The History of Saint Paul
Saint Paul's Episcopal Church of Lewiston
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Peter and Paul, the two greatest leaders of the early Church,
are commemorated separately, Peter on January 18, for his
confession of Jesus as the Messiah, and Paul on January
25, for his conversion, but they are commemorated together
on June 29 in observance of the tradition of the Church that
they both died as martyrs in Rome during the persecution
under Nero, in 64.
Paul, the well-educated and cosmopolitan Jew of the
Dispersion, and Peter, the uneducated fisherman from
Galilee, had differences of opinion in the early years of the
Church concerning the mission to the Gentiles. More than
once, Paul speaks of rebuking Peter for his continued
insistence on Jewish exclusiveness; yet their common
commitment to Christ and the proclamation of the Gospel
proved stronger than their differences; and both eventually
carried that mission to Rome, where they were martyred.
According to tradition, Paul was granted the right of a Roman
citizen to be beheaded by a sword, but Peter suffered the fate
of his Lord, crucifixion, though with head downward.
are commemorated separately, Peter on January 18, for his
confession of Jesus as the Messiah, and Paul on January
25, for his conversion, but they are commemorated together
on June 29 in observance of the tradition of the Church that
they both died as martyrs in Rome during the persecution
under Nero, in 64.
Paul, the well-educated and cosmopolitan Jew of the
Dispersion, and Peter, the uneducated fisherman from
Galilee, had differences of opinion in the early years of the
Church concerning the mission to the Gentiles. More than
once, Paul speaks of rebuking Peter for his continued
insistence on Jewish exclusiveness; yet their common
commitment to Christ and the proclamation of the Gospel
proved stronger than their differences; and both eventually
carried that mission to Rome, where they were martyred.
According to tradition, Paul was granted the right of a Roman
citizen to be beheaded by a sword, but Peter suffered the fate
of his Lord, crucifixion, though with head downward.
A generation after their martyrdom, Clement of Rome, writing to the Church in Corinth, probably in 96 A.D.,
says: " Let us come to those who have most recently proved champions; let us take up the noble examples
of our generation. Because of jealousy and envy the greatest and most upright pillars of the Church were
persecuted and competed unto death. Let us bring before our eyes the good apostles-Peter, who
because of unrighteous jealousy endured not one or two, but numerous trials, and so bore a martyr's
witness and went to the glorious place that he deserved. Because of jealousy and strife Paul pointed the
way to the reward of endurance; seven times he was imprisoned, he was exiled, he was stoned, he was a
preacher in both east and west, and won renown for his faith, teaching uprightness to the whole world, and
reaching the farthest limit of the west, and bearing a martyr's witness before the rulers, he passed out of
the world and was taken up into the holy place, having proved a very great example of endurance.
says: " Let us come to those who have most recently proved champions; let us take up the noble examples
of our generation. Because of jealousy and envy the greatest and most upright pillars of the Church were
persecuted and competed unto death. Let us bring before our eyes the good apostles-Peter, who
because of unrighteous jealousy endured not one or two, but numerous trials, and so bore a martyr's
witness and went to the glorious place that he deserved. Because of jealousy and strife Paul pointed the
way to the reward of endurance; seven times he was imprisoned, he was exiled, he was stoned, he was a
preacher in both east and west, and won renown for his faith, teaching uprightness to the whole world, and
reaching the farthest limit of the west, and bearing a martyr's witness before the rulers, he passed out of
the world and was taken up into the holy place, having proved a very great example of endurance.
1.Almighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified thee by their martyrdom: Grant that thy
upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who liveth and reigned with thee, in the unity of the
same Spirit, one God,for ever and ever. Amen.
2. Almighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you by their martyrdom: Grant that your
Church,instructed by their teaching and example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand
firm upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of
the Holy Spirit, one God,now and for ever. Amen.
upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who liveth and reigned with thee, in the unity of the
same Spirit, one God,for ever and ever. Amen.
2. Almighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you by their martyrdom: Grant that your
Church,instructed by their teaching and example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand
firm upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of
the Holy Spirit, one God,now and for ever. Amen.
| Psalm Lessons 87 Ezekiel 34:11-162 Timothy 4:1-8 John 21:15-19 June 29 |
Conversion of Saint Paul
Paul, or Saul as he was know until he became a Christian, was a Roman citizen, born a Tarsus, in
present-day Turkey. He was brought up as an orthodox Jew, studying in Jerusalem for a time under
Gamaliel, the most famous rabbi of the day. Describing himself, he said "I am an Israelite, a descendant of
Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin" (Romans II:I)
A few years after the death of Jesus, Saul came in contact with the new Christian movement, and became
one of the most fanatical of those who were determined to stamp out this "dangerous heresy." Saul
witnessed the stoning of Stephen. He was on the way to Damascus to lead in further persecution of the
Christians when his dramatic conversion took place.
From that day, Paul devoted his life totally to Christ, and especially to the conversion of Gentiles. The Acts of
the Apostles describes the courage and determination with which he planted Christian congregations over
a large area of the land bordering the eastern Mediterranean.
His letters, the earliest of Christian writings, reveal him as the greatest of the interpreters of Christ's mind,
and as the founder of Christian theology. He writes, " I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who
live, but Christ who lives in me' and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved
me and gave himself for me." ( Galatians 2:20)
Paul describes himself as small and insignificant in appearance; " His letters are weighty and strong," it
was said of him, "but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account" ( 2Corinthians 10:10).
He writes of having a disability which he had prayed God to remove from him, and quotes the Lord's reply,
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, Paul went on to say, "I
will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" ( 2 Corinthians
12:9)
Paul is believed to have been martyred at Rome in the year 64 under Nero
present-day Turkey. He was brought up as an orthodox Jew, studying in Jerusalem for a time under
Gamaliel, the most famous rabbi of the day. Describing himself, he said "I am an Israelite, a descendant of
Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin" (Romans II:I)
A few years after the death of Jesus, Saul came in contact with the new Christian movement, and became
one of the most fanatical of those who were determined to stamp out this "dangerous heresy." Saul
witnessed the stoning of Stephen. He was on the way to Damascus to lead in further persecution of the
Christians when his dramatic conversion took place.
From that day, Paul devoted his life totally to Christ, and especially to the conversion of Gentiles. The Acts of
the Apostles describes the courage and determination with which he planted Christian congregations over
a large area of the land bordering the eastern Mediterranean.
His letters, the earliest of Christian writings, reveal him as the greatest of the interpreters of Christ's mind,
and as the founder of Christian theology. He writes, " I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who
live, but Christ who lives in me' and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved
me and gave himself for me." ( Galatians 2:20)
Paul describes himself as small and insignificant in appearance; " His letters are weighty and strong," it
was said of him, "but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account" ( 2Corinthians 10:10).
He writes of having a disability which he had prayed God to remove from him, and quotes the Lord's reply,
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, Paul went on to say, "I
will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" ( 2 Corinthians
12:9)
Paul is believed to have been martyred at Rome in the year 64 under Nero
1.O God, who, by the preaching of thine apostle Paul, hast caused the light of the Gospel to shine
throughout the world: Grant, we beseech thee, that we, having His wonderful conversion in remembrance,
may show forth our thankfulness unto thee for the same by following the holy doctrine which he taught;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,who liveth and reigned with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now
and for ever. Amen.
2. O God, by the preaching of your apostle Paul you have caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout
the world: Grant, we pray, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show ourselves
thankful to you by following his holy teaching; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
throughout the world: Grant, we beseech thee, that we, having His wonderful conversion in remembrance,
may show forth our thankfulness unto thee for the same by following the holy doctrine which he taught;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,who liveth and reigned with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now
and for ever. Amen.
2. O God, by the preaching of your apostle Paul you have caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout
the world: Grant, we pray, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show ourselves
thankful to you by following his holy teaching; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
| Psalm Lessons 67 Acts 26:9-21 Galatians 1:11-24 Matthew 10:16-22 |