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Though a Jew, his father was a Roman citizen. How he obtained this privilege we are not informed. It was a valuable privilege, and one that was to prove of great use to Paul, although not in the way in which his father might have been expected to desire him to make use of it. The trade he acquired was the making of tents from goats' hair cloth, a trade which was one of the commonest in Tarsus.

His preliminary education having been completed, Saul was sent, when about thirteen years of age probably, to the great Jewish school of sacred learning at Jerusalem as a student of the law. Here he became a pupil of the celebrated rabbi Gamaliel, and here he spent many years in an elaborate study of the Scriptures and of the many questions concerning them with which the rabbis exercised themselves.

During these years of diligent study he lived "in all good conscience," unstained by the vices of that great city. After the period of his student-life expired, he probably left Jerusalem for Tarsus, where he may have been engaged in connection with some synagogue for some years. But we find him back again at Jerusalem very soon after the death of our Lord.

Here he now learned the particulars regarding the crucifixion, and the rise of the new sect of the "Nazarenes. For some two years after Pentecost, Christianity was quietly spreading its influence in Jerusalem. At length Stephen, one of the seven deacons, gave forth more public and aggressive testimony that Jesus was the Messiah, and this led to much excitement among the Jews and much disputation in their synagogues.

Persecution arose against Stephen and the followers of Christ generally, in which Saul of Tarsus took a prominent part. He was at this time probably a member of the great Sanhedrin, and became the active leader in the furious persecution by which the rulers then sought to exterminate Christianity. But the object of this persecution also failed. Hearing that fugitives had taken refuge in Damascus, he obtained from the chief priest letters authorizing him to proceed thither on his persecuting career.

This was a long journey of about miles, which would occupy perhaps six days, during which, with his few attendants, he steadily went onward, "breathing out threatenings and slaughter. He had reached the last stage of his journey, and was within sight of Damascus. As he and his companions rode on, suddenly at mid-day a brilliant light shone round them, and Saul was laid prostrate in terror on the ground, a voice sounding in his ears, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

In answer to the anxious inquiry of the stricken persecutor, "Who art thou, Lord? This was the moment of his conversion, the most solemn in all his life. The whole purpose of his life was now permanently changed. Of the scenes among which he moved, of the thoughts and occupations which engaged him while there, of all the circumstances of a crisis which must have shaped the whole tenor of his after-life, absolutely nothing is known.

Paul, 'I went away into Arabia. Because Paul himself never mentions this privilege, some scholars have expressed skepticism whether Paul actually possessed citizenship; such an honor was uncommon during his lifetime. Paul himself admits that he at first persecuted Christians Phil. Acts memorably describes the vision Paul had of Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, which led him to dramatically reverse his opinion.

Paul himself offers no clear description of the event in any of his surviving letters, and this, along with the fact that the author of Acts describes Paul's conversion with subtle differences in two later passages, has led some scholars to question whether Paul's vision actually occurred. However, Paul did write that Jesus appeared to him "last of all, as to one untimely born," 1 Cor.

His conversion may have been famous enough that he felt no need to describe it explicitly. Following his conversion, Paul first went to live in the Nabataean kingdom which he called "Arabia" for three years, then returned to Damascus Gal. Following this visit to Jerusalem, Paul's own writings and Acts slightly differ on his next activities. Acts states he went to Antioch, from whence he set out to travel through Cyprus and southern Asia Minor to preach of Christ, a labor that has come to be known as his First Missionary Journey Paul merely mentions that he preached in Syria and Cilicia Gal.

While these two accounts do not necessarily conflict, it does allow speculation that the author of Acts may have modified the actual events to fit the structure of his work. These missionary journeys are considered the defining actions of Paul. For these journeys, Paul usually chose one or more companions for his travels. He endured hardships on these journey: he was imprisoned in Philippi, was lashed and stoned several times and almost murdered once 2 Cor.

Here the accounts of Acts chapter 15 and Paul vary considerably: Acts states that Paul was the head of a delegation from the Antiochene church that came to discuss whether Christians should continue to observe Mosaic Law, most important of which were the practice of circumcision and dietary laws; Paul later said he had attended on his own initiative, concerned that the churches he had helped to found amongst the gentiles over the previous years might be excommunicated from the leading one at Jerusalem, and concerned to defend his belief that Christ's resurrection had freed Christian believers from the need to obey Mosaic Law.

Reading between the lines, it is clear that Paul was forced to make concessions, at least concerning traditional dietary laws; he recounts how when he met Peter in Antioch not long after their meeting in Jerusalem, he berated that apostle over his reluctance to share a meal with gentile Christians Gal. His loss of face in Jerusalem may have led to his depature from Antioch which is usually considered the beginning of his Second Missionary Journeyand he spent the next few years traveling through western Asia Minor, this time entering Macedonia, and founded his first Christian church in Philippi, where he encountered harassment.

Paul himself tersely describes his experience as "when we suffered and were shamefully treated" 1 Thess. Paul home of the apostle paul biography short traveled along the Via Egnatia to Thessalonica, where he stayed for some time, before departing for Greece. First he came to Athens, where he gave his legendary speech in Areios Pagos where he said he was talking in the name of the Unknown God who was already worshiped therethen travelled to Corinth he settled for three years and wrote the earliest of his letters to survive, 1 Thessalonians.

He made several missionary journeys around the Mediterranean basin where he sought to spread the teachings of Jesus and offer support to the fledgeling Christian community. Later, he travelled as far west as Spain. He later made Ephesus the central place of his missionary activity. During a visit to Athens, he gave one of his most memorable and well-documented speeches; it became known as the Areopagus sermon Acts St Paul was dismayed by the number of pagan gods on display.

In speaking to the crowd he criticised their pagan worship. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship — and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. His missionary work was often difficult and dangerous, he often met an unwelcome response.

Home of the apostle paul biography short

He supported himself financially by continuing to work as a tent maker. St Paul was instrumental in deciding that former Jewish practises such as circumcision and dietary law were not required by Christians. St Paul taught that Jesus Christ was a divine being, and salvation could be achieved by faith alone. St Paul was a key theologian on the doctrine of atonement.

On arriving in Jerusalem in 57 AD, he became embroiled in controversy over his rejection of Jewish customs. He was arrested and held in a prison in Caesarea for two years. Since he could claim rights as a Roman citizen, he was eventually released. He spent his remaining years writing letters to the early church and acting as a missionary.