Did The Apostle Paul Witness The Crucifiction Of Jesus Christ?

[tyndale1946]

We know he wasn't called Paul at the time but Saul and at the stoning of Stephen the cloak of Stephen was tossed at Saul's feet... The writer of the following link lays down some very historical biblical truths and poses this question... Do you think that Paul/Saul was a witness to the crucifiction of Jesus Christ?... Is it just speculation that he was or wasn't or does scripture put him there?... I believe he was!... What do you believe?... Brother Glen

http://thefederalist.com/2016/03/25/did-the-apostle-paul-witness-christs-crucifixion/

 

[percho]

I believe he was. As a lost sheep!

 

[Alcott]

I don't know...but I hope you didn't spell that long word in your title as you cognizantly meant to.

 

[agedman]

Imo, the time frame of Paul being in Jerusalem, for the wonderful Passover events and that he was highly regarded among the religious righteous as an intellectual, it would seem highly likely that he did.

It would also go along with the history of him persecuting the church, the "pricks" that he kicked against knowing not only did he consent to Stephen, but was an integral part of the proceedings of the Cross, too.

But all this is pure speculation, for I don't recall ever reading from history or from Scriptures any documentation one way or the other.

 

[beameup]

I personally don't think that witnessing crucifixion would be of any interest to a religious Jew who was preparing for Passover. Also, Paul never mentions this in his epistles. He does mention that he saw the "risen Christ".

 

[TomLaPalm]

It was a impromptu event, hasty trial and execution, . Paul might not have been there but he certainly knew about it. He could have been in school in Jerusalem and witnessed the events due to his relationship with the Sanhedrin or he could have still been in Tarsus far away

 

[tyndale1946]

It was a impromptu event, hasty trial and execution, . Paul might not have been there but he certainly knew about it. He could have been in school in Jerusalem and witnessed the events due to his relationship with the Sanhedrin or he could have still been in Tarsus far away

I agree but think about this wouldn't this statement made to the Galatians brethren have had greater emphasis if he really had been there?... Brother Glen

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

 

[preachinjesus]

While we can't say for sure, I doubt he was witness to it personally. It would have come up in his letters if he had. Saying "I saw Jesus crucified and then his resurrected body (on the way to Damascus)" would have been a keen insight and eyewitness type claim Paul would certainly have used.

Perhaps Paul was outside Jerusalem or Palestine at the time, or maybe he was tending to his family life (I do believe Paul was married before his conversion) in his hometown in Tarsus. It wasn't common for Pharisees to stay in Jerusalem outside their regular times of Temple service.

Of course there are other options here to affirm him seeing Jesus crucified. I don't honestly know if he did or didn't, but I would suspect had Paul seen it, he would have said something.

Good discussion folks!