the thing. One day, Stephen heard a rumor about Jesus, an extraordinary Teacher from Galilee, who says amazing things and works miracles. The young man became so interested that he decided to join those who followed Jesus. The words of Christ, His sermons so struck Stephen that peace for the young man...

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Елена Морозова

It’s interesting how the author started with their quarrel on the street - you immediately imagine how they are waving their hands at the intersection. Just this week in our choir we read about the first martyr Stephen, and every time I think: Saul later became Paul, and Stephen was no longer there. I look forward to seeing what happens next with their second meeting.

Петро Шевчук

It is interesting that they are relatives and studied with the same teacher, but still parted ways. Stephen heard about Jesus and immediately followed Him, and Saul later became Paul. In our church, during the reading, they also mentioned how Saul threw stones when beating Stephen. I am waiting for what will happen next.

Αντώνης Λαμπρόπουλος

I liked that it starts right with the commotion at the crossroads and the waving hands. I also remembered when we read about the first martyr Stephen, how Saul kept the clothes of those who stoned him. It's a shame that one left so early and the other then became Pavlos. I look forward to seeing how they continue it.

Татьяна Комарова

In our choir we also recently read about Stephen, and I keep thinking about this moment when Saul stood and guarded the clothes of those who threw stones at him. And then the author began so vividly with their quarrel at the crossroads - you can just imagine how they wave their hands. I’m waiting to see what they’ll write about the miracle with Paul next.

Bojana Lukić

At my parish, last week we read about Stephen, that very part where Saul saves the clothes of those who stone him. It's strange to me how relatives studied under the same teachers, but ended up on opposite sides - one immediately followed Christ, the other persecuted him. I'm waiting to see how that "miracle with Pavlo" happened, I'm really interested in that moment on the road.

Марина Богданова

Yes, the beginning with this quarrel at the crossroads immediately catches your attention, you can imagine how the dust flies from under the sandals. In our choir we also recently read about Stephen, and every time I think about how Saul lived with this stone in his soul all his life. Do you often sing about the first martyrs in your parish, or only on certain days?