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GOD tells Ananias about Paul:
Acts 9:13-16
King James Version
15 But the Lord said unto him,
Go thy way:
for he is a chosen vessel unto me,
to bear my name before the Gentiles,
and kings, and the children of Israel:
16 For I will shew him how great things
he must suffer for my name's sake.
Apostle Paul is a very fascinating figure.
Where before, he persecuted Christians, suddenly, he was transformed.
All because JESUS appeared to this persecuting Pharisee.
From that point on, Paul became probably the staunchest defender of the faith to both Jews, and Greeks*.
When it comes to Scripture conviction, there is none like Paul.
These verses reveal the places he ministered to in Turkey, then called Anatolia (or Asia Minor):
Acts 9:29-30
King James Version
29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus,
and disputed against the Grecians:
but they went about to slay him.
30 Which when the brethren knew,
they brought him down to Caesarea,
and sent him forth to Tarsus.
Acts 11:22-26
King James Version
22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears
of the church which was in Jerusalem:
and they sent forth Barnabas,
that he should go as far as Antioch.
23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God,
was glad, and exhorted them all,
that with purpose of heart
they would cleave unto the Lord.
24 For he was a good man,
and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith:
and much people was added unto the Lord.
25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
26 And when he had found him,
he brought him unto Antioch.
And it came to pass,
that a whole year they assembled themselves
with the church,
and taught much people.
And the disciples were called Christians first
in Antioch.
Acts 13:46-52
King James Version
46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said,
It was necessary that the word of God
should first have been spoken to you:
but seeing ye put it from you,
and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life,
lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying,
I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles,
that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
48 And when the Gentiles heard this,
they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord:
and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
49 And the word of the Lord was published
throughout all the region.
50 But the Jews stirred up
the devout and honourable women,
and the chief men of the city,
and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas,
and expelled them out of their coasts.
51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them,
and came unto Iconium.
52 And the disciples were filled with joy,
and with the Holy Ghost.
Acts 14:1-7
King James Version
14 And it came to pass in Iconium,
that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews,
and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews
and also of the Greeks believed.
2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles,
and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.
3 Long time therefore abode they
speaking boldly in the Lord,
which gave testimony unto the word of his grace,
and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
4 But the multitude of the city was divided:
and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles,
and also of the Jews with their rulers,
to use them despitefully, and to stone them,
6 They were ware of it,
and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia,
and unto the region that lieth round about:
7 And there they preached the gospel.
Acts 14:19-21
King James Version
19 And there came thither certain Jews
from Antioch and Iconium,
who persuaded the people,
and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city,
supposing he had been dead.
20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him,
he rose up, and came into the city:
and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city,
and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra,
and to Iconium, and Antioch,
Acts 14:24-28
King James Version
24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia,
they came to Pamphylia.
25 And when they had preached the word in Perga,
they went down into Attalia:
26 And thence sailed to Antioch,
from whence they had been recommended
to the grace of God
for the work which they fulfilled.
27 And when they were come,
and had gathered the church together,
they rehearsed all that God had done with them,
and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.
Acts 15:35-36
King James Version
35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch,
teaching and preaching the word of the Lord,
with many others also.
36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas,
Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city
where we have preached the word of the Lord,
and see how they do.
Acts 15:38-41
King James Version
38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them,
who departed from them from Pamphylia,
and went not with them to the work.
39 And the contention was so sharp between them,
that they departed asunder one from the other:
and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed,
being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia,
confirming the churches.
Acts 16:1-5
King James Version
16 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra:
and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus,
the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess,
and believed; but his father was a Greek:
2 Which was well reported of by the brethren
that were at Lystra and Iconium.
3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him;
and took and circumcised him because of the Jews
which were in those quarters:
for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
4 And as they went through the cities,
they delivered them the decrees for to keep,
that were ordained of the apostles and elders
which were at Jerusalem.
5 And so were the churches established in the faith,
and increased in number daily.
Acts 16:6-8
King James Version
6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia
and the region of Galatia,
and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost
to preach the word in Asia,
7 After they were come to Mysia,
they assayed to go into Bithynia:
but the Spirit suffered them not.
8 And they passing by Mysia
came down to Troas.
Acts 18:18-19
King James Version
18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while,
and then took his leave of the brethren,
and sailed thence into Syria,
and with him Priscilla and Aquila;
having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there:
but he himself entered into the synagogue,
and reasoned with the Jews.
Acts 18:21-23
King James Version
21 But bade them farewell, saying,
I must by all means keep this feast
that cometh in Jerusalem:
but I will return again unto you, if God will.
And he sailed from Ephesus.
22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up,
and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.
23 And after he had spent some time there, he departed,
and went over all the country
of Galatia and Phrygia in order,
strengthening all the disciples.
Acts 19:1-2
King James Version
19 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth,
Paul having passed through the upper coasts
came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them,
Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?
And they said unto him,
We have not so much as heard
whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Acts 19:8-10
King James Version
8 And he went into the synagogue,
and spake boldly for the space of three months,
disputing and persuading the things
concerning the kingdom of God.
9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not,
but spake evil of that way before the multitude,
he departed from them, and separated the disciples,
disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
10 And this continued by the space of two years;
so that all they which dwelt in Asia
heard the word of the Lord Jesus,
both Jews and Greeks.
Acts 19:26
King James Version
26 Moreover ye see and hear,
that not alone at Ephesus,
but almost throughout all Asia,
this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people,
saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
Acts 20:5-6
King James Version
5 These going before tarried for us at Troas.
6 And we sailed away from Philippi
after the days of unleavened bread,
and came unto them to Troas in five days;
where we abode seven days.
Acts 20:15-17
King James Version
15 And we sailed thence,
and came the next day over against Chios;
and the next day we arrived at Samos,
and tarried at Trogyllium;
and the next day we came to Miletus.
16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus,
because he would not spend the time in Asia:
for he hasted, if it were possible for him,
to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus,
and called the elders of the church.
Acts 21:1
King James Version
21 And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them,
and had launched, we came with a straight course
unto Coos,
and the day following unto Rhodes,
and from thence unto Patara:
Acts 21:39
King James Version
39 But Paul said,
I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus,
a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city:
and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.
Acts 22:3
King James Version
3 I am verily a man which am a Jew,
born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia,
yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel,
and taught according to the perfect manner
of the law of the fathers,
and was zealous toward God,
as ye all are this day.
Acts 23:34
King James Version
34 And when the governor had read the letter,
he asked of what province he was.
And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;
Acts 27:4-6
King James Version
4 And when we had launched from thence,
we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
5 And when we had sailed
over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia,
we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
6 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria
sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.
When SPIRIT inspired me to create this blog seven days ago, I had no idea the volume of material, clues, and information I'd encounter.
Surely, it's not by accident JESUS converted apostle Paul.
Surely, it's not by accident Paul did a complete 180-degree turnaround.
Surely, it's not by accident JESUS spoke of seven churches in the Book of Revelation.
Surely, it's not by accident ALL these churches are in Asia Minor (now known as Turkey).
It's all by GOD's will, and design.
As SPIRIT and I write the articles, I'm finding out more.
GOD loves a childlike, inquiring heart.
Which I happen to have.
All because I love GOD, and care about you.
I am intent on finding out Turkey's future, through Bible prophecy.
Step by step, I'll get there.
NOTE:
*From reading the Bible, we learn that the gospel was given by the LORD's disciples to both Jew, and Greek.
Greeks were also known as "Gentiles".
If you're not a Jew, you're a Gentile.
As I am.
Related material:
PAUL's testimony 1 (Acts 22:1-21 KJV)
PAUL's testimony 2 (Acts 26 KJV)
Related video:
The Complete Story of Paul: The Apostle to the Gentiles
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