Paul’s hills and valleys

Paul lived in the Middle East between about 5 BC and AD 68.  There is an account of his life in Acts 7-28 of the Bible. And Paul wrote many of the letters in the New Testament. The major hills and valleys in his life are shown in the graph.

Valley: He was a Pharisee who was passionate about persecuting and imprisoning the early Christians (Acts 9:1-2). He approved the stoned of Stephen to death (Acts 7:58 – 8:1).

Hill: When a light flashed from heaven and God spoke to him, Paul changed his mind about Christianity and trusted that Christ had taken the punishment for his sin (Acts 9:3-19).

Valley: After Paul preached to Jews in Damascus that Jesus was the Son of God (Messiah), some of the Jews planned to kill him (Acts 9:20-30).

Hill: Paul’s first missionary journey was to Cyprus and southeast Turkey (Acts 13:1 – 14:28).

Valley: Paul had a sharp disagreement with legalistic Jews who travelled from Jerusalem to Antioch to advocate that male Gentiles needed to be circumcised to be saved (Acts 15:1-2).

Hill: At the Council in Jerusalem Paul reported about the miracles God had done among the Gentiles (Acts 15:12). The Council decided that circumcision was not necessary for salvation.

Valley: Paul had a sharp disagreement with Barnabas about not taking John Mark on their next missionary journey, so they went separate ways (Acts 15:36-39).

Hill: Paul’s second missionary journey was to Turkey and Greece (Acts 16:1 – 18:22).

Valley: Paul was imprisoned in Philippi (Acts 16:19-40). Some of the Jews caused Paul to flee Thessalonica and Berea, and he was opposed in Corinth.

Hill: Paul’s third missionary journey was to Turkey and Greece (Acts 18:23 – 21:26).

Valley: There was a riot after Paul preached in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41).

Hill: At Troas, Paul raised Eutychus from the dead (Acts 20:7-12).

Valley: Paul was arrested in Jerusalem (Acts 21:27-36). Some Jews planned to kill him. Then he was transferred to Caesarea where he had trials before the Governors Antonius Felix and Festus. He also appeared before king Agrippa. Because he appealed to Caesar, he was shipped to Rome.

Hill: Despite his trials and imprisonment, Paul continued to evangelize by speech and writing and we have his legacy in his letters in the New Testament (Acts 20:7-12).

So Paul also experienced hills and valleys.

Lessons for us

Paul’s main purpose in life was, “I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Phil. 3:13b-14NLT). God wants us to concentrate on His purpose for us. Paul pictures it as a race. Have you started the race? Are you living for the day you will meet the Lord?

Written, July 2023