CONTRADICTION · CHRONOLOGICAL
Paul’s Commission Timing
Acts 26:16-18 ⟷ Acts 9:7; 22:10
I have appeared unto thee... to make thee a minister...
Go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee... No full commission given on the spot.
Paul’s apostolic authority depends on this event. If one account says he got his mandate immediately and another after reaching Damascus, readers question which is correct. Such discrepancies erode trust in biblical inerrancy and reliability.
THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
They explain that Acts presents Paul’s commission progressively. He got initial instructions, then fuller details later. Different passages highlight different stages.
THE ISLAMIC POSITION
Muslims say a perfect scripture would present a clear, consistent sequence. Contradictory portrayals of when Paul knew his mission imply human editing, unlike the Quran’s stable narrative.
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Paul’s Commission Timing