I Appeal To Caesar!

P. 7 Did Paul ever have personal contact with Jesus during His earthly ministry? Although most biblical scholars have been relatively quiet on this subject, one notable scholar has recently devoted some six pages to this subject in a most interesting way: Stanley E. Porter and his book, The Apostle Paul: his life, thoughts, and letters , pp. 33-38. Porter says there are two main reasons to think “it is certainly plausible that Paul met Jesus during his earthly ministry”: 1. “Paul was at the center of much activity within Pharisaic circles of the time … providing … occasions for him to incidentally encounter Jesus if not intentionally seek him out.” 2. The “statements in Paul’s letters where he seems to indicate, or at least imply, that he knew Jesus.” Porter makes a strong statement that “Paul makes an overt claim to having known Jesus while he was in his earthly, pre-resurrection body.” See his arguments for Acts 26:14-15; 22:14; 1 Cor. 9:1; 2 Cor 5:16. P. 8 Jesus’ disciples also baptized. John 4:1, 2. Actually, Jesus and His disciples were showing they agreed with John the Baptist’s message, and they were making it possible and more convenient for more people to be served. The main thought was that repentance prepared the hearts of the people to receive and respond to the arrival of the Kingdom of Heaven. P. 11 “Surely all these people are not healed!” Note Matthew 4:23, 24: “Now Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.” P. 14 Jesus’ Response to Saul’s Criticism. In most of Jesus’ confrontations with Pharisees he was kind, pleasant and gave answers and statements that were always thoughtful and provocative, but nevertheless addressed firmly the core mistake or misinterpretation. P. 14 The Spreading Fame of Jesus. Note Matthew 4:25: “Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all such people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.” Also, P. 12 Nicodemus’ Talk with Jesus. John chapter 3. Jesus actually had many private conversations with individuals, as well as huge crowd gatherings.