Apostle · NT
Paul the Apostle
Pharisee turned apostle to the Gentiles, author of thirteen New Testament epistles.
Saul of Tarsus was born a Roman citizen in the Cilician city of Tarsus, trained in Jerusalem under the eminent rabbi Gamaliel, and became a zealous Pharisee. He first appears in Acts as a witness consenting to the stoning of Stephen, then leading the persecution of the church.
On the road to Damascus the risen Christ confronted him in blinding light: 'Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?' He was baptized by Ananias and immediately began preaching that Jesus is the Son of God. After years of preparation, the Holy Spirit set him apart with Barnabas for the work of taking the gospel to the Gentile world. Three missionary journeys planted churches across Asia Minor and Greece. Arrested in Jerusalem, he appealed to Caesar and was taken to Rome, where tradition holds he was martyred under Nero around AD 67.
Paul's thirteen surviving letters — from Romans through Philemon — articulate the gospel of justification by faith and the unity of Jew and Gentile in Christ.
Key moments
Conversion on the Damascus road
Meets the risen Christ; is blinded and baptized (Acts 9).
First missionary journey
Sent out from Antioch with Barnabas (Acts 13).
Council of Jerusalem
Defends Gentile freedom from the law (Acts 15).
Imprisonment in Rome
Writes the prison epistles; awaits trial before Caesar.
Key verses
"And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven: and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: but rise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do."
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"For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
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"For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not found vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."
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"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me."
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"Howbeit what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ. Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ,"
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"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing."
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Frequently asked
How many books of the Bible did Paul write?
Thirteen New Testament letters bear Paul's name: Romans, 1–2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1–2 Thessalonians, 1–2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. Some scholars also attribute Hebrews to him, though it is anonymous.
Why did Saul change his name to Paul?
Saul was his Hebrew name; Paul (Latin Paulus) was his Roman name. As apostle to the Gentiles he used his Greco-Roman name, especially after Acts 13.
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