I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…Gal 2:20
Paul’s name was first Saul. He said of himself, “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers” (Acts 22:3). In a letter he wrote that he was “of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee” (Phil 3:5).
He first appears in Acts when Stephen was stoned: “The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul” (Acts 7:58). After that, “Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison” (Acts 8:3).
He set out for Damascus with letters from the high priest, to arrest those who believed in Jesus. As he came near the city, a light from the sky shone around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4). He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” (Acts 9:5). The answer came: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5).
For three days he could not see. The Lord sent a disciple named Ananias to lay hands on him, and “Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized” (Acts 9:18).
He preached Jesus in the synagogues of Damascus. When the Jews there plotted to kill him, “his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket” (Acts 9:25).
In his letter to the Galatians he wrote about these years: “nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus” (Gal 1:17), and, “Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days” (Gal 1:18).
In Jerusalem the disciples were all afraid of him, “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles” (Acts 9:27). When some tried to kill him, “When the brothers knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus” (Acts 9:30). He wrote, “Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia” (Gal 1:21).
Later, “Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul” (Acts 11:25), and brought him to Antioch. “For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (Acts 11:26).
One day in the church at Antioch, “As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them’” (Acts 13:2). The church laid hands on them and sent them out.
They went first to Cyprus. There Scripture says for the first time, “Saul, who is also called Paul” (Acts 13:9). After they sailed from Paphos, “John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem” (Acts 13:13).
At Lystra, Jews who had come from elsewhere “having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead” (Acts 14:19). “But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and entered into the city” (Acts 14:20). On the way back they were “strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into God’s Kingdom” (Acts 14:22). Back in Antioch, “they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations” (Acts 14:27).
Some said that Gentiles had to be circumcised to be saved, and “Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them” (Acts 15:2); the church sent them up to Jerusalem. The council decided not to trouble the Gentiles who were turning to God.
Later Paul and Barnabas disagreed about whether to take Mark, and “the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus” (Acts 15:39), “but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God” (Acts 15:40). Many years later Paul wrote in a letter, “Take Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service” (2 Tim 4:11).
One night Paul saw a vision: “There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him and saying, ‘Come over into Macedonia and help us’” (Acts 16:9). In Philippi he and Silas were beaten and put in prison, and “about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25).
He went on through Thessalonica and Berea to Athens, where on the Areopagus he spoke of an altar inscribed “TO AN UNKNOWN GOD” (Acts 17:23).
“After these things Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth” (Acts 18:1). He met Aquila and Priscilla, “and because he practiced the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers” (Acts 18:3). The Lord said to Paul in a vision at night, “Don’t be afraid, but speak and don’t be silent; for I am with you” (Acts 18:9–10). “He lived there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them” (Acts 18:11).
Later he taught in Ephesus. “This continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19:10).
On his way to Jerusalem he called the elders of Ephesus to Miletus and said to them, “nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). When they parted, “They all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him” (Acts 20:37), “sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more” (Acts 20:38).
On the way, people urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. He said, “For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13).
In Jerusalem, at the temple, “All the city was moved and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple” (Acts 21:30). The commanding officer “commanded him to be bound with two chains” (Acts 21:33). When the soldiers were about to scourge him, Paul said, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and not found guilty?” (Acts 22:25). That night, “the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome’” (Acts 23:11).
He was taken to Caesarea. “But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds” (Acts 24:27). His accusers brought “many and grievous charges which they could not prove” (Acts 25:7). Paul said, “I appeal to Caesar!” (Acts 25:11).
Before King Agrippa he said, “I pray to God, that whether with little or with much, not only you, but also all that hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these bonds” (Acts 26:29).
He sailed for Italy with other prisoners (Acts 27:1). At sea a great storm struck, and for many days neither sun nor stars appeared. Paul told those on board that an angel of God had said to him in the night, “Don’t be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. Behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you” (Acts 27:24). The ship ran aground and broke up, “So they all escaped safely to the land” (Acts 27:44).
In Rome, “Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him” (Acts 28:16). “Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house and received all who were coming to him, preaching God’s Kingdom and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance” (Acts 28:30–31). The book of Acts ends there.
Thirteen letters in the New Testament bear Paul’s name: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon. Romans opens, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God” (Rom 1:1).
He wrote of himself, “For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God” (1 Cor 15:9), and, “But by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Cor 15:10). He listed what he had suffered: “Five times I received forty stripes minus one from the Jews. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep” (2 Cor 11:24–25). He also wrote that “a thorn in the flesh was given to me” (2 Cor 12:7); Scripture does not say what it was. The Lord said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9).
In Second Timothy he wrote, “For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come” (2 Tim 4:6), and, “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7).
Scripture does not record how Paul died.
Paul’s Letters Thirteen letters, Romans through Philemon, each opening with Paul’s name.
7 lessons, for personal study or small groups. Leader guide →
Scripture: World English Bible.