While we are on the subject of Paul's "conversion" (as some call it), it is important to note that Paul did not
lose all of the knowledge he had acquired in his training as a Pharisee. His problem was the same, as he
would later note concerning his fellow Pharisees:
―For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge‖. (Rom 10:2)
The word ―knowledge" is epignosis (Strong‘s #1922), meaning to have full discernment. Paul, like the other
Pharisees, had abundant understanding of the Scriptures. (They had ―knowledge" in this sense.) However, it
required the illumination of Elohim's Spirit to take that understanding and turn it into wisdom – the wisdom
that then showed him that Y‘shua was the goal of the Torah.
8:5-11 There came unto him a centurion
―(5) And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, (6)
And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. (7) And Jesus saith unto
him, I will come and heal him. (8) The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou
shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. (9) For I am a man
under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come,
and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. (10) When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and
said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. (11) And I
say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac,
and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven‖.
The centurion clearly knew the Torah and Jewish culture to recognise that Y‘shua was the Messiah. Many
Gentiles of that day were attracted to the faith of Israel. In Scripture and other writings, we see Gentiles in
various stages of practice and growth in the faith of Israel. Some were known as "God-fearers‖ (i.e. Cornelius
of Acts), who acknowledged that the Elohim of Israel was the one true Aviad (everlasting Father) and
followed some of the Torah commandments. They would not be on an active path of conversion. Others
would be actively learning and taking on more of the Torah with the intent of full conversion.
The issue of the necessity of conversion (taking on all of the Torah) for Gentiles coming to faith in Y‘shua
would become a point of discussion in the early Messianic community, as seen in the fifteenth chapter of the
book of Acts, as well as in some of Paul's writings.
Although conversion to Judaism and taking on the Torah is not a prerequisite to faith for Gentiles, YHWH
makes it clear that Gentiles have (and will always have) a relationship to Torah and the faith of Israel. In fact,
those who claim to be of the faith of Elohim are warned about separating themselves from YHWH's Sabbath
and Israel's covenant - the Torah:
(1) ―Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my
righteousness to be revealed.
(2) Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the
sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
(3) Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD
hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
(4) For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please
me, and take hold of my covenant;
(5) Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons
and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
(6) Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name
of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my
covenant;
(7) Even those I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt
offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for
all the peoples‖. (Isaiah 56:1-7)
Scripture is clear that, at the end of days it will be the Gentiles who come into the faith of Israel and its
Messiah, Y‘shua – NOT the Jews who enter into some Gentile church that has replaced the faith YHWH
established with Israel: