Paul the Apostle

  • Paul the Apostle (c.1-64 CE) is also known as Saint Paul or Saul of Tarsus. Although he was not one of the Twelve Apostles, Paul was a Missionary who was instrumental in formulating the Early Christian Church.
  • The two sources for his biography are the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles, many of which he wrote himself.

Influence on Christianity

  • 13 of the 27 Books of the New Testament are attributed to St. Paul. They form the fundamental texts of Christian Theology and the basis for the study of Christianity.
  • Half of the Acts of the Apostles of the New Testament deal with the Life and Works of St. Paul.
  • The 21 Epistles are Letters written by St. Paul to various Christian Communities.

Biography

  • Family
    • Paul was born a Roman Citizen and came from an influential family of devout Jews in Tarsus. He referred to himself as a Pharisee and spoke Koine Greek and Hebrew.
    • At first he was against Christianity and actively persecuted Christians.
  • Conversion (c.31-36 CE)
    • Whilst on the Road to Damascus, Paul had a vision in which Jesus appeared and asked why was he was persecuting him, after which he was struck blind for three days and had to be guided into the city.
    • According to the Acts, Ananias of Damascus arrived, telling him he had been sent by Jesus to restore his sight and baptise him.
    • From then on Paul went into all the synagogues preaching that Jesus was the Son of God.
  • Post Conversion (c.50 CE)
    • 14 years after his conversion, Barabas brought Paul to Antioch where the followers of Jesus were the first to be referred to as Christians.
  • Missionary Period. (c.46-57 CE)
    • Paul conducted three Missionary Journeys.
  • The First Missionary Journey (c.46-49 CE)
    • Accompanied by Barnabas, Paul base dhimself in Antioch whilst visiting Cyprus and Anatolia.
    • The Council of Jerusalem (c.49 CE) was a meeting with the Jerusalem Church debating the circumcision of converts.
    • Incident at Antioch. This was a confrontation with Peter over conduct.
  • The Second Missionary Journey (c.49-52 CE)
    • Paul met Silas and Timothy after leaving Jerusalem and stopping at Antioch, Derbe, Lystra, Philippi in Macedonia, Carea, Athens and Corinth.
  • Interlude in Corinth (c.50-52 CE)
    • Where he spent some time working either as an artisan in leather or as a tentmaker, before continuing on to Ephesus then Caesarea.
  • The Third Missionary Journey (c.53-57 CE)
    • Starting from Antioch, Paul visited Galatia and Phrygia before reaching Ephesus where he stayed for three years, again working as an artisan.
    • Paul then moved to Achaea, and before returning to Jerusalem visited Philippi, Troas, Miletus, Rhodes, Tyre and Caesaria.
  • Arrest in Jerusalem (c.57 CE)
    • His teachings caused an uproar in the Temple and he was arrested and imprisoned. The Governor Felix ignored pleas by the Jews for his punishment and sent him to Ceasarea and deferred the decision until the arrival of the new Governor, Festus.
    • Paul spent two years in prison, waiting for the new Governor to arrive. When Festus arrived, Paul appealed to him that as a Roman Citizen he should be heard in Rome by the Emperor and not sent be sent back to Jerusalem.
    • Festus granted him his request and Paul set sail for Rome with his companions.
  • Shipwreck in Malta
    • In 60 CE, St. Paul was shipwrecked for three months on Malta, whilst en route from Crete to Rome. St Paul’s Bay is named after the location of the shipwreck and he is one of the Patron Saints of Malta.
    • From Malta he continued his journey to Rome via Syracuse in Sicily and Puteoli near Naples.
  • House Arrest and Martyrdom in Rome (c.64 CE)
    • Paul spent two years preaching in Rome whilst under house arrest, awaiting his trial.
    • Most of the Early Christian writers state Nero (54-68 CE) was responsible for Paul’s execution, which occurred by decapitation some time after the Great Fire of Rome in 64 CE.
  • Tomb
    • In 2005 CE, Vatican Archeologists authenticated a Sarcophagus as holding the remains of St. Paul. On it was written the inscription ‘Paulo Apostolo Mart’ meaning Paul the Apostle Martyr.
    • It had been found during excavations of the Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls.

 

 

 

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