PAUL PROCLAIMS - JESUS APPEARED IN VISION: AND MADE HIM APOSTLE

By whom the book of the Acts has been written is not known. The unknown author of this book introduces Paul as one who had created a havoc of the church, and came to Damascus to take hold on the follow- ers of Jesus who scattered abroad. On his way to Damascus, that Jesus appeared to him in vision and made him an apostle. These points can be seen from the foregoing passages A.B.C as narrated by the author of the Book of the Acts--

And the same event has been quoted to have been stated by paul himself in his defence on trial before the chief captain under -Ref. Acts 22:1-21

We can also see the same event as quoted to have been stated by paul in defence on trial before the judgment seat of King Agrippa under -Ref. Acts 26:9-20

DISCREPANCY IN NARRATIONS
Thus we have the repetition of same event under three references as follows
Acts 9:1-18 B. Acts 22:1-21 C. Acts 26:9-20

If one makes a comparative study of the above three passages under references, one can find the following discrepancies.

From the first passage under reference Acts 9:1-18 the verse number 15 explains that Paul (Saul) was made apostle for both Gentiles and Israel. (And)

Verse number 7 discloses that those that had journeyed with him had heard the voice but had not seen anybody.

While according to the second passage under reference Acts 22:1-21, the verse number 21 speaks that he was made apostle for Gen- tiles only.

And verse number 9 expresses that they who accompanied Paul on his journey to Damascus saw the light but did not hear the voice of him that spoke with Paul.



According to the first two passages, it is said that Paul was to be informed by one Ananias at Damascus, as to what he had to do.

But the passage under Ref. Acts 26:9-20 says that he was in- formed instantly at the place where he saw the vision.

To speak in clear terms the statement as narrated by the author of the Book of the Acts has been contradicted by Paul himself in three points. Thus with grave contradictions Paul has been introduced. As we told earlier, the author of this book is not known yet church claims that it has been written by Luke. Whoever may be the author but one thing is certain that it is none from the apostles of Jesus. And if it were really by Luke, it may be noted that Luke was very dear disciple of Paul (II Timothy 4:11).

So far as to the point concerning the above contradictions it is rea- sonable to give more concern to the one’s own personal claims than the others’ statements relating to that person. And hence we are tend to give sanction to paul’s claims. Therefore the claim of Paul saying that he had been made apostle for Gentiles can be treated as more authentic. Then one may wonder as to how that statement has been made by the author of Acts, that Paul was made an apostle by Jesus both for Gentiles and Israel.

TWO GOSPELS - TWO CHIEFS
As has been discussed, not only in the passage under reference 22:1-21 but also in the following we can find Paul to have stated that he was made an apostle for Gentiles; and Peter for Jews.
Thus we read in Galatians 2:7-9
But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the cir- cumcision was unto Peter; ( for he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty

in me toward the Gentiles;) And when James, Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship: that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumci- sion -Galatians 2:7-9

From the above it can be well ascertained that there were two Gos- pels - one for circumcised ones (Jews) and the other for uncircumcised ones (Heathens or Gentiles), and two chief apostles - one for Jews (Peter) and the other for Heathens or Gentiles (Paul).

One must bear in mind that when Jesus was laying the responsi- bility on Peter of leading the church, he (Jesus) did not say that Peter was for Jews (Circumcised ones) and that he would appoint some other suitable candidate such as Paul for Gentiles (uncir- cumcised ones)

Jesus said to Peter... (1)... He saith unto him, feed my lambs. (2)
... He saith unto him, feed my sheep. (3) ... Jesus saith unto him, feed my sheep (John 21:15-17). In the passage Jesus says, ‘My lambs and my sheep’- these phrases mean, all people that believe on him, with no discrimination such as Jew or Gentile.
Further take note of the following passage.
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. -Mark 16 : 15

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations boptizing...
-Matthew 28:19

From the study of the above passages we can find Jesus to have authorized all his apostles to go all over the world and preach the Gospel to all mankind with no discrimination either as a Jew or Gentile. Contrary to this, Paul says that he was appointed for Gentiles and Peter for Jews. If Jesus had really intended to conduct two groups of preachers-one for Gentiles and the other for Jews under two leaders could ever Jesus have laid down the responsibility of preaching to every creature of the world on the shoulders of his apostles ? If the claim of Paul were true would Jesus have not appeared at least in the vision of Peter and made it clear that
Paul had been appointed by him for Gentiles and suggested Peter to continue his preaching only among the Jews, providing chance to Paul to preach among the Gentiles? But the things appear to be contrary1. There were two gospels and two churches2 and two chiefs: each for one. A careful examination of the epistles written by Paul makes it clear that there was a dissent group with divergent doctrines which strove hard to establish its prominence over the other.