God's grace can redeem even the most unlikely people,

drug addicts who shed their addiction to follow Jesus,

thugs who learned their lesson behind bars and found freedom in Christ.

Today, on Insight for Living, Chuck Swindall recounts one of the

most radical transformations on record, the conversion of Saul, a one-time Christian killer.

What you're about to hear is the first study in a biographical series on his life. We begin now

right where we left off on Thursday's program. Chuck titled his message,

May I introduce you to Saul of Tarsus.

Paul lived for the day that he would become a member of the Jewish Supreme Court, called in Acts

the Council, otherwise called the Sanhedron. Altogether, 71 men who sat at curved benches

in a courtroom area which is precisely where they sat for the hearing of Stephen, as mentioned

over here in Acts chapter

six and seven. His father was most likely a master tentmaker. Saul followed in his trail,

and he learned the trade as well. We know absolutely nothing of his mother. She either died as in Lincoln's case very young in his life

or she was alienated from the family for some unrevealed reason. She never appears here or anywhere

in literature. Saul was his given name and it probably came from that one who was the first king of Israel and was of course the

the most famous in Benjaminite history, King Saul. Here is a man who with brilliant mind by the age of 30,

I'm figuring him to be, has come to the place,

which would be what we would call at the very apex or the zenith of his career.

He is either practicing law or is serving as a local rabbi, and he has found his way back to

Jerusalem if he indeed ever left after schooling.

And I want to convince you today that he was in the audience while Stephen gave his testimony

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