The apostle Paul is considered one of the most important figures in establishing the Christian religion across Asia minor and Europe at the beginning of the first century. 

His missionary journeys took him across continents, where he introduced Jesus Christ as a bringer of salvation, converted local populations, and established Gentile churches and communities.

He also wrote many books in the New Testament, including Philippians, Ephesians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Galatians, and Romans.

But what of the man himself?

Paul, or in the original Hebrew, ‘Saul,’ was a Roman citizen of Tarsus and a Pharisee with Jewish heritage.

Because of his devout Jewish upbringing, he hated Christians and Christianity and was an active persecutor of ‘Jesus followers’ — specifically early Christians in Jerusalem.

That was, until his encounter with Jesus and conversion event. 

Paul described this event across his writings, including the Pauline epistles, the book of Acts, Corinthians, and Galatians. It took place on the road to Damascus, where he was struck with a vision of an ascended Jesus, which blinded him. 

“‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' He asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' The reply came, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts, 9:4-5).

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His associates led him by hand to Damascus, which took three days, during which he fasted and prayed. There, he met Ananias of Damascus, who restored Paul's sight through a miraculous act of healing. Following this, Paul was baptized, consecrating his conversion to Christianity. 

Through his newfound faith, the apostle Paul went on to become a miracle worker, leader, prolific religious author, and dedicated missionary.

We can trace a rough timeline of the apostle Paul’s life, his key missionary excursions, and eventual death from the autobiographical accounts of the epistles of Paul and from scripture, such as the book of Acts.

Paul was likely born between the years of 5 BC and 5 AD. We can break his life up into four key stages which relate to his contributions to Christianity. 

Persecution of Christians

As stated earlier, being born a Jew, the apostle Paul wasn’t fond of the Christian faith. In Galatians, Paul explains the severity of his persecution.

“You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors” (Galatians 1:13-14).

This speaks to the impact of his eventual conversion event, where he was confronted with the image of Jesus.

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Conversion

Upon witnessing the light of the Lord, Paul asked what was expected of him.

“And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do” (Acts 9:6). 

After arriving at his destination and meeting with Ananias of Damascus, the Lord provided instructions through Ananias that shaped Paul’s path as a missionary. 

“Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).

With this, Ananias was able to restore Paul’s sight through the Holy Ghost. 

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Ministry

Paul embarked on three missionary journeys over the course of his ministry, each time telling of the origin and prominence of Jesus as a savior sent by God. He traveled through Greece, Syria, Turkey, Macedonia, Arabia, and Spain but based most of his work and ministry in Antioch.

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Paul would profess Israelite history, introducing Jesus as a descendant of David brought to Israel by God. He would proclaim during his talks that he and his journeymen were bringing a message of true salvation. 

He recounted the story of Jesus' death and resurrection, which sometimes upset the influential Jews who occupied whatever territory he journeyed to. 

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Death 

Eusebius, a Christian historian of the third century, states that Paul’s death occurred as a result of the persecution of Christians under Emperor Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus’s rule over the Roman Empire sometime after the Great Fire of Rome. 

Peter and Paul were both sentenced to death, and Paul was beheaded, according to Dionysius of Corinth. His death is considered an act of martyrdom, and Pope Clement remarked in his Epistle to the Corinthians that Paul gave his testimony to the rulers of Rome and displayed patient endurance awaiting his beheading.

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With his significant contributions to the establishment of Christianity and the Christian tradition, the apostle Paul was given sainthood and is now mostly referred to as Saint Paul. His remains rest in Rome, Italy, in what Christian author Caius describes as "Ostian Way," referring to the road of Via Ostiense.

St. Paul died in an act of martyrdom, which speaks to his devoted belief in the teachings of the Bible and Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins. 

We celebrate the life of the apostle Paul on January 25, in a tradition known as ‘the feast of the conversion of Saint Paul.’ 

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