Paul, previously known as Saul, had been a zealous persecutor of the church, but an encounter with the risen Christ (c. A.D. 35) led to his becoming the apostle to the Gentiles, with a mission to proclaim the gospel throughout the Gentile world. He was probably martyred during the persecutions of Nero, possibly in A.D. 67.
Paul's early life
His Jewish heritage
though I myself could have such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
His citizenship
The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” he answered. “I paid a high price for my citizenship,” said the commander. “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.
His place of birth and education
Acts 22:3 See also Acts 21:39
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.
His trade as a tentmaker
Paul's conversion
His persecution of the church
Philippians 3:5–6 See also Acts 7:59–8:3, Acts 9:1–2, Acts 22:19–20; Galatians 1:13
circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.
His conversion on the road to Damascus and his apostolic calling
Acts 9:1–19 parallels Acts 22:3–16, Acts 26:9–18
Paul's early Christian activity
His journey to Arabia
Galatians 1:15–17 Acts makes no mention of this trip, but it seems that Paul went to Arabia immediately after he met Ananias and then subsequently returned to preach in Damascus.
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, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.
His return to Damascus
2 Corinthians 11:32–33 See also Acts 9:19–25
In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas secured the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp.
His visit to Jerusalem (c. A.D. 38)
Galatians 1:18 See also Acts 9:26–28
Only after three years did I go up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days.
His return to his home town of Tarsus
Acts 9:29–30 See also Galatians 1:21 Tarsus was in Cilicia.
He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him. When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
His stay in Antioch
Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
Paul's first missionary journey and his partnership with Barnabas (c. A.D. 46–48)
See also Acts 13:1–6, Acts 13:13–14, Acts 13:49–51, Acts 14:1, Acts 14:5–7, Acts 14:21–28
Paul and the Council of Jerusalem (c. A.D. 49)
The similarities between Paul and Luke here suggests that both writers are referring to the same events in these passages. Some, however, prefer to equate the meeting recorded in Galatians 2:1–10 with the journey to Jerusalem mentioned in Acts 11:30: Acts 15:1–6, Acts 15:22–35; Galatians 2:1–10
Paul's second missionary journey (c. A.D. 50–52)
His disagreement with Barnabas and his new partnership with Silas
In Asia Minor
In Macedonia
Acts 16:9–12, Acts 17:1, Acts 17:10
In Greece
Acts 17:15, Acts 18:1 It was from Corinth that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians.
His return to Antioch
Paul's third missionary journey (c. A.D. 53–57)
His general purpose in making his journey
After Paul had spent some time in Antioch, he traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
At Ephesus
See also Acts 19:1–12; 1 Corinthians 15:32, 1 Corinthians 16:8–9
His visit to Corinth
2 Corinthians 1:15–16, 2 Corinthians 1:23–2:4, 2 Corinthians 13:2 Most scholars believe that Paul wrote 1Corinthians from Ephesus, and that he also visited Corinth during this period. This visit, however, proved to be such a painful experience for him that he abandoned plans for a third visit, and instead wrote the Corinthians a “tearful” letter, calling them to repent of their sinful behaviour.
His journey to Greece
Acts 20:1–6; 2 Corinthians 2:12–13 Paul had hoped that Titus would bring him news from Corinth. They finally met in Macedonia, and Titus brought good news about the Corinthians' change of heart. Paul then wrote 2Corinthians before visiting Corinth for a third time.
His return to Jerusalem with the collection
Acts 20:6, Acts 20:13–16, Acts 21:1–8, Acts 21:15, Acts 21:17–19; Romans 15:25–26 Paul wrote Romans at this point in his travels. There is a considerable degree of uncertainty as to precisely when Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon were written.
Paul under arrest
His life threatened in Jerusalem
In Caesarea (c. A.D. 57–59)
His appeal to Caesar
His shipwreck
His visit to Rome (c. A.D. 60)
The latter part of Paul's life
These verses from the Pastoral Epistles may indicate that Paul was ultimately released and undertook further journeys in the Eastern Mediterranean before his death: 1 Timothy 1:3; 2 Timothy 4:13, 2 Timothy 4:20; Titus 1:5, Titus 3:12
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.