The Apostle Paul

Acts 7–8Saul the Persecutor

Saul first appears at the stoning of Stephen, the church’s first martyr: “the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul” (Acts 7:58), and “Saul was consenting unto his death” (8:1). Zealous for the law, he “made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison” (8:3).

Acts 9:1–19The Road to Damascus

“Breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord,” Saul set out for Damascus to arrest believers. Near the city a light from heaven flashed around him, and he heard a voice: “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?” He asked, “Who art Thou, Lord?” and the answer came, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest” (Acts 9:4–5). Blind for three days, he was healed and baptized when Ananias came to him.

Acts 9:20–31 · Galatians 1From Persecutor to Preacher

“And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God” (Acts 9:20). Paul spent time in Arabia and Damascus, escaped a plot by being let down the city wall in a basket, and went up to Jerusalem, where Barnabas vouched for him to the apostles (Acts 9:25–27; Galatians 1:17–18). When his life was threatened again, the believers sent him home to Tarsus.

Acts 11–14Antioch and the First Journey

Barnabas brought Paul to Antioch in Syria, where “the disciples were called Christians first” (Acts 11:26). There the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them” (13:2). On their first journey, about A.D. 46–48, they preached on Cyprus and in the cities of Galatia. Many Gentiles believed, and at Lystra Paul was stoned and left for dead, but rose up and went on.

Acts 15The Council at Jerusalem

Some teachers insisted that Gentile believers must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses to be saved. Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem, and the apostles and elders agreed that “through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved,” Jew and Gentile alike (Acts 15:11). Paul later defended the same gospel of grace in his letter to the Galatians.

Acts 15:36–18:22The Second Journey: Into Europe

With Silas, and later Timothy and Luke, Paul set out again about A.D. 49–52. A vision of a man of Macedonia saying, “Come over into Macedonia, and help us” (Acts 16:9) led the gospel into Europe. In Philippi Paul and Silas sang hymns at midnight in prison, and the jailer asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (16:30). Paul preached in Thessalonica, Berea and on Mars’ hill in Athens, and stayed a year and a half in Corinth.

Acts 18:23–21:16The Third Journey: Ephesus

On his third journey, about A.D. 53–57, Paul stayed nearly three years in Ephesus, “so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:10). Many who practised magic burned their books, and a riot broke out over the goddess Diana. Paul revisited Macedonia and Greece, wrote Romans from Corinth, and said a tearful farewell to the Ephesian elders at Miletus (20:17–38).

Acts 21–28Arrest, Trials and Rome

In Jerusalem Paul was seized in the temple and rescued by Roman soldiers. He defended himself before crowds, the Jewish council, the governors Felix and Festus and King Agrippa, who said, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” (Acts 26:28). After two years in Caesarea he appealed to Caesar. On the voyage to Rome the ship was wrecked on Malta, but every life was saved. In Rome he lived two years under guard, “Preaching the kingdom of God … with all confidence” (28:31).

2 Timothy 4Faithful unto Death

From prison Paul wrote letters that still strengthen the church: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. After a release and further travel he was imprisoned in Rome a second time. In his last letter he wrote, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). According to the early church he was beheaded in Rome under Nero, about A.D. 67, and went to be with the Lord he had served for some thirty years.