St. Paul
The Apostle
“He is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel."
The Story In Summary
Saint Paul - Saul of Tarsus
St. Paul the apostle was born in the year 5 A.D. in Tarsus in Asia Minor to Jewish parents. He was of the tribe of Benjamin. His Hebrew name was Saul and his Roman name was Paul.
His father was a Pharisee, so he was brought up as a zealous Pharisee. He received his religious education at the hand of Gamaliel, a teacher of the law. Prior to his conversion, he harshly persecuted the Christians in Jerusalem.
Saul Persecutes Christians
Saul was zealous for the Law, thus setting out to mercilessly persecute Christians, beginning with those in Jerusalem. “He consented to the stoning of St. Stephen,” and witnessed his death. Then, he proceeded to wreak havoc on the church by entering every house and dragging out men and women to prison. He became dissatisfied with persecuting Christians in Jerusalem, so he took letters from the chief of priests to the synagogues of Damascus to persecute Christians there too (Acts 8).
The Lord Jesus Christ Appears to Saul of Tarsus
As he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
Then He ordered him to go to Ananias in Damascus, who baptized him. He was filled by the grace of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. Afterward, he went to the Arabian Desert, which is east of Damascus, where he lived for three years in seclusion. It was a time for contemplation, prayers, and studying the Old Testament with the spirit of the New Testament.
His Ministry
He started his ministry around the year 40 A.D. with three main missionary journeys. He preached in Seleucia, Cyprus, Asia Minor (present day Turkey) and Greece. The Jews seized him in Jerusalem and the commander sent him to Caesarea, where he spent two years in prison awaiting his trial. Finally, he went to Rome and appealed to Caesar. He remained in Rome for two years in his own rented house, where he received all who came to him preaching to them the kingdom of God and all things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. When he was released from his confinement, he returned to his ministry.
However, soon after, he was arrested again. He returned to Rome a prisoner in the year 66 A.D. From his prison in Rome, he wrote his last Epistle which was his Second Epistle to his disciple Timothy in which he wrote,
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand”