The Apostle Paul was born to a Jewish family who possessed Roman citizenship in the City of Tarsus, the capital of the Roman province of Cilicia (modern-day Turkey) and was given the name of Saul. Some years later his family relocated to Jerusalem and he was raised as a Pharisee and studied under the famous Rabbi Gamaliel. Gamaliel was respected and convinced the members of the Sanhedrin to refrain from putting to death the disciples of Christ warning that they may be “fighting against God” (Acts 5:33-39). His successful influence shows the respect he held even within this elite group.
When they [the members of the Sanhedrin] heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them [the disciples of Jesus] to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
Acts 5:33-39
Gamaliel reasoned that if the activity of the Christians were of mere human origin that they would fail as others before them. He put his trust in God to handle important issues and did not dare take the chance of working against the will of God. Paul studied under this Rabbi, but he apparently did not hold the same view because when the time came for Paul to act, he approved of the martyr of an early Christian, Stephen. Then he obtained official authorization to travel north to Damascus to persecute other Christians there. So Saul (Paul) began as a highly respected Pharisee who was zealously motivated to protect the Jewish beliefs of his people by persecuting, even murdering those who would attempt to undermine their religious views.
On the way to Damascus Saul was suddenly exposed to an encounter with Christ which temporarily blinded him and eventually resulted in his conversion to Christianity. His conversion was so great that he even decided to change his name from Saul to Paul to demonstrate a complete and total change. He did not feel like the same person any longer and he wanted to convey that to all who knew him. After meeting with Ananias, a devoted follower of Christ, Paul was baptized.
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
Acts 9:10-19
After a few days in Damascus Paul retreated to the Arabian wilderness where he was taught personally by the miraculous appearing of Christ. While we don’t know much about this experience, Paul was apparently taught things related to his mission as the apostle to the Gentiles. Much of Paul’s remarkable insight, doctrine and confidence must have come from this experience with the Risen Christ. After three years of seclusion and training he returned to Jerusalem for a brief visit.
I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.
Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.
Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me.
Galatians 1:11-24
Missionary Trips and Letters
The career of the Apostle Paul as a missionary revolves around his time in Jerusalem and Antioch and includes three distinct trips to various cities including time incarcerated along the way. Paul took the time to write letters to strengthen some churches and sometimes to encourage his partners in ministry. Thirteen of these such letters are included in the New Testament. Four of them are known as the Prison Epistles as they were authored as he was being held as a prisoner in Rome. He was imprisoned multiple times and encountered several beatings and other forms of persecution by both Jews and Gentiles. His ministry was beneficial to spreading the Gospel to those in his day and the thirteen letters which have been included in the New Testament canon of Scripture have been instrumental for the Christian faith and doctrine to this day. There is no doubt that they will continue to prove invaluable to believers until the Second Coming of Christ. Some believe that Paul also wrote the Book of Hebrews though it is not signed and many dispute his authorship. That would make 14 books if he did have a hand in it. It is clear that whoever did write Hebrews was heavily influenced by Paul and shared his same understanding of who Christ is and all he accomplished.
| New Testament Books Authored by the Apostle Paul | ||
| Title | Date | Author |
| Galatians | A.D 49-50 but prior to the Jerusalem Council in 50. | Paul from Antioch |
| 1 Thessalonians | A.D 51 | Paul from Corinth |
| 2 Thessalonians | A.D 51-52 | Paul from Corinth |
| 1 Corinthians | A.D. 55 | Paul from Ephesus |
| 2 Corinthians | A.D. 55-57 | Paul from Macedonia |
| Romans | A.D. 57 | Paul from Corinth |
| Ephesians | A.D. 60-61 | Paul from Rome (Prison) |
| Philiippians | A.D. 60-61 | Paul from Rome (Prison) |
| Colossians | A.D. 60-61 | Paul from Rome (Prison) |
| Philemon | A.D. 60-61 | Paul from Rome (Prison) |
| 1 Timothy | A.D. 64 | Paul from unknown |
| Titus | A.D. 64 | Paul from unknown (probably traveling). |
| 2 Timothy | A.D. 66 | Paul from Rome (Last Words as he knew his demise was near). |
| *Hebrews | Unknown but probably shortly before the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70. | *Unknown from unknown. Some speculate Paul though Luke, Barnabus, Apollos, Silas, Philip, Pricilla and others have been suggested. |
Arguably the most treasured of all his letters is the one to the Romans in which he presents the logic and theological explanation of the Gospel and includes the foundation for many Christian doctrines. His bold approach is admired by believers far and wide and we all hold to his proclamation, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes…(Romans 1:16)”.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Romans 1:16-17
The Bible contains so much regarding the life and times of Paul that it would be overwhelming to restate it in this format. Much of Acts recounts Paul’s journeys, challenges and victories. When combined with the 13 letters he wrote that became part of the New Testament, suffice to say he was instrumental in spreading the Gospel to his contemporaries and his words speak just as effectively to us today. Peter wrote briefly about Paul affirming his words as Scripture.
Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
2 Peter 3:15-16
The Apostle Paul was a special person indeed. He began as a wholehearted believer in the Jewish faith. But when the change occurred on the way to Damascus, his purpose in life changed and he embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ with great enthusiasm and worked hard to preach, teach and encourage. For those of us who long for the appearance of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we have the Apostle Paul to thank for a big portion of our understanding, faith and hope. In his final letter to his beloved disciple Timothy, Paul wrote the following words:
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
2 Timothy 4:6-8
Paul was likely executed for his faith shortly following that letter. The Bible doesn’t specify the date or circumstances. Church tradition holds that he was beheaded as opposed to being crucified because he was a citizen of Rome and they normally were not subjected to crucifixion.
There is no doubt that Paul knew exactly who he was in Christ and where he would be heading after death. We can be sure that he showed no fear and no regret and was focused on the eyes of Christ as he left this life. That same confidence resounds through the hearts of all believers worldwide.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
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Appendix: Timeline of Paul’s Life
| Date, Location and Duration | Major Event(s) | References |
| A.D. 5 or 6, Tarsus, a Roman Province (modern-day Turkey). | Paul was born in Tarsus but his family moved to Jerusalem at some point, perhaps when he was a teenager. He studied under Gamaliel, a famous and well liked Rabbi which may indicate Paul’s family was wealthy. | Acts 16:37-38 , Acts 22:25-28, Also see his appeal in Acts 25:10-12, a privilege reserved for Roman citizens. Acts 22:3 |
| A.D. 34, Damascus/Arabia, 3 years. | Conversion to Christianity, baptism by Ananias and instruction from the Risen Christ. | Conversion-Acts 9:1-11, Baptism-Acts 9:12-19, Instruction- Galatians 1:11-24 |
| A.D. 37-47 Jerusalem, Cilicia, Antioch, and more. Total: 11 years. | Miscellaneous contacts, missions and meetings. Friendship with a trusted ministry partner Barnabus was formed. | Acts 9-11 |
| A.D. 48-49, first missionary journey from Antioch. | Galatians was written after the trip was completed and he was back in Antioch. Paul intended to dispute the false teaching of adding law to grace. (A problem that still exists today). | Galatians 1, The Jerusalem Council meeting is recorded in Acts 15, and it is likely that Galatians was written prior to this meeting which clarified God’s intention to save both Jews and Gentiles by grace, not law, a theme expanded later in Paul’s letter to the Romans. |
| A.D. 50, Jerusalem and Antioch | The Jerusalem Council letter was ratified and distributed to the unofficial missions headquarters in Antioch. | Acts 15 |
| A.D. 51-53, second missionary trip | A disagreement over John Mark accompanying them resulted in a split mission which doubled their reach. Lydia became an important contact in Philippi. 1 & 2 Thesslonians written from Corinth. | Acts 16-18 |
| A.D.53-54, Return to Antioch | Resided in Antioch, probably active in preaching, teaching and missions and fundraising. | unrecorded |
| A.D. 54-57, third missionary trip | Spent three years in Ephesus, wrote 1 & 2 Corinthians and Romans. | Acts 19-21 |
| A.D. 57-59 Traveled to Jerusalem and was arrested and imprisoned in Caesarea. | Record of Paul’s testimony. Paul caused an uproar at the Sanhedrin by bringing up the subject of the resurrection of the dead, a hotly debated topic between the Pharisees and Sadducees. | Acts 22-26 |
| A.D. 59-60 Journey to Rome as a prisoner. | Shipwrecked in Malta. | Acts 27-28 |
| A.D. 60-62, under house arrest in Rome. | The books of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon were authored from this prison (rented house) while he was chained to a Roman guard. | Acts 28 |
| A.D. 62-? travels unknown, but likely included a mission trip to Spain and back to Rome. | 1st and 2nd Timothy were written in this period along with Titus. Known as the Pastoral Epistles, they clarify characteristics for leaders in the church. | The Bible doesn’t clearly provide the date and location of these letters. It is clear however, that they were authored near the end of his life. |
| A.D. 64-66? Paul dies in Rome. | Nero blamed Christians for the fire in Rome and had them persecuted in A.D. 64. We suspect that Peter, Paul and many others suffered death as a result of this persecution. | The Bible doesn’t record the death of Peter or Paul, but tradition holds that Peter was crucified upside down, and Paul was beheaded since Roman citizens were normally not subjected to crucifixion. |
