After Pentecost, the most important event in the life of the early Church was the conversion of St. Paul. As the great enemy of Christianity became its greatest promoter, the entire picture will shift. Paul will become the Apostle to the Gentiles, bringing huge numbers of non-Jews to faith in Christ. His work would make the Council of Jerusalem, which he participated in, absolutely necessary. He would be the one who would most effectively develop a theology to explain salvation. Paul would also be the most effective missionary that the Church has ever seen, spreading the message of Christ from Jerusalem to Rome.
    
The story of Paul’s conversion is told three times in the Scriptures. He was travelling to Damascus to arrest and imprison those who were followers of the Jesus. He fell to the ground (no mention of a horse) and was blinded. He heard a voice say, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” “Who are you?” he replied. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.”

According to the instruction he received from Jesus, Paul went into Antioch, met a Christian named Ananias, who prayed over him, restoring his sight. Paul became one of the most important followers of Jesus from that moment.