Give praise to God for his Apostle Paul, once Saul of Tarsus, to whom Jesus showed light, voice and vision, mercy, truth and call, bowed in the dust of that Damascus road. Captive to Christ, his herald and his slave, Paul bore him witness, bold in every place: Christ died and risen, Lord of death and grave, Christ who redeems us freely by his grace; Christ the long hope of Israel's promised dream, come as fulfillment of their ancient law; Christ for the nations, Paul's consuming theme, God's great Deliverer whom the prophets saw. Paul paid the price in travel, toil and pain; he founded churches, faithful to his word: `for me to live is Christ, to die is gain', if he might preach where none as yet had heard. His course is run, to glory and a crown: still are his words the word of life for all. We, who come after, hold him in renown, heirs to his gospel, blessing God for Paul.