Why was Paul able to endure so much suffering as an apostle?
Paul endured great suffering because he remembered his own former persecution of Jewish believers. God had prepared him as the perfect candidate to absorb abuse, since he had handed out so much himself. That memory carried him until his martyrdom, when he was ready to offer himself.
Les explains that Paul’s former life as Saul of Tarsus, who persecuted Jewish believers even to strange cities and went to Damascus to arrest them, was the ground work for his apostleship. God told Ananias that Paul would suffer great things for His name’s sake. Les suggests that every time Paul came under oppression, his first memory was what he himself had done in opposition, and how God had the perfect candidate to take all the abuse because he had handed out so much himself. That remembrance carried him until the day of his death. Les notes that Paul was beheaded by the Roman government and reportedly ran the last few yards to the chopping block, ready to offer himself.
More Questions
Why was Paul able to endure the suffering and abuse he faced?
Paul's first memory whenever he came under oppression was what he himself had done in opposition to Christ, and God had the perfect candidate to take all the abuse because Paul had handed out so much of it himself.