Article Index
The Way
(BELIEVERS LIVING CHRIST'S NEW COVENANT KINGDOM OF GOD)
::
"... if he (Saul of Tarsus) found any who were of the Way,
whether men or women,
he might bring them bound to Jerusalem ..."
Acts 9'1-2.
::
At this stage in his life, Saul had only one thing in mind. But why did these people antagonise him to such an extent that he wanted every one of them dead?
The thing is, he was utterly given over to his religion. At a later date here's how he thought of himself:
"... circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee ... concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless," Philippians 3'5-6.
The thing was, these men and women were expressing a definitely different way of living, which gave glory to Jesus, the Way to God.
They were calling Him The Christ, the Annointed One - all based on the same Hebrew scriptures that he knew well!
Consequently, in his single-minded zeal, he took up persecuting these Believers (see Acts 7'58; 8'1,3; 9'1).
Then Jesus intervened.
Hearing Christ's words he immediately repented and became a follower and therefore one of them (see Acts 9'4 and on).
Later on in his life Saul, now called Paul, would say: "... what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ (Philippians 3'7).
As he knew well, Believers were known corporately as The Way.
::
That they were called that name is not surprising because, after all, they knew Jesus to be The Way (John 14'6). And they also knew Him as the One who preached, taught and lived God's Kingdom life.
::
They "... explained to him the way of God more accurately ..."
Acts 18'26.