Questions

Cecil B. Douthitt, P. O. Box 67, Brownwood, Texas

Regarding Saul Of Tarsus

Dear Brother Douthitt:

Will you at your convenience give me some light through the Gospel Guardian regarding Saul of Tarsus?

1. Was Paul ever a member of the Council or Sanhedrin?

2. Was Paul ever married?

Thanks for any information you may give.

Answer

1. The scriptures do not reveal that Paul was ever a member of the Council or Sanhedrin. He said that he gave his voice or vote when Christians were put to death in Jerusalem. (Acts 26:10) Some have inferred from this that he was a member of the Jewish Council, but that conclusion is not a necessary implication. We cannot know for a certainty whether he was a member of the Council or not.

2. Paul was not married when he wrote these words in 1 Corinthians 9:5, "Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?" If he was ever married the scriptures do not reveal it