As Paul thus approaches Corinth, how striking the contrast to the close of a former journey, when Saul, “breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord,” drew near to Damascus! How widely different the appearance, purposes, and spirit of Saul and Paul! Then he was intrusted with the sword of secular power, he was the agent of the Sanhedrim, the Jewish inquisitor, the exterminator of heretics, seeking victims to imprison, to scourge, or to stone. Filled with pride, he rode toward Damascus, with servants at his command to convey his prisoners to Jerusalem. Now he journeys on foot, with no outward tokens of rank or power, and no officers of justice to do his bidding. The utmost that he can do to punish those who disregard his authority, is to separate them from a society whose members are everywhere regarded as ignorant and degraded. His enemies declare that his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. Yet the apostle is not so powerless as he is represented. He bears a commission from the King of kings. All Heaven is enlisted to sustain him. His weapons are not carnal, but mighty through God to overthrow the strongholds of sin and Satan.{LP 185.1}

Idet Paulus nærmede sig Korint, hvor slående modsætning til den tidligere rejses afslutning, hvor Saulus, "stadig fnyste med trussel og mord imod Herrens disciple," drog nær til Danaskus! Hvor helt forskellige er Saulus og Paulus udseende, hensigter og ånd! Så blev han betroet med verdslig magt, var han agent for Sanhedrim, den jødiske undersøgelsesdommer, kætternes undersøgelsesmand, opsøger ofre at kaste i fængsel, til svøbe eller stening. Fyldt af stolthed, red han mod Damaskus, med tjenere under sig til at føre fangernerne til Jerusalem. Nu rejste han til fods, uden ydre tegn på rang eller magt, og ingen justitsembedsmænd til at gøre hans befalinger. Det bedste han kan gøre for at straffe dem der ignorer hans myndighed, er at skille dem ud fra et samfund hvor medlemmer overalt betragtes som uvidende og fornedrede. Hans fjender erklærer at hans kropslige tilstedeværelse er svag, og hans tale er elendig. Alligevel er apostlen ikke så magtesløs som han fremstilles. Han bærer hvervet fra Kongernes konge. Hele himlen er sat op til at støtte ham. Hans våben er ikke kødelige, men mægtig gennem Gud til at styrte syndens og Satans fæstning.