Not a true apostle, and not entirely self-made.
Paul's accounts of being appointed as a witness are inconsistent because in one account he is appointed directly and in another he is told of it by Ananais.
| |
---|
14 | And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks. |
15 | And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. |
16 | But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; |
17 | Delivering thee from the people, and [from] the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, |
18 | To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. |
| |
---|
7 | And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? |
8 | And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. |
9 | And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. |
10 | And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. |
11 | And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. |
12 | And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt [there], |
13 | Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. |
14 | And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. |
15 | For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. |
The account in Acts of what Paul was told by Ananais says nothing of Paul being a witness.
| |
---|
13 | Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: |
14 | And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. |
15 | But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: |
16 | For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. |
17 | And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. |