Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
Growth can be challenging. We spend much time and effort growing ourselves, our family, a business, or the Church. Some challenges come with growth. In Acts 6-9, we look at challenges that come from the Church’s growth in Acts and the growth that comes to Saul, allowing him to become a disciple of Christ. Sometimes, allowing people to grow and forgive them can be a challenge, including when they have stood silently by when others threw verbal stones at loved ones. I hope our time together today will help us “come up and sit” (v. 31) with someone in need.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell: “...we allow ourselves to get diverted not only from eternal objectives, but also into tasks that are not actually ours to do. This insightful case is instructive: “Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.’ (Acts 6:2.)
“The Twelve, had they not been inspired, could have easily ended up being very busy as regional welfare administrators and never left Jerusalem! There would have been plenty to do-many widows to be cared for. The Twelve, of course, realized that they had not been called to serve tables but, rather, to spread the word of God about the earth. Hence, they wisely delegated the welfare task to others. So the needs of the Greek widows-which were real-were met, but without sacrificing the Twelve's higher calling.
“Sometimes in the Church we gravitate toward conspicuous busyness rather than doing what we have really been called to do. Getting thus diverted usually occurs, however, because of bad judgment rather than bad motives. When we fail to accord priority to our real opportunities, we tend to make Martha like choices instead of Mary like choices. Remember, it was Martha rather than Mary who “was cumbered.’ (Luke 10:40 42.)
“A bishop who is merely a manager of programs or activities will be more weary and less effective than a bishop who is a shepherd of the flock. Doing those basic things we are supposed to be doing can permit us to proceed with confidence and in patience. Otherwise, indiscriminate busyiness will result in trying to do too many things simultaneously, pursuing quickie campaigns and producing only temporary results at best.” (We Will Prove Them Herewith Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1982, 111.)
Terms in the book of Acts
Proselyte - a Gentile who worships the Jewish God in the Jewish way, to the point that he agrees to become circumcised.
Devout - from the Greek root word eulebēs; it means "pious and dutiful." When applied to a Gentile, "devout" or "righteous" may mean he follows Judaism but is not circumcised.
Greeks - persons of Greek lineage.
Grecians - Jews of the dispersion who adopted Hellenists' customs and who spoke Greek (Acts 6:1; Acts 9:29)
Joseph Fielding McConkie: “In his great defense of the faith, Stephen rehearsed Bible history to the council of the Jews, showing that as their fathers had rejected the prophets sent to them, they in like manner had rejected the promised Messiah. He told how Joseph, called of the Lord, was rejected by his brothers, who sold him into bondage, and how they came to him years later seeking corn and still did not recognize him. Stephen's point was that it was “the second time’ before they recognized him (Acts 7:13). As it was with Joseph, so it was with Moses. According to Stephen's telling of the story, Moses sought to be the deliverer of Israel while he lived in Pharaoh's court. Yet the children of Israel rejected him, saying, “Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?’ He was not accepted as such until he came the second time. (Acts 7:25 35.) Both Old Testament stories were declared by Stephen to be prophetic types of the rejection of Christ and the fact that his nation would not accept him until the time of his Second Coming.” (Gospel Symbolism Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1999, 45.)
What does Stephen know about Moses that is not recorded in Exodus?
In recounting Jewish history, Stephen gives us bits of information about Moses which are not contained in the Exodus account. Like Josephus, the ancient historian, Stephen was privy to more complete records. His record tells us about: a) Moses’ natural good looks (v. 20), b) his education among the Egyptians (v. 22), c) his mighty deeds and words while amongst the Egyptians (v. 22), d) his age of 40 at the time he left Egypt (v. 23), e) his understanding of his mission to deliver Israel long before his epiphany on Sinai (v. 25), and f) his age of 80 when the Lord appeared to him on Sinai (v. 30). Josephus is a good source for some of this complimentary information.
Good Looks
“Thermuthis was Pharaoh’s daughter. She was now diverting herself by the banks of the river; and seeing a cradle borne along by the current, she sent some that could swim, and bid them bring the cradle to her. When those that were sent on this errand came to her with the cradle, and she saw the little child, she was greatly in love with it, on account of its largeness and beauty; for God had taken such great care in the formation of Moses, that he caused him to be thought worthy of bringing up, and providing for...”
“...God did also give him that tallness, when he was but three years old, as was wonderful. And as for his beauty...it happened frequently, that those that met him as he was carried along the road, were obliged to turn again upon seeing the child; that they left what they were about, and stood still a great while to look on him; for the beauty of the child was so remarkable and natural to him on many accounts, that it detained the spectators, and made them stay longer to look upon him.” (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book II, 9:5 6)
Education
“Now Moses's understanding became superior to his age, nay, far beyond that standard; and when he was taught, he discovered greater quickness of apprehension than was usual at his age...“He was, therefore, educated with great care. So the Hebrews depended on him, and were of good hopes that great things would be done by him; but the Egyptians were suspicious of what would follow such his education.” (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book II, 9:6-7)
Mighty in Deeds
Moses was a mighty man long before he went to Pharaoh to deliver the Israelites. The following story is most illustrative. While Moses was relatively young, an Ethiopian army invaded Egypt. They proceeded northward on a rampage all the way to Memphis. Pharaoh’s priests suggested placing Moses in charge of an army to repel the invasion. (They had hoped that he would be killed in the venture.) As general, Moses faced a daunting task. The Ethiopian army had used the usual routes of travel for their attack. Along the Nile, travel was easy and safe and they expected an attack along these same routes. In the deserts, no one dared to pass because of thousands of poisonous snakes. To attempt an attack by land was suicide. But Moses planned a daring surprise attack through snake country. His plan was to carry with him several baskets of snake eating birds, known as “ibes.” The birds cleared a path in the desert which allowed Moses to make a sneak attack on the Ethiopians.“As soon, therefore, as Moses was come to the land which was the breeder of these serpents, he let loose the ibes, and by their means repelled the serpentine kind, and used them for his assistants before the army came upon that ground. When he had therefore proceeded thus on his journey, he came upon the Ethiopians before they expected him; and, joining battle with them, he beat them, and deprived them of the hopes they had of success against the Egyptians, and went on in overthrowing their cities, and indeed made a great slaughter of these Ethiopians.” (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book II, 10:2)
President George Q. Cannon: “If we could understand the glory we once had with our Father in heaven, we would be discontented in dwelling in this condition of existence. We would pine for the home we left behind us. Its glory and its beauty, its heavenly graces and delights were of such a character that we would pine for it with that homesickness that men have some partial knowledge of here on the earth. . .
“Wisely, in the providence of God, this knowledge is withdrawn from us. We can have a glimpse occasionally, through the revelations of the Spirit to us, of the glory there is awaiting us, and sometimes when men and women are approaching death-when they are ready to step out of this existence into the other-the veil becomes so thin that they behold the glories of the eternal world, and when they come back again-as some have . . . they come back to this mortal existence with a feeling of regret. They have had a foretaste of the glory that awaited them; they have had a glimpse of that glory that is behind the veil; and the love of life is so completely lost, the love of earthly home and friends is so completely taken from them, that they desire with all their hearts to take their exit from this life into that glorious life which they knew was on the other side of the veil. (Sept. 28, 1884, JD 26:192-93)” (Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of President George Q. Cannon, selected, arranged, and edited by Jerreld L. Newquist Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1987, 8)
Robert J. Matthews: “At Stephen's martyrdom Saul (Paul) is spoken of as a “young man’ (Acts 7:58). The Greek word in the manuscript requires this be a man less than forty years old. Stephen's death was probably sometime around A.D. 35, give or take a year or two. While imprisoned at Rome sometime around A.D. 61-65, Paul characterizes himself as “Paul the aged’ (Philem. 1:9)...I believe a commonsense conclusion would be that Saul was born sometime around A.D. 5, making him in his early thirties at Stephen's martyrdom and in his sixties while imprisoned at Rome.” (Behold the Messiah Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1994, 346.)
President Russell M. Nelson: “Vulgarity, faultfinding, and evil speaking of others are all too common. Too many pundits, politicians, entertainers, and other influencers throw insults constantly. I am greatly concerned that so many people seem to believe that it is completely acceptable to condemn, malign, and vilify anyone who does not agree with them. Many seem eager to damage another’s reputation with pathetic and pithy barbs!
“Anger never persuades. Hostility builds no one. Contention never leads to inspired solutions. Regrettably, we sometimes see contentious behavior even within our own ranks. We hear of those who belittle their spouses and children, of those who use angry outbursts to control others, and of those who punish family members with the “silent treatment.” We hear of youth and children who bully and of employees who defame their colleagues.
“My dear brothers and sisters, this should not be. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are to be examples of how to interact with others—especially when we have differences of opinion. One of the easiest ways to identify a true follower of Jesus Christ is how compassionately that person treats other people.” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/04/47nelson)
“Philip-saintly, valiant, a powerful preacher, a mighty worker of miracles-held only the Aaronic Priesthood! Peter and John must yet come from Jerusalem to Samaria to confer the Holy Ghost upon his baptized converts. (Acts 8:14 17.) And yet Philip, magnifying his calling, casts out devils, commands the lame to leap and the sick to rise from their beds of affliction. Miracles are wrought by the power of faith, and a righteous man need not hold the Melchizedek Priesthood to have power and influence with his Creator. As Joseph Smith said, “If a priest understands his duty, his calling, and ministry, and preaches by the Holy Ghost, his enjoyment is as great as if he were one of the Presidency.’ (Teachings, p. 112.)” (Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965 1973, 2: 81.)
Wilford Woodruff: “I desire to impress upon you the fact that it does not make any difference whether a man is a priest or an Apostle, if he magnifies his calling. A Priest holds the key of the ministering of angels. Never in my life, as an Apostle, as a Seventy, or as an Elder, have I ever had more of the protection of the Lord than while holding the office of a Priest. The Lord revealed to me by visions, by revelations, and by the Holy Spirit, many things that lay before me.” (Institute Manual, The Life and Teachings of Jesus & his Apostles, 2nd ed., p. 246)
Elder Neal A. Maxwell: “We can be of so much service to others in many “thou shalt’ ways. Of course, the problem is that rendering such service takes time and we are all so busy. Some situations may call for service that somehow seems to be beneath us. Besides, we have other things to do. The “thou shalts’ are so convenient to put off. Who will notice the procrastination anyway? After all, we are not robbing a bank. Or are there forms of withholding which constitute stealing? (quotes Acts 8:26 21)
“...How many times are we too busy to “come up and sit’ (v. 31) with someone who needs conversation? You and I have divine promptings all the time encouraging us to do good, but we often deflect them instead of doing like Philip, who “ran thither.’” (“The Pathway of Discipleship,” Ensign, Sept. 1998, 10)
Saul was born in the Greek city Tarsus (see Acts 21:39) and had Roman citizenship (see Acts 16:37). He was a Jew from the lineage of Benjamin (see Romans 11:1) and was educated in Jerusalem by Gamaliel (see Acts 22:3), a well-known Pharisee and respected teacher of Jewish law (see Acts 5:34). Saul became a Pharisee (see Acts 23:6), and he spoke a “Hebrew tongue” (probably Aramaic) and Greek (see Acts 21:37, 40). He was later known by his Latin name, Paul (see Acts 13:9). (See Bible Dictionary, “Paul.”)
“In summary, then, Paul was the product of three cultures Judaic, Hellenistic, and Roman (Acts 21:39; 22:27).
“Paul said that he had obeyed all Jewish requirements, so he was likely married (see Galatians 1:14; Philippians 3:6). A famous part of the Mishnah, (Pirkei Aboth) outlines the various stages of a Jewish man's life: "At five years old one is ready for the scripture, at ten years for the Mishnah, at thirteen for the commandments, at fifteen for Talmud, at eighteen for marriage, at twenty for pursuit of righteousness, at thirty for full strength, at forty for discernment, at fifty for counsel, at sixty for old age" (Aboth 5:24). The Jewish religion and culture commended marriage and family life to one and all and looked with disfavor on the single state. For example, the Mishnah stipulates that "an unmarried man may not be a teacher of children" (Kiddushin 4:13). (D. Kelly Ogden and Andrew C. Skinner, New Testament Apostles Testify of Christ Salt Lake City; Deseret Book, 1998, 49)
Descriptions of Paul:
2 Corinthians 10:10: “For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.”
Francis E. Gigot: “Sources of information are both scanty and late. Yet as the passing descriptions of the great Apostle which have come down to us agree in several particulars, it cannot be denied that to some extent they give us correct data respecting St. Paul’s countenance. They all agree in speaking of his small stature, his long face with height forehead, aquiline nose, close and prominent eyebrows. Other features mentioned are partial baldness, gray beard, a clear complexion, and a winning manner.” (Outlines of New Testament History, (Catholic) pp. 326 327)
F. W. Farrar: “The reader must judge whether any truth may have trickled into the various accounts through centuries of tradition. As they do not contradict, but are rather confirmed by the earliest portraits which have been preserved, we may perhaps assume from them this much, that St. Paul was short, that he had a slight stoop in the shoulders; that his nose was aquiline, that his thin hair was early “sable silvered’. We may also conjecture that his face was pale, and liable to a quick change of expression.” (The life and Work of St. Paul, (Protestant) p. 758.)
Joseph Smith: January 5, 1841, at the organization of a school of instruction: "He is about five feet high; very dark hair; dark complexion; dark skin; large Roman nose; sharp face; small black eyes, penetrating as eternity; round shoulders; a whining voice, except when elevated, and then it almost resembled the roaring of a lion. He was a good orator, active and diligent, always employing himself in doing good to his fellow man."(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 180)
A goad is defined as a spear or a sharp pointed stick used to sting or prig. The burro who kicks the sharp instrument with which he is being prodded is kicking at the pricks. His retaliation does little damage to the sharp stick or to him who wields it but brings distress to the foot that kicks it.
. . . Those who kick at the goad, that stifle and smother the convictions of conscience, that rebel against God's truths laws, that quarrel with His providences, that persecute and oppose His ministers, because they reprove them . . . and fly in the face of their reprovers, they kick against the pricks, and will have a great deal to answer for.’ (Commentaries by Henry M. Scott.)
Rabbis teach that the Law of Moses brings one to know God, which brings reconciliation. Saul found out that the Law did neither. Knowing God and reconciliation with God only come through Christ.
Note: There is a discrepancy between the account in Acts 9:3-7 and the accounts in Acts 22 and Acts 26.
“The three accounts of Paul's vision elicit such questions as, Why is there more than one account? Do differences arise more out of small contradictions or out of silence about details? What do all accounts agree upon? Critics of Joseph Smith's First Vision also ask similar questions. Paul and Joseph Smith told their first visions on more than one occasion because different people in different situations challenged them. "Without memorization or a script, no one will retell any experience in exactly the same way; one will emphasize what he feels important at the time, which is partly determined by whom is listening. For instance, Paul did not emphasize his mission to the Gentiles before the hostile Jewish audience in the temple (Acts 22), but he did to the semi-Gentile, King Agrippa (Acts 26). Paul's experience remained the same, but his reasons for stressing certain facts changed in new circumstances. For both Joseph Smith and Paul, their central experience remained the same in every telling" (Anderson, "Guide to Acts," 24).
Elder Jeffery R. Holland: “There is something in many of us that particularly fails to forgive and forget earlier mistakes in life—either our mistakes or the mistakes of others. …
“Let people repent. Let people grow. Believe that people can change and improve.” (“The Best Is Yet to Be,” Ensign or Liahona, Jan. 2010, 25–26.)
President Ezra Taft Benson: “A [person] can ask no more important question in his [or her] life than that which Paul asked: ‘… Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?’” (“Listen to a Prophet’s Voice,” Ensign, Jan. 1973, 57).
Teaching Thoughts:
Elder Neal A. Maxwell: “...we allow ourselves to get diverted not only from eternal objectives, but also into tasks that are not actually ours to do. This insightful case is instructive: “Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.’ (Acts 6:2.)
“The Twelve, had they not been inspired, could have easily ended up being very busy as regional welfare administrators and never left Jerusalem! There would have been plenty to do-many widows to be cared for. The Twelve, of course, realized that they had not been called to serve tables but, rather, to spread the word of God about the earth. Hence, they wisely delegated the welfare task to others. So the needs of the Greek widows-which were real-were met, but without sacrificing the Twelve's higher calling.
“Sometimes in the Church we gravitate toward conspicuous busyness rather than doing what we have really been called to do. Getting thus diverted usually occurs, however, because of bad judgment rather than bad motives. When we fail to accord priority to our real opportunities, we tend to make Martha like choices instead of Mary like choices. Remember, it was Martha rather than Mary who “was cumbered.’ (Luke 10:40 42.)
“A bishop who is merely a manager of programs or activities will be more weary and less effective than a bishop who is a shepherd of the flock. Doing those basic things we are supposed to be doing can permit us to proceed with confidence and in patience. Otherwise, indiscriminate busyiness will result in trying to do too many things simultaneously, pursuing quickie campaigns and producing only temporary results at best.” (We Will Prove Them Herewith Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1982, 111.)
Terms in the book of Acts
Proselyte - a Gentile who worships the Jewish God in the Jewish way, to the point that he agrees to become circumcised.
Devout - from the Greek root word eulebēs; it means "pious and dutiful." When applied to a Gentile, "devout" or "righteous" may mean he follows Judaism but is not circumcised.
Greeks - persons of Greek lineage.
Grecians - Jews of the dispersion who adopted Hellenists' customs and who spoke Greek (Acts 6:1; Acts 9:29)
Joseph Fielding McConkie: “In his great defense of the faith, Stephen rehearsed Bible history to the council of the Jews, showing that as their fathers had rejected the prophets sent to them, they in like manner had rejected the promised Messiah. He told how Joseph, called of the Lord, was rejected by his brothers, who sold him into bondage, and how they came to him years later seeking corn and still did not recognize him. Stephen's point was that it was “the second time’ before they recognized him (Acts 7:13). As it was with Joseph, so it was with Moses. According to Stephen's telling of the story, Moses sought to be the deliverer of Israel while he lived in Pharaoh's court. Yet the children of Israel rejected him, saying, “Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?’ He was not accepted as such until he came the second time. (Acts 7:25 35.) Both Old Testament stories were declared by Stephen to be prophetic types of the rejection of Christ and the fact that his nation would not accept him until the time of his Second Coming.” (Gospel Symbolism Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1999, 45.)
What does Stephen know about Moses that is not recorded in Exodus?
In recounting Jewish history, Stephen gives us bits of information about Moses which are not contained in the Exodus account. Like Josephus, the ancient historian, Stephen was privy to more complete records. His record tells us about: a) Moses’ natural good looks (v. 20), b) his education among the Egyptians (v. 22), c) his mighty deeds and words while amongst the Egyptians (v. 22), d) his age of 40 at the time he left Egypt (v. 23), e) his understanding of his mission to deliver Israel long before his epiphany on Sinai (v. 25), and f) his age of 80 when the Lord appeared to him on Sinai (v. 30). Josephus is a good source for some of this complimentary information.
Good Looks
“Thermuthis was Pharaoh’s daughter. She was now diverting herself by the banks of the river; and seeing a cradle borne along by the current, she sent some that could swim, and bid them bring the cradle to her. When those that were sent on this errand came to her with the cradle, and she saw the little child, she was greatly in love with it, on account of its largeness and beauty; for God had taken such great care in the formation of Moses, that he caused him to be thought worthy of bringing up, and providing for...”
“...God did also give him that tallness, when he was but three years old, as was wonderful. And as for his beauty...it happened frequently, that those that met him as he was carried along the road, were obliged to turn again upon seeing the child; that they left what they were about, and stood still a great while to look on him; for the beauty of the child was so remarkable and natural to him on many accounts, that it detained the spectators, and made them stay longer to look upon him.” (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book II, 9:5 6)
Education
“Now Moses's understanding became superior to his age, nay, far beyond that standard; and when he was taught, he discovered greater quickness of apprehension than was usual at his age...“He was, therefore, educated with great care. So the Hebrews depended on him, and were of good hopes that great things would be done by him; but the Egyptians were suspicious of what would follow such his education.” (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book II, 9:6-7)
Mighty in Deeds
Moses was a mighty man long before he went to Pharaoh to deliver the Israelites. The following story is most illustrative. While Moses was relatively young, an Ethiopian army invaded Egypt. They proceeded northward on a rampage all the way to Memphis. Pharaoh’s priests suggested placing Moses in charge of an army to repel the invasion. (They had hoped that he would be killed in the venture.) As general, Moses faced a daunting task. The Ethiopian army had used the usual routes of travel for their attack. Along the Nile, travel was easy and safe and they expected an attack along these same routes. In the deserts, no one dared to pass because of thousands of poisonous snakes. To attempt an attack by land was suicide. But Moses planned a daring surprise attack through snake country. His plan was to carry with him several baskets of snake eating birds, known as “ibes.” The birds cleared a path in the desert which allowed Moses to make a sneak attack on the Ethiopians.“As soon, therefore, as Moses was come to the land which was the breeder of these serpents, he let loose the ibes, and by their means repelled the serpentine kind, and used them for his assistants before the army came upon that ground. When he had therefore proceeded thus on his journey, he came upon the Ethiopians before they expected him; and, joining battle with them, he beat them, and deprived them of the hopes they had of success against the Egyptians, and went on in overthrowing their cities, and indeed made a great slaughter of these Ethiopians.” (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book II, 10:2)
President George Q. Cannon: “If we could understand the glory we once had with our Father in heaven, we would be discontented in dwelling in this condition of existence. We would pine for the home we left behind us. Its glory and its beauty, its heavenly graces and delights were of such a character that we would pine for it with that homesickness that men have some partial knowledge of here on the earth. . .
“Wisely, in the providence of God, this knowledge is withdrawn from us. We can have a glimpse occasionally, through the revelations of the Spirit to us, of the glory there is awaiting us, and sometimes when men and women are approaching death-when they are ready to step out of this existence into the other-the veil becomes so thin that they behold the glories of the eternal world, and when they come back again-as some have . . . they come back to this mortal existence with a feeling of regret. They have had a foretaste of the glory that awaited them; they have had a glimpse of that glory that is behind the veil; and the love of life is so completely lost, the love of earthly home and friends is so completely taken from them, that they desire with all their hearts to take their exit from this life into that glorious life which they knew was on the other side of the veil. (Sept. 28, 1884, JD 26:192-93)” (Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of President George Q. Cannon, selected, arranged, and edited by Jerreld L. Newquist Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1987, 8)
Robert J. Matthews: “At Stephen's martyrdom Saul (Paul) is spoken of as a “young man’ (Acts 7:58). The Greek word in the manuscript requires this be a man less than forty years old. Stephen's death was probably sometime around A.D. 35, give or take a year or two. While imprisoned at Rome sometime around A.D. 61-65, Paul characterizes himself as “Paul the aged’ (Philem. 1:9)...I believe a commonsense conclusion would be that Saul was born sometime around A.D. 5, making him in his early thirties at Stephen's martyrdom and in his sixties while imprisoned at Rome.” (Behold the Messiah Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1994, 346.)
President Russell M. Nelson: “Vulgarity, faultfinding, and evil speaking of others are all too common. Too many pundits, politicians, entertainers, and other influencers throw insults constantly. I am greatly concerned that so many people seem to believe that it is completely acceptable to condemn, malign, and vilify anyone who does not agree with them. Many seem eager to damage another’s reputation with pathetic and pithy barbs!
“Anger never persuades. Hostility builds no one. Contention never leads to inspired solutions. Regrettably, we sometimes see contentious behavior even within our own ranks. We hear of those who belittle their spouses and children, of those who use angry outbursts to control others, and of those who punish family members with the “silent treatment.” We hear of youth and children who bully and of employees who defame their colleagues.
“My dear brothers and sisters, this should not be. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are to be examples of how to interact with others—especially when we have differences of opinion. One of the easiest ways to identify a true follower of Jesus Christ is how compassionately that person treats other people.” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/04/47nelson)
“Philip-saintly, valiant, a powerful preacher, a mighty worker of miracles-held only the Aaronic Priesthood! Peter and John must yet come from Jerusalem to Samaria to confer the Holy Ghost upon his baptized converts. (Acts 8:14 17.) And yet Philip, magnifying his calling, casts out devils, commands the lame to leap and the sick to rise from their beds of affliction. Miracles are wrought by the power of faith, and a righteous man need not hold the Melchizedek Priesthood to have power and influence with his Creator. As Joseph Smith said, “If a priest understands his duty, his calling, and ministry, and preaches by the Holy Ghost, his enjoyment is as great as if he were one of the Presidency.’ (Teachings, p. 112.)” (Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965 1973, 2: 81.)
Wilford Woodruff: “I desire to impress upon you the fact that it does not make any difference whether a man is a priest or an Apostle, if he magnifies his calling. A Priest holds the key of the ministering of angels. Never in my life, as an Apostle, as a Seventy, or as an Elder, have I ever had more of the protection of the Lord than while holding the office of a Priest. The Lord revealed to me by visions, by revelations, and by the Holy Spirit, many things that lay before me.” (Institute Manual, The Life and Teachings of Jesus & his Apostles, 2nd ed., p. 246)
Elder Neal A. Maxwell: “We can be of so much service to others in many “thou shalt’ ways. Of course, the problem is that rendering such service takes time and we are all so busy. Some situations may call for service that somehow seems to be beneath us. Besides, we have other things to do. The “thou shalts’ are so convenient to put off. Who will notice the procrastination anyway? After all, we are not robbing a bank. Or are there forms of withholding which constitute stealing? (quotes Acts 8:26 21)
“...How many times are we too busy to “come up and sit’ (v. 31) with someone who needs conversation? You and I have divine promptings all the time encouraging us to do good, but we often deflect them instead of doing like Philip, who “ran thither.’” (“The Pathway of Discipleship,” Ensign, Sept. 1998, 10)
Saul was born in the Greek city Tarsus (see Acts 21:39) and had Roman citizenship (see Acts 16:37). He was a Jew from the lineage of Benjamin (see Romans 11:1) and was educated in Jerusalem by Gamaliel (see Acts 22:3), a well-known Pharisee and respected teacher of Jewish law (see Acts 5:34). Saul became a Pharisee (see Acts 23:6), and he spoke a “Hebrew tongue” (probably Aramaic) and Greek (see Acts 21:37, 40). He was later known by his Latin name, Paul (see Acts 13:9). (See Bible Dictionary, “Paul.”)
“In summary, then, Paul was the product of three cultures Judaic, Hellenistic, and Roman (Acts 21:39; 22:27).
“Paul said that he had obeyed all Jewish requirements, so he was likely married (see Galatians 1:14; Philippians 3:6). A famous part of the Mishnah, (Pirkei Aboth) outlines the various stages of a Jewish man's life: "At five years old one is ready for the scripture, at ten years for the Mishnah, at thirteen for the commandments, at fifteen for Talmud, at eighteen for marriage, at twenty for pursuit of righteousness, at thirty for full strength, at forty for discernment, at fifty for counsel, at sixty for old age" (Aboth 5:24). The Jewish religion and culture commended marriage and family life to one and all and looked with disfavor on the single state. For example, the Mishnah stipulates that "an unmarried man may not be a teacher of children" (Kiddushin 4:13). (D. Kelly Ogden and Andrew C. Skinner, New Testament Apostles Testify of Christ Salt Lake City; Deseret Book, 1998, 49)
Descriptions of Paul:
2 Corinthians 10:10: “For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.”
Francis E. Gigot: “Sources of information are both scanty and late. Yet as the passing descriptions of the great Apostle which have come down to us agree in several particulars, it cannot be denied that to some extent they give us correct data respecting St. Paul’s countenance. They all agree in speaking of his small stature, his long face with height forehead, aquiline nose, close and prominent eyebrows. Other features mentioned are partial baldness, gray beard, a clear complexion, and a winning manner.” (Outlines of New Testament History, (Catholic) pp. 326 327)
F. W. Farrar: “The reader must judge whether any truth may have trickled into the various accounts through centuries of tradition. As they do not contradict, but are rather confirmed by the earliest portraits which have been preserved, we may perhaps assume from them this much, that St. Paul was short, that he had a slight stoop in the shoulders; that his nose was aquiline, that his thin hair was early “sable silvered’. We may also conjecture that his face was pale, and liable to a quick change of expression.” (The life and Work of St. Paul, (Protestant) p. 758.)
Joseph Smith: January 5, 1841, at the organization of a school of instruction: "He is about five feet high; very dark hair; dark complexion; dark skin; large Roman nose; sharp face; small black eyes, penetrating as eternity; round shoulders; a whining voice, except when elevated, and then it almost resembled the roaring of a lion. He was a good orator, active and diligent, always employing himself in doing good to his fellow man."(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 180)
A goad is defined as a spear or a sharp pointed stick used to sting or prig. The burro who kicks the sharp instrument with which he is being prodded is kicking at the pricks. His retaliation does little damage to the sharp stick or to him who wields it but brings distress to the foot that kicks it.
. . . Those who kick at the goad, that stifle and smother the convictions of conscience, that rebel against God's truths laws, that quarrel with His providences, that persecute and oppose His ministers, because they reprove them . . . and fly in the face of their reprovers, they kick against the pricks, and will have a great deal to answer for.’ (Commentaries by Henry M. Scott.)
Rabbis teach that the Law of Moses brings one to know God, which brings reconciliation. Saul found out that the Law did neither. Knowing God and reconciliation with God only come through Christ.
Note: There is a discrepancy between the account in Acts 9:3-7 and the accounts in Acts 22 and Acts 26.
“The three accounts of Paul's vision elicit such questions as, Why is there more than one account? Do differences arise more out of small contradictions or out of silence about details? What do all accounts agree upon? Critics of Joseph Smith's First Vision also ask similar questions. Paul and Joseph Smith told their first visions on more than one occasion because different people in different situations challenged them. "Without memorization or a script, no one will retell any experience in exactly the same way; one will emphasize what he feels important at the time, which is partly determined by whom is listening. For instance, Paul did not emphasize his mission to the Gentiles before the hostile Jewish audience in the temple (Acts 22), but he did to the semi-Gentile, King Agrippa (Acts 26). Paul's experience remained the same, but his reasons for stressing certain facts changed in new circumstances. For both Joseph Smith and Paul, their central experience remained the same in every telling" (Anderson, "Guide to Acts," 24).
Elder Jeffery R. Holland: “There is something in many of us that particularly fails to forgive and forget earlier mistakes in life—either our mistakes or the mistakes of others. …
“Let people repent. Let people grow. Believe that people can change and improve.” (“The Best Is Yet to Be,” Ensign or Liahona, Jan. 2010, 25–26.)
President Ezra Taft Benson: “A [person] can ask no more important question in his [or her] life than that which Paul asked: ‘… Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?’” (“Listen to a Prophet’s Voice,” Ensign, Jan. 1973, 57).
Teaching Thoughts:
- What are areas of growth in our lives (and in the church). What are the challenges for us in dealing with growth including the growth in other people’s lives.
- Standing as a witness (Saul, Paul, and me). Are we silent when verbal stones are thrown?
- Philip as a role model for Priests in the Aaronic priesthood.
- How can we “come up and sit” (v. 31) with someone who needs a conversation today?