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St. Paul

The Apostle

“He is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel."

(Acts 9:15)
St. Paul
Painting of the Icon of St. Paul at St. Mary and St. Joseph Coptic Orthodox Church

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."

(Acts 9:3-5)

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”

(2 Timothy 4:6)

St. Paul wrote fourteen Epistles out of the 27 books of the New Testament.

Through the Power of the Holy Spirit

God wrought by the hands of Peter and Paul many great signs and wonders, that they even carried the sick out into the streets that as Peter came by his shadow might fall on them and they were all healed (Acts 5:15).

The handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from Paul's body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them (Acts 19:12).

His Martyrdom

Finally, Nero seized St. Paul, tortured him severely and ordered his head to be cut off with the sword. While St. Paul was passing along with the executioner, a young woman who was related to the Emperor Nero heard St. Paul's message and believed in Jesus Christ. Weeping, she walked along with St. Paul to where they carried out his death sentence. He comforted her and asked her for her veil. He wrapped his head with the veil, and asked her to return back. The executioner cut off his head and left it wrapped in the veil of the young girl.

The young girl then met the executioner on his way back to the Emperor, and asked him about Paul and he replied, "He is lying where I left him and his head is wrapped in your veil." She told him, "You are lying, for he and Peter had just passed by me. They were arrayed in the apparel of kings, and had crowns decorated with jewels on their heads, and they gave me my veil, and here it is." She showed it to the executioner, and to those who were with him. This took place in the year 67 A.D. They marveled, and believed on the Lord Christ. Thus, St. Paul received the crown of Martyrdom.

His Feast - The Feast of The Apostles

The Coptic Orthodox church celebrates the feast of our fathers the pure Apostles on the day of the commemoration of the Martyrdom of Saint Peter and Saint Paul which is July 12th - the 5th day of the Coptic month of Epep.

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References

Synaxarium- Coptic Reader App

St. Takla. Org

Coptic Church. Net