Paul's life changed from a wealthy, high-ranking Jewish leader to a self-sacrificing, materially poor apostle of Christ.
According to Les Feldick, Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was making big money as a member of the Sanhedrin and a Pharisee, but after his conversion on the road to Damascus, he turned his back on all that. He became a 'nobody' in Judaism, yet became an unstoppable force for the Gospel, ultimately giving his life for it.
Acts 9:3-5 — Records Paul's dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, the pivotal moment that changed his life.
The Bible shows that Paul was a zealous Pharisee who persecuted Christians. In Acts 9, he was on his way to Damascus to arrest followers of Jesus when a light from heaven shone around him, and he heard the Lord's voice. This experience completely redirected his life. The apostle himself later wrote in Philippians 3 that he had profited in Judaism and counted all things loss for Christ. In 2 Corinthians 5:16, he said that henceforth he knew Christ no longer after the flesh, indicating a new spiritual perspective.
Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul's entire life was wrapped up in Judaism and his work as a Pharisee. He was a high-ranking, well-paid member of the Sanhedrin, trusted as a student of Gamaliel. But after his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, he did a total 180-degree turn. He turned his back on his influential position and wealth, becoming a 'nobody' — even losing his family. God transformed his zeal, turning him from a persecutor into the unstoppable apostle to the Gentiles. Though he faced hunger, anger, and discouragement, his love for Christ drove him, and only Nero's execution stopped him.
Les teaches that Paul gave up a well-paying position as a member of the Sanhedrin and the Pharisees. He was making big money as a religious leader of Israel. He also lost his family, as they likely did not accept his conversion. Paul himself noted that he had accomplished much in Judaism, but after three years, he was no longer high up — he was a nobody brought down to nothing.
Before conversion, Paul's zeal was directed to stamping out every Jew who embraced Jesus as the Messiah, thinking Jesus was an imposter and false teacher. After seeing who Jesus really was, that same energy was turned to love and obedience to Christ. Les notes that Paul's personality continued, but now he was driven by the love of Christ, becoming an unstoppable dynamo for the Gentiles.
Paul was no longer a respected leader; he was described as having contemptible speech and was not an orator like Apollos. He had to defend his religion and faced hardships—hunger, anger, failures, temptations. He was even nigh unto death and burdened with care for the churches. Yet he lived to follow and please his Savior, saying 'for me to die is gain.' Only Nero's execution could stop him.
What Does 'Unequally Yoked' Really Mean? 2 Corinthians 6 Explained
And the Lord went up against the same thing that the Apostle Paul and you and I do yet today. Human nature has not changed one iota. Just because it's 2,000 years ago doesn't mean that it's changed. The human nature is still the same. Alright, look what Jesus had to put up with in John's Gospel, chapter 7, and oh we can jump in at verse 10. John 7, verse 10.
Total 180-Degree Turn
Les explains that before Damascus, Paul thought Jesus was an imposter and was burning with opposition, but after conversion he made a complete turnaround and could say 'henceforth we know Him no more' in the flesh.
From Judaism to Love
Les shows that Paul's entire life was wrapped up in Judaism, but after transformation, he turned all his energy into loving Christ and serving the Gospel.
Unstoppable Dynamo
Les describes Paul as an unstoppable force who carried Christianity to the Gentiles, facing discouragement and near-death, but only stopped by execution.
Brought Down to Nothing
Les points out that after conversion and three years, Paul was no longer high in Judaism; he was a nobody, brought down to nothing, with contemptible speech.
Humanlike Yet Devoted
Les emphasizes that Paul was fully human — he got hungry, angry, had failures and temptations — yet he lived to follow and please Christ, saying 'for me to die is gain.'
Why Paul Said "We Know Christ No More" — 2 Corinthians 5:16
But here he had to defend his religion, and he started out to stamp out every Jew that had embraced Jesus as the Messiah. But oh now, now he knows Jesus for who He really is. And you remember I always like to show that from Acts chapter 9. Come back a moment, because again as we had our all day seminar last Saturday, had several make the comment, well they just never saw the impact of this.
Gave Up Wealth and Family
Les suggests that Paul turned his back on a well-paying Sanhedrin position and likely lost his wife and children because of his conversion.
Acts 9:3-5: And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
This records the moment of Paul's conversion, the turning point that completely changed his life.
2 Corinthians 5:16: Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
Paul explains that after his conversion, he no longer sees Christ from a human, outward perspective but in a spiritual way.
Philippians 3:7-8: But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Paul directly states that he gave up his former advantages in Judaism as loss for the sake of Christ.
Les Feldick speculates that Paul was likely married and had children before his conversion, given his position as a Pharisee. But after his conversion, he turned his back on his well-paying religious position, and Les wonders what his family did — implying he may have lost them. This is Les's personal inference, not a clear biblical statement.
Before conversion, Paul thought Jesus was an imposter, blasphemer, and false teacher, and he persecuted believers. After seeing Jesus on the road to Damascus, he realized who He really was and did a total 180-degree turn, dedicating his life to loving and serving Him.
Paul meant that after his conversion, he no longer related to Christ in a human, fleshly way — as just a man he had heard about. He now knew Him spiritually as the risen Lord, and he taught that believers should focus on Christ's death, burial, and resurrection rather than just his earthly ministry.
Watch the Teaching: What Does 'Unequally Yoked' Really Mean? 2 Corinthians 6 Explained