The Discipleship of Paul

​“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the Law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭22:3‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/2692/act.22.3.NASB2020

Does the name Gamaliel sound familiar? It should because he had some advice that the Jewish council listened to in Acts 5.

“But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. And he said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful as to what you are about to do with these men. 

And so in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone, for if the source of this plan or movement is men, it will be overthrown; but if the source is God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭5:34-35, 38-39‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/2692/act.5.39.NASB2020

However, Saul did not heed the advice of His Rabbi, teacher, and mentor. He began to persecute the church starting with Steven. And on the way to Damascus, he found himself fighting against God. 

So why did I bring up Gamaliel? To bring out one of my favorite Bible principles, Discipleship. You see Jewish boys like Paul (Saul) their discipleship progress looked like this. From around the age of 5 to 12 they attended school in the synagogue. At the age of 12, they either ended their schooling and returned to their father's trade, or began to follow a Rabbi. They would have to be picked by the Rabbi to follow him. At around the age of 30, they would be released from the Rabbi and began to minister in the temple. If they were confirmed by two Rabbis they would also become a Rabbi and would find receive a few new young men to disciple. If at any time they never made the grade they would be sent back to their father's trade. 

Paul was in the middle of the process, he never became a Rabbi, under the direction of Gamaliel. Jesus, John the Baptist, and all the 12 apostles went through this process. I believe John and Jesus had finished the process and were Rabbis because they had disciples, but the 12 did not some were sent home to their dad's business (fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots). But along came Jesus and called them to follow Him

“And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of people.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:19‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/2692/mat.4.19.NASB2020

So how does discipleship look in our day? We train up kids in our churches in Sunday school and Sunday worship. And we send them to school by the world Monday through Friday. And then when they move on to college they leave the church and follow the world. But that is not how it is supposed to look. 

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. And you shall repeat them diligently to your sons and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. You shall also tie them as a sign to your hand, and they shall be as frontlets on your forehead. You shall also write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6:5-9‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/2692/deu.6.8-9.NASB2020

Discipleship starts in the house with the family. Talking about the Word of God around the dinner table, in the car while traveling, and when we lay down at night. As they get older we influence them to follow a spiritual mentor who can take them farther than we know-how. And for those of us who did not this kind of grounding. We must look for spiritual mentors who can guide us into Christian discipleship to look and act more like Jesus every day.