The spiritual development of Simon Peter was slow and gradual. He loved the kingdom of our Lord, but always spoke before he thought. He abounded in energy, though at times it was misdirected. As he stood by the side of the Master, his spiritual perception grew. Slowly and surely Simon Peter grew into a man of the Kingdom. And at Pentecost, there was no voice proclaiming the coming of the Holy Spirit louder than that of Simon Peter. He became a rock of the Kingdom. From common clay, he became a living stone, an builder-up of the Kingdom of heaven. So it may be for all who turn to the Lord Jesus.
The conversion of Saul of Tarsus, otherwise called Paul, was sudden and dramatic. In one encounter with the risen and glorified Christ, Paul was turned to the Lord Jesus. The acceptance and peace with God, which he had sought for so many years, was his at last. And he found it through simple faith in Christ Jesus. The love and grace of Christ overflowed for him; and he was elevated to an apostle for Jesus Christ.