No. 667: Who is the twelfth apostle?

No. 667:

Who is the twelfth apostle?

Jesus chose twelve Apostles , but the one, Judas Iscariot betrayed the Lord and his calling and ministry. Ended as a traitor and hanged himself, more tragic than this could not be. But who then is the 12 Apostles or belonging Lamb's twelve apostles ? This I try to give an answer in this article.

Picture of the sarcophagus under the main altar in St. Paul's Church . That may be the apostle is buried . Recommended if you want to go to Rome to visit her far ahead of a visit to St. Peter's Basilica where warranted Peter not buried when he never was in Rome that Paul was several times. It has long been assumed that the crypt contained a sarcophagus , but large pieces of marble around and under the altar have been wrong . After removing two large marble blocks archaeologists found the sarcophagus that has been hidden for nearly 1700 years . The inscription on the sarcophagus reads " Paulo Apostolo Mart " which is Latin for " Paul Apostle Martyr " .

The selection of the Twelve Apostles , and Judas

From my commentaries Mark's Gospel 3 14 He appointed twelve [ whom also he named apostles ] that they might be with him , and that he might send them forth to preach They should be with him and get training and guidance of the master himself . But having disciples under him is also something one finds both the Old and within its what the Jews practiced .

15 and to have authority to drive out demons . Have power over the evil spirits were significant . There is a thought that strikes me today why so many preachers and others have problems in their Christian life. Could it be that they do not have power over the demons ? God wants us to have victory and success .

16 [ He appointed the twelve : ] It was Simon , whom he named Peter , That Peter was mentioned first get enough of that he was the foremost in the sense that he was speaking on behalf of the other frequently. And both Pentecost and Cornelius house it was he who spoke and dissolved for sin prisoners so that they were brought into the kingdom of God and God's church .

17 James the son of Zebedee , and John his brother - the two he named Boanerges , which means Sons of Thunder - There were two brothers who together with Peter , Jesus was closest among the disciples. John has also written four letters. 1st, 2nd , 3rd , and Revelation and the Gospel of John .

18 and Andrew, Philip , Bartholomew , Matthew , Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus , Thaddaeus , Simon Kananeos Andrew, Peter's brother is listed first. Here are the names rod into history forever. Even in the New Jerusalem is their name to find. Åpenb.21 . 14 The city wall had twelve foundations , and on them were the twelve names written , it was the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb .

19 and Judas Iscariot , who also betrayed him. It is never in a basket with a bad apple says the proverb . Even Jesus' disciples flock was the one who did not complete the race. Unfortunately, as it was then, and so it is today . Begun is not complete. The sin of Judah began almost innocently when he stole a bit of cash but ended in suicide and dissipated .

From Wikipedia: After Jesus Christ had preached for nearly a year and a half , he chose twelve of his disciples that they should be apostles . The apostles were men whom he sent away for them to do a special work. This work consisted among other things to preach the kingdom of God was at hand . After Judas Iscariot had betrayed Jesus on Holy Thursday was Matthias chosen to replace him. ( end of quote ) .

The word apostle comes from the Greek verb apostolos by apostello = send, and thus means messenger or Plenipotentiary . The reason for the Christian usage, the Jewish community, where salach , Envoy, is a legal term : " An envoy of proxy to a particular task ." The apostle represents the one who sent him , and is empowered by him. Apostles in the New Testament is above all the twelve disciples , whom Jesus chooses to found his church . They should be " with him " preach the gospel and cast out demons (Mk 3.14 to 15 ) . They are sent on a mission to speak in his name, empowered by Him ( Matt. 10.1 to 40 ) , with a special authority over the church's life and teachings , as they shall rule (Matthew 16:18-19, TLB ); 18.18 ) . They form the foundation of the church ; their number corresponds to the ancient twelve tribes of Israel . They , together with the Son of man be judges on the last day (Matt. 19.28 ) . To give them the risen Christ Great Commission (Matt. 28.18 f) . They will be his witnesses , that testify that the risen Christ is the Jesus they have lived and worked with , from the baptism in the Jordan to the ascension (Acts 1,8.21-22 ) .

In the future New Jerusalem , the names of the twelve apostles stand on foundations .

Åpenb.21 . 14 The city wall had twelve foundations , and on them were the twelve names written , it was the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb .

After the resurrection was Matthias chosen , but this does not make him the twelfth apostle . But he is a witness of the resurrection of Jesus was necessary before Paul was saved . The disciples did wrong , in that they used the Old Testament way to choose by lot .

Here different things I've written on the blog when this topic is discussed :

Paul the Apostle 12 and the Gentile Apostle ! Galatians 2 6 But of these who seemed to be something - whatever they were, to me is the same: God is no respecter of persons - those who were of reputation , bade me no further , 7 contrariwise, when they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised , just as Peter of the circumcision - 8 who gave Peter the power to apostle service among the circumcised , and he gave me the power they among the heathen - 9 And when they came to know about the grace that was given to me when James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars , me and Barnabas social care that we should go unto the heathen , and they unto the circumcision, In the New Testament used of representatives of different nature : once to Jesus as God's emissary ( Heb. 3:1) , a few times a envoys , messengers (Phil. 2.25 , 2 Cor 8,23 ) , but the rule of Christ messengers with authority from him . Within this latter sense applied apostle of two sharply distinct ways: the word is used partly for all Christian missionaries (eg . Acts 14.4 , Rooms 16.7) , partly solely on the apostolic college , the 12 apostles. Add to this that Paul , with particular emphasis claim to be Christ's apostle, "called to be an apostle ," " Gentile apostle" (Col. 1.1 , 1.1 Rooms , 1 Cor 1.1 , Room 11.13 , 1 Corinthians 9 , 1 ff . ) . In the early 100s died on the language , and apostle was later used only for those that Jesus had chosen, and of Paul , whom the Lord had put on their side at a particularly gentle grace ( Gal 1 , 1 Corinthians 9). In art produced apostles , each with its attribute , as a rule refers to their death way Peter with keys or up - inverted cross, Paul with sword and book, Andrew with X - shaped cross, Jacob de in pilgrim costume, John with the cup as a snake winds its way out of Philip, with a T - shaped cross or cross rod , Bartholomew with knife, with Thomas set square or lance , James dy with a tøyvalkerstokk , Matthew with halberd or sword , Judas Thaddaeus with knobbed stick , Mattias with an ax . Jesus' twelve disciples .

Furthermore, with a dispute with Torstein Langsæter :

For me, the Apostle Paul the Apostle 12 that was instituted by Jesus after he was met by Jesus on the road to Damascus. Would you also deny this Torstein Paul was greeted by the Lord Jesus Christ himself on the way to Damascus ? So hardened you may well not be about Paul's dear friend and brother? Acts 9 1 But Saul , still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord , went unto the high priest 2 and asked of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any belonging to the Way , both men and women , he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 But the journey happened that he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined a light from heaven around him , 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul ! why are you persecuting me ? 5 And he said , Who art thou , Lord? And he said, I am Jesus , whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise up and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do! 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood amazed, hearing the voice but seeing no man . 8 Saul arose when up from the ground , but when he opened his eyes , he saw no man: but they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus . 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank . 10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias , and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias ! He answered : Here I am , Lord ! 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise , and go into the street which is called Straight , and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth , 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight . 13 But Ananias answered, Lord ! I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him , Go ! for he is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel: 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake. 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house and put his hands on him said, Brother Saul, ! The Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the road where you came , that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes , and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized , 19 and he took birth to him , and was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 And immediately he preached Jesus in the synagogues , that He is the Son of God . 21 And all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name ? and he had come here to bring them bound unto the chief priests . 22 But Saul increased more in strength , and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah .

Paul the Apostle 12 and the Gentile Apostle ! Galatians 2 6 But of these who seemed to be something - whatever they were, to me is the same: God is no respecter of persons - those who were of reputation , bade me no further , 7 contrariwise, when they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised , just as Peter of the circumcision - 8 who gave Peter the power to apostle service among the circumcised , and he gave me the power they among the heathen - 9 And when they came to know about the grace that was given to me when James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars , me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship , that we should go unto the heathen , and they unto the circumcision, In the New Testament used of representatives of different nature : once to Jesus as God's emissary ( Heb. 3:1) , a few times a envoys , messengers (Phil. 2.25 , 2 Cor 8,23 ) , but the rule of Christ messengers with authority from him . Within this latter sense applied apostle of two sharply distinct ways: the word is used partly for all Christian missionaries (eg . Acts 14.4 , Rooms 16.7) , partly solely on the apostolic college , the 12 apostles. Add to this that Paul , with particular emphasis claim to be Christ's apostle, "called to be an apostle ," " Gentile apostle" (Col. 1.1 , 1.1 Rooms , 1 Cor 1.1 , Room 11.13 , 1 Corinthians 9 , 1 ff . ) . In the early 100s died on the language , and apostle was later used only for those that Jesus had chosen, and of Paul , whom the Lord had put on their side at a particularly gentle grace ( Gal 1 , 1 Corinthians 9). In art produced apostles , each with its attribute , as a rule refers to their death way Peter with keys or up - inverted cross, Paul with sword and book, Andrew with X - shaped cross, Jacob de in pilgrim costume, John with the cup as a snake winds its way out of Philip, with a T - shaped cross or cross rod , Bartholomew with knife, with Thomas set square or lance , James dy with a tøyvalkerstokk , Matthew with halberd or sword , Judas Thaddaeus with knobbed stick , Mattias with an ax . Jesus' twelve disciples .

That Matthias was chosen , it was not the Apostle , but as a witness that Jesus was resurrected . Whereas Paul was set apart and chosen to be Apostles , right Torstein ? Do not understand your negative relationship with Paul ? He is then a Jew , and wrote Hebrews and totaling half the New Testament. Do not you like him ? And that we should not keep the sabbath is not from Paul , but from the Holy Spirit and Apostle Meeting in Jerusalem , therefore your claims are not true Torstein . Labor . gj . 15 28 For the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no other burden on you than these necessary things : 29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood, and from strangled , and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves from these things , it will well for you . Farewell ! This was from both the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem and from those who preached to the gentile who said this and whoever said this " first " was God himself giving his testimony about this by his own Spirit !

The disciples " took " to the right and chose wrong ! Consequently ! Solder Disposal was evident in GT , but forbidden in the NT . Read here from GT about casting lots . 1Krøn 6:61 But the other Kohathites of the tribe, were by lot, ten cities of the half tribe of Manasseh . Jos 23:4 Behold, I have allotted unto the nations that remain , such as inheritance , according to your tribes , and with all the nations that I have cut off , from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west. 1Krøn 6:63 Merari by their families had by lot twelve cities of the tribe of Reuben and Gad tribe of Zebulun . 1Krøn 6:65 And they gave by lot out of the tribe of Judah and the tribe of Simeon: and the children of Benjamin , these cities which are mentioned by name. 1Krøn 24:5 Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another , for there were princes of the sanctuary, and princes of God , both among the sons of Eleazar , and among the sons of Ithamar . Jos 21:8 These cities with their suburbs children of Israel gave by lot , as the Lord had commanded by Moses. Jos 7:51 p.m. These are the inheritances which Eleazar the priest , and Joshua the son of Nun , and the heads of families of the Israelite tribes by lot in Shiloh before the LORD , at the door of the tabernacle . So they finished dividing the land . 4Mos 34:13 And Moses commanded the children of Israel , saying, This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot, which the LORD commanded to give unto the nine tribes and the half tribe . 4Mos 33:54 And ye shall replace the land unto you by lot according to your families: and the large seed shall give a large inheritance, and the little seed shall give the less inheritance : every one shall receive his portion , according to the plummet ; according your tribes shall replace it among you. 4Mos 36:2 And they said, The LORD commanded my lord to give the land of Israel for an inheritance by lot, and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother to his daughters. Jos 13:6 All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim , all the Sidonians . I will even drive them out of Israel : only divide the land by lot for an inheritance to Israel , as I have commanded thee; Jos 14:2 by lot, so they each received their inheritance , as the LORD had commanded by Moses. There were nine and a half tribe which at that time had an inheritance ; 4Mos 26:55 But by lot the land be replaced , according to the names of their tribes they shall inherit . Where in the NT says about casting lots ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Not a single place, except where the disciples chose wrong . What are we headed in the NT ? God's Word and Spirit of God , Hallelujah ! Rooms . 8 9 But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit , if the Spirit of God lives in you, but man has not the Spirit of Christ , he is none of him . 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin , yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you . 12 Therefore , brethren , we are not debtors to the flesh, that we should live according to the flesh ; 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye mortify the deeds of the body by the Spirit , ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God , these are sons . 15 I have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear , but you received the Spirit of adoption , whereby we cry , Abba, Father ! 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God .

Paul's name is going to be one of the cornerstones in which Judas name "should " have , hallelujah , amen ! " The city wall had twelve foundation stones , and on them were the twelve names write , it was the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. "

Torstein , Paul was called by God , who separated from his mother's womb, and called him by his grace . Paul is outstanding along with Peter and John were the three that are most prominent among the twelve apostles , Paul, son # 1 and # 2 son John and Peter at a good 3 space. The disciples did wrong by choosing Matthias the Apostle . This was like writing fake ! But Jesus chose Paul , inclusive, before he was born , it is an eternal truth, hallelujah ! I love both Jesus and Paul, and the day we get to heaven I will bow down in adoration before him , and kiss his feet. Afterwards it I want him to tell me all I wonder . From my commentaries Galatians 1 12 I have not received or learned by man, but by Jesus Christ revealed Himself to me. I thank God for Bible teachers. They open up the Scriptures to us and reveals many wonders and mysteries of the faith. But the fact is that the revelation of Jesus Christ can not be taught . It must Gives by the Holy Spirit. And it comes to those who , like Paul , shut themselves inside their own Arabia, determined to know Christ . This quality separates the two basic types of Christians. One strain says: "I gave my heart to Jesus " - but that's all they can assert their faith . They rejoice that they are going to heaven and not to hell . But they are no longer in their walk with Christ. The second battle says: "I gave my heart to Jesus - but I will not be satisfied until I know his heart . " This server will not rest until he carries the burden of Christ , walk as Christ walked , pleasing to God as Christ pleased God . Such determination may simply not be taught . But be warned anyway - if you truly want Jesus to give you her heart , then you must be prepared to undergo suffering. Indeed, the revelation of Christ you will receive will be accompanied by sufferings and trials like you've never experienced it before. Paul says that he received revelations from God that had been hidden from human eyes for centuries . " It was not in earlier eras made ​​known to the sons of men as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. " ( Eph. 3:5 ) . When Paul speaks of revelations (see 2 Cor . 12:7 ), so he uses a word that means " take away from the deck , open up hidden things. " God removed the lid from major mysteries of faith - and he showed Paul miracles in his salvation. Finally , Paul refers to an extremely important vision he received some fourteen years earlier , just after he had been saved . He describes being " caught up to the third heaven ... and heard unspeakable words , which it is not lawful for a man to utter. " ( 2 Cor . 12:2-4 ) . In short , Paul was given an unspeakable revelation from heaven. What an incredible abundance of revelations that Paul was given ! He experienced an incredible journey through heaven and saw and heard things that had never been seen in this world. 13 January 2014 at . 16.26 Jan Kåre Christensen said ... 13 Ye have heard how I came up the time I lived as a Jew , how violently I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it . Jesus himself says in Matthew 5.11 : " Yes, Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you , and lying all manner of evil upon you for my sake ." Jesus was mocked and persecuted , therefore, also his faithful expect to be there , but just when they are blessed . The story is told Peter and John that they were beaten with rods, and it was commanded them that they should not speak in the name of Jesus. So word of God says , "They went away from the council , rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name 's sake " Acts 5.41 . The apostles saw it as a mercy from God that they had to suffer for Christ. The Apostle Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:12 : " And all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution ." In other words, the one who love Jesus Christ and want to live in communion with him in accordance with God's commandments and admonitions , he or she will be persecuted. In Norway we 're not any direct physical stalking, but we have verbal persecution that occurs in different ways. It will stick to God's commandments and do them , many times discriminated against , ridiculed and scorned . But the apostle James writes that we should just observe for joy when we come in many trials (James 1.2 ) . The Apostle Peter says in 1 Peter 1.6 : " Therefore rejoice ye joy , though now for a little while, when need be , the grief in various trials ." God's Word encourages us accordingly to rejoice and be happy even if we have trials and sufferings . How it came to the Lord's apostles? Most martyred . The Apostle John was banished to the island of Patmos " for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus " (Rev. 1.9) and later died in Ephesus. 14 I went further in my Judaism than most peers in my community and was even more fierce for the traditions of the fathers. Paul was what we would call extreme and wholeheartedly. He was the most wholehearted and that went furthest in persecuting Christians. He not only pursued them in their own country , but also outside the borders of Israel . 15 But God , who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace , decided that he would Predestination for his vocation and ministry , there are other men and women in the Bible who have experienced such . Jeremiah. I think also there today . But most people get way laid in front of them and they are attracted election , will you go or let each? The choice is when the individual ! 16 reveal his Son to me , that I might preach him to the Gentiles . When I consulted me with people . There are choices that are required to be in private with God . After all, the individual who will carry the call , message and be the instrument . Human recognition and come and will always be # 2 and an eventual vindication . God is our best collaborator and advisor!

The important thing to understand here was that the disciples chose wrong ! But Jesus chose right when he chose Saul, named Paul , to become the 12th and most important apostle .

Torstein you write : "Paul was a liar . His words not true with Yeshua 's or GT . " What do you mean by this? Paul wrote half the NT with the Hebrews and the following letter off : Paul's letter to the Romans * Paul's 1st letter to the Corinthians * Paul 2 letter to the Corinthians * Paul's Letter to the Galatians Paul's Letter to the Ephesians Epistle to the Philippians Epistle to the Colossians Paul's 1st letter to the Thessalonians * Paul 2 letter to the Thessalonians * Paul's 1st Timothy * Paul 2 Timothy * Paul's letter to Titus Paul's letter to Philemon Should we reject all these letters ?

Torstein I'm getting tired of your lot , you are hereby warned that next time do not let your posts through before you answer me these three questions , and documenting the basis of the word of God , and not those eternal links you come with. 1 ) Who are you Mattias mentioned again in Acts or anywhere else that he was one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb ? 2 ) You need to say what in Paul 's letters and teaching , a bit on the way is not right and justify it on the basis of God's word. 3 ) Where in the NT says of us to keep the Sabbath ? On the contrary , it was not Paul who rejected the Sabbath for us Gentile Christians, but the church in Jerusalem. How can you argue with this? Regards Jan K

Final Comment:

The apostle Paul uses in Ephesians 3.8 . " I who am the least of the saints .. " (1978 overs . ) . The word that Paul uses here is elachistotero . So this is translated as the " smallest " or " poorest ". Looking at the bend of this adjective we find two endings . - isto - tero . The first is the extension of the superlative and the last is the suffix for komerativ . In other words, this butter on meat and pure expression means literally " inferior - most " or the " other than the slightest ." If we had written something like the Norwegian would indeed become a nonexistent word. In NT Greek writer often takes such liberties and new words are thus formed. This is a bit unusual for us, but in Greek this is completely normal . Paul is not only small , or at least , he is less than the least of the saints. Thus, most Norwegian translations too weak . The old translation 1930 writes me the least of all the saints .... This is perhaps the best translation of this verse . 1988 translation from Norwegian Bible writes only " .. the smallest of the Saints"

It was God who chose Saul who later became Paul , not some people. This , he writes also about in Galatians :

From my commentaries Galatians 1 10 I seek now to be recognized by the people - or of God? Samples I might do to please men ? There were still people I would be pleased , I should not be the servant of Christ . If another gospel teaches us , but another gospel can not give us eternal life, "another gospel would pervert the gospel. " The Bible emphasizes clearly that it is not granted for a gospel of Jesus Christ , who is from God. Even engleåpenbarelser can not shake this.

11 I tell you, brethren, the gospel I preached is not after man . This gave him authority in line with the twelve. He was not inferior to those which some saw as " the apostles " , 2nd Cor. 11, 5 : " ... I am not in any way inferior to these " he writes. This view of himself and his calling was essential for the apostle .

12 I have not received or learned by man, but by Jesus Christ revealed Himself to me. I thank God for Bible teachers. They open up the Scriptures to us and reveals many wonders and mysteries of the faith. But the fact is that the revelation of Jesus Christ can not be taught . It must be given by the Holy Spirit. And it comes to those who , like Paul , shut themselves inside their own Arabia, determined to know Christ . This quality separates the two basic types of Christians. One strain says: "I gave my heart to Jesus " - but that's all they can assert their faith . They rejoice that they are going to heaven and not to hell . But they are no longer in their walk with Christ. The second battle says: "I gave my heart to Jesus - but I will not be satisfied until I know his heart . " This server will not rest until he carries the burden of Christ , walk as Christ walked , pleasing to God as Christ pleased God . Such determination may simply not be taught . But be warned anyway - if you truly want Jesus to give you her heart , then you must be prepared to undergo suffering. Indeed, the revelation of Christ you will receive will be accompanied by sufferings and trials like you've never experienced it before. Paul says that he received revelations from God that had been hidden from human eyes for centuries . " It was not in earlier eras made ​​known to the sons of men as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. " ( Eph. 3:5 ) . When Paul speaks of revelations (see 2 Cor . 12:7 ), so he uses a word that means " take away from the deck , open up hidden things. " God removed the lid from major mysteries of faith - and he showed Paul miracles in his salvation. Finally , Paul refers to an extremely important vision he received some fourteen years earlier , just after he had been saved . He describes being " caught up to the third heaven ... and heard unspeakable words , which it is not lawful for a man to utter. " ( 2 Cor . 12:2-4 ) . In short , Paul was given an unspeakable revelation from heaven. What an incredible abundance of revelations that Paul was given ! He experienced an incredible journey through heaven and saw and heard things that had never been seen in this world.

13 Ye have heard how I came up the time I lived as a Jew , how violently I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it . Jesus himself says in Matthew 5.11 : " Yes, Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you , and lying all manner of evil upon you for my sake ." Jesus was mocked and persecuted , therefore, also his faithful expect to be there , but just when they are blessed . The story is told Peter and John that they were beaten with rods, and it was commanded them that they should not speak in the name of Jesus. So word of God says , "They went away from the council , rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name 's sake " Acts 5.41 . The apostles saw it as a mercy from God that they had to suffer for Christ. The Apostle Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:12 : " And all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution ." In other words, the one who love Jesus Christ and want to live in communion with him in accordance with God's commandments and admonitions , he or she will be persecuted. In Norway we 're not any direct physical stalking, but we have verbal persecution that occurs in different ways. It will stick to God's commandments and do them , many times discriminated against , ridiculed and scorned . But the apostle James writes that we should just observe for joy when we come in many trials (James 1.2 ) . The Apostle Peter says in 1 Peter 1.6 : " Therefore rejoice ye joy , though now for a little while, when need be , the grief in various trials ." God's Word encourages us accordingly to rejoice and be happy even if we have trials and sufferings . How it came to the Lord's apostles? Most martyred . The Apostle John was banished to the island of Patmos " for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus " (Rev. 1.9) and later died in Ephesus.

14 I went further in my Judaism than most peers in my community and was even more fierce for the traditions of the fathers. Paul was what we would call extreme and wholeheartedly. He was the most wholehearted and that went furthest in persecuting Christians. He not only pursued them in their own country , but also outside the borders of Israel .

15 But God , who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace , decided that he would Predestination for his vocation and ministry , there are other men and women in the Bible who have experienced such . Jeremiah. I think also there today . But most people get way laid in front of them and they are attracted election , will you go or let each? The choice is when the individual !

16 reveal his Son to me , that I might preach him to the Gentiles . When I consulted me with people . There are choices that are required to be in private with God . After all, the individual who will carry the call , message and be the instrument . Human recognition and come and will always be # 2 and an eventual vindication . God is our best collaborator and advisor!

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