The Pharisees comprised the largest and most influential of Judaism's sects at the time of Christ. "The Pharisaic movement in the Jewish state rose from the ranks of the lay lawyers of the Greek period to become the leading religious and political party," explained Elder Howard W. Hunter of the Council of the Twelve in his April 1984 general conference address.

"The main characteristics of the Pharisees were their legalism and their legalistic inflexibility. They were known for their strict accuracy in the interpretation of the law and their scrupulous adherence to living the law in every minute detail. . . ."Paul was a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee, and he was educated by Gamaliel, a Pharisee. On three different occasions he declared himself to be a member of the sect. . . . This training as a Pharisee made him an extremist in his devotion to the Jewish law, which answers the question as to why he was such a zealous persecutor of the Christians prior to his experience on Damascus Road."

That experience on the Damascus Road - the conversion of Saul, who afterward became known as Paul - is one of the well-known stories of the New Testament.

Richard L. Anderson, in his book Understanding Paul, noted that the Lord prepared Paul for his mission.

Anderson wrote: "With intellectual certainty he [PaulT faced men and women who wrote their spiritual certainty in discomfort, pain, and blood. At his first vision, Paul was told that it was hard for him `to kick against the pricks' (Act 26:14), the last word referring to the sharp jab of the pointed stick against which balky animals fought. So Paul was resisting spiritual impressions prior to his Damascus vision. He had heard Stephen's testimony before his death: `Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.' (Acts 7:56.)

"Saul was prepared not by the mere mechanics of emotional reversal, but by the direct example of Stephen's vision. Not yet digesting the significance of what he had seen, Paul continued `breathing out threatenings and slaughter.' (Acts 9:1.) He started for Damascus with written authority from the high priest to bring Jewish Christians back to Jerusalem for judgment, whether men or women. (Acts 9:2.)"

" . . . Nearing Damascus at high noon, Paul saw the brilliant light, a celestial power not confined to Paul, for he said, `They that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid.' " (Acts 22:9.)

But only Paul saw Christ, and heard His question: "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"

Anderson continued: " . . . Paul did not tell all the details of this profound experience at any one time. Years later, in the situation where his Gentile ministry was in question, Paul recalled how the Lord also outlined Paul's mission to the non-Jewish nations. (See Acts 26:16-18.)

" . . . With such favor from the Lord, how did Paul relate to the existing Church? He did not resemble the revivalist, Bible-appointed or claiming to be God-appointed without affiliation with others earlier authorized by God. In Jesus' parable of the early and late workers, each group waited in the marketplace until the Lord called them to join the laborers already in the vineyard. (Matt. 20:1-16.)

"Although Paul talked personally with Christ, an independent revelation to his leader Ananias authorized the new convert's baptism and preaching. Christ did not first tell Paul to preach, but go to His Church and get instruction. After Ananias laid his hands on Paul, healing his temporary blindness, Paul `was baptized.' (Acts 9:18.) Thus Paul was obedient to what he tried to tear down. Paul was then over thirty, and there lay before him three decades of labor, persecution, and at last martyrdom. Why did this brilliant and successful young Jew forsake the world and its rewards? All of his life he gave but one answer: `Have I not seen Jesus Christ, our Lord?' (1 Cor. 9:1)."