Paul the Apostle: Difference between revisions

{{Church ages}}

'''Paul the Apostle''', also known as '''Paul''', '''Paulus''', and '''Saul of Tarsus''' (c. AD 9 - c. AD 67) was, together with Peter, the most notable of early Christian missionaries. Unlike the other Apostles, Paul did not know Jesus during his ministry.  Paul came to believe through a vision of Jesus on the Road to Damascus, while on his way to persecute Christians in that city, and stressed that his apostolic authority was based on this vision.  Paul wrote that he was not taught the Gospel by anyone, but received it "by the revelation of Jesus Christ".   

{{12 Apostles}}Two primary sources are avialable in reconstructing the events of Paul's life: Paul's own surviving letters, and the narrative of the Acts of the Apostles, which draws from eyewitness accounts.

After his conversion, Saul first went to Arabia, and then came back to Damascus (Gal 1:17). His preaching in the local synagogues got him into trouble there, and he was forced to escape, being let down over the wall in a basket (Acts 9:25). Three years after his conversion, he went to Jerusalem, where he met James, and stayed with Simon Peter for fifteen days (Gal 1:13–24).  Saul apparently attempted to join the disciples and was accepted only owing to the intercession of Barnabas (Acts 9:26-27).  Saul again got into trouble for disputing with "Hellenists" (Greek speaking Jews and Gentile "God-fearers"), and so returned to Tarsus.

Paul travelled extensively, spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Paul almost always traveled with a companion, including Barnabas, Silas, Titus, Timothy, Mark, Aquila and Priscilla and Luke.

Barnabas and Saul went to Cyprus, Barnabas's home (Acts 13-14), and then sailed onward to visit the towns of southern Asia Minor, which is in present-day Turkey: Perga, Antioch, Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe.  This journey was accompanied by healings and persecutions.   

Paul and Silas went to Derbe and Lystra, the Phrygia and northern Galatia, to Troas, when, inspired by a vision they set off for Macedonia (Acts 16:1-18:22). At Philippi they met and brought to faith a young girl called Lydia, whom they baptised together with her family; there Paul was also arrested and badly beaten.  

Paul then set off for Thessalonica alone, and in Athens he gave his famous speech in the Areopagus (Mar's Hill).  In this speech, he told Athenians that the "Unknown God" to whom they had a shrine was in fact "known", as the God who had raised Jesus from the dead. (Acts 17:16–34). Paul then travelled to Corinth, where he settled for three years. At Corinth the Jews charged Paul before the proconsul Gallio, who dismissed the charges. (Acts 18:12–17) From an inscription in Delphi that mentions Gallio, the year of the hearing is known to be 52.  

Leaving Corinth, Paul continued travelling through Asia Minor and Macedonia, to Antioch and back. He caused a great uproar in the theatre in Ephesus, where local silversmiths feared a loss of income due to Paul's teachings. Their income relied on the sale of silver statues (idols) of the goddess Artemis, whom they worshipped, and the resulting mob almost killed Paul and his companions (Acts 19:21–41). Later, as Paul was passing near Ephesus on his way to Jerusalem, Paul chose not to stop, since he was in haste to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost. The church here, however, was so highly regarded by Paul that he called the elders to Miletus to meet with him (Acts 20:16–38).

Paul and the apostles apparently met at Jerusalem several times. Unfortunately, there is some difficulty in determining the sequence of the meetings and exact course of events.  

While in the temple at Jerusalem, some Jews from Asia Minor recognized him and stirred up the crowd.  The crowd was about to kill Paul when the Roman guard rescued him, and after an unsuccessful speech in Aramaic (Acts 21:37-22:22), imprisoned him in Caesarea. Paul claimed his right as a Roman citizen to be tried in Rome, but owing to the inaction of the governor Antonius Felix, languished in confinement at Caesarea for two years.  

Paul was not a stranger to the supernatural, but witnessed, partook, and testified of many moves of the Holy Spirit.