Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul Quiz

Answer: January 25

The Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul is held on January 25. Epiphany falls on January 6. The earliest day that Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, can fall is February 4. March 17 is St. Patrick's Day, and March 25 is, in the Catholic church, a day of solemnity - the Annunciation of the Lord.

Answer: Eastern Orthodox

This is a feast day observed by Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans. The Eastern church does, however, like the Western Church, commemorate St. Paul together with St. Peter on a joint feast day on June 29. The Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul may have originally marked the transfer of St. Paul's remains to Rome.

Answer: White

Although green is commonly used during Ordinary Time, white is used in the Anglican and Catholic church for the Feast of St. Paul. Purple is commonly used during Advent and Lent. In the Catholic church, white is also worn on All Saints' Day.

Answer: AD 34-37

Paul's conversion occurred after Christ's crucifixion. Christ would have likely been crucified in AD 30 - 33. Paul "intensely persecuted" the early followers of Christ according to the Bible, and he was on his way to carry out more persecution when his conversion occurred. AD 36 is the date most commonly assigned to the event. Paul's epistles are the earliest manuscripts in the New Testament.

Answer: The Damascus Christophany

A Christophany is an appearance of Christ. Because Christ appeared to Saul when he was on the road to Damascus, his conversion experience is sometimes called the Damascus Christophany. It might also be called the Pauline Conversion or the Damascene conversion. Acts says that Paul was on the road to Syrian Damascus from Jerusalem because he had a mandate from the High Priest to arrest followers of Jesus and return them to Jerusalem to be interrogated and possibly executed.

Answer: False

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul writes, "For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers" (1:13-14, KJV)

In his letter to the Philippians, he describes himself "as to zeal, a persecutor of the church" (Philippians 3:6, KJV).

Answer: Stephen

"Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died. And Saul approved of their killing him" (Acts 7:58 - 8:1, NRSV).

The fact that the mob laid their coats at Saul's feet suggests he was not a passive bystander, but possibly had some kind of leadership role among the stoners, as they could entrust their coats, an important and costly garment, to his care while they freed themselves for the movement that stoning required.

Answer: untimely

Other versions of the Bible say "abnormally born" (NIV), "born out of due time" (KJV), or "born at the wrong time" (NLT, CSB). This is likely a reference to being "born again" in a spiritual sense. Paul is emphasizing that he was late to the game. Unlike the other apostles, he did not know and follow Christ in Christ's lifetime. He did not meet Christ until after his crucifixion and resurrection. In this sense, he is like all Christians to follow, who have only come to know Christ after his death.

Answer: A light from heaven

Saul fell to the ground when a light from heaven surrounded him. After falling to the ground, he heard the voice from heaven (Acts 9:3-7, NIV):

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.

"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

Answer: Ananias

Ananias was a disciple of Jesus in Damascus who was at first reluctant to meet with Saul, but eventually obeyed God's command (Acts 9:13-19, NIV):

"Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here-has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength."

A famous painting of "Ananias Restoring the Sight of St. Paul" was created by the 17th century Italian Baroque painter and architect Pietro da Cortona.