It is impossible to cover the life of Paul in one lesson. Paul was one of those great minds that appear every few centuries. He would have been a remarkable man if he had never become a Christian. When we have a great mind tempered by Christianity, we see a truly great person. He was one of the foremost workers the church has ever known.
We know several things about his family and background. He writes in Philippians 3:5, “Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law a Pharisee.”
His father was a Pharisee. He once said, “I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee,” Acts 23:6. He had a sister and a nephew. “Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the castle and told Paul,” Acts 23:16.
He also had distant kinsmen according to Romans 16:7 / Romans 16:11 / Romans 16:21. Paul was from Tarsus, the capital of the province of Cilicia, Acts 22:3 / Acts 21:39. It was located a few miles from the coast in the midst of a plain.
It was located on the River Cydnus, which was navigable. Trade from countries of Central Asia Minor flowed through a mountain pass known as the Cilician Gates.
He probably received his early education here and possibly was taught a trade here. Goat’s hair was used to make tents. He may have learned tent-making because Tarsus was a shipping centre for goat hair. Later on, Paul was able to support himself in his mission work by being a tent maker, Acts 18:3.
At the age of six or seven, a child would be sent to the elementary school or the House of the Book, which was the local Synagogue. No doubt the Septuagint version (a translation of the Hebrew Old Testament into Greek) would have been used, as Greek would have been the language of Tarsus.
Children were instructed in the basic rudiments, and then at the age of ten, they learned the Law. If a boy showed exceptional intelligence, he would often go on to be trained as a Rabbi. This must have happened in Paul’s case. He mentions his teacher Gamaliel in Acts 22:3.
He says, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today,” Acts 22:3.
In Galatians 1:14, he says, “And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions”
We are first introduced to Paul as “Saul of Tarsus” at the stoning of Stephen. “Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day, a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem,” Acts 8:1.
Saul worked under the sanction of the rulers. From them, he received letters to go to Damascus in order to bring Jewish Christians to Jerusalem to be punished, Acts 9:2 / Acts 22:5. Probably, few men have been so furious in their persecution.
Later, he would write, “I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it,” Galatians 1:13. His persecution included both men and women.
He says, “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting down men and women into prisons,” Acts. 22:4. In spite of all his furious persecution against the church, Paul could say that he did it in good conscience, Acts 23:1.
Saul’s conversion took place around 33 A.D. The conversion of Saul is given to us by Luke three times in the book of Acts, Acts 9:1 / Acts 22:5-16 / Acts 26:12-18. This indicates that special emphasis is given to this event.
Saul approached Damascus about noontime when a “light from heaven flashed around him,” Acts 9:3. It was brighter than the sun, Acts 22:6 / Acts 26:13. Saul fell to the ground, Acts 9:4. He heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Acts 9:4. No doubt being in shock, he cries out, “Who art thou, Lord?” Acts 9:5.
What a shock it must have been when he found out it was the Lord Jesus. “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” Acts 9:5. Saul the persecutor is now completely helpless. His world is suddenly shattered. The very one he has violently opposed had just spoken to him!
He is instructed to enter the city, and he will be told what he must do, Acts 9:6 / Acts 22:10. Ananias is called upon to visit Saul, Acts 9:11. He is reluctant to visit him, Acts 9:13-14. He finds where Saul was staying. Saul has been praying, Acts 9:11. He had not eaten or drunk for three days, Acts 9:9.
Laying his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit,” Acts 9:17. Saul is immediately baptised, Acts 9:18. Saul is still the same person, but his energy will now be directed in another direction.
Repentance makes the difference. It does in any conversion. It is probably the most difficult part of becoming a Christian. He remains in the Damascus, Arabia area for three years preaching in the Synagogues that Christ is the Son of God, Acts 9:20.
A plot was set up to have him killed, but he escaped by night, Acts 9:24-25. Paul visits Jerusalem but cannot remain because of the opposition to him, Galatians 2:1-2. His life is threatened. He has no choice but to return to his home in Tarsus, Acts 22:18.
After some years, Paul appears again in Antioch at the urging of Barnabas. They were told by the Holy Spirit, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them,’ Acts 13:2.
After prayer, fasting and the laying on of hands, they began what will be Paul’s first missionary journey. Their travels covered thirteen hundred miles, five hundred by water and eight hundred by land. It was done over a three-year period of time.
Over six churches were established. They experienced the heat of summer and the bitter cold of winter. Yet they could rejoice over what the power of the gospel had done in all those cities they visited.
Luke says, “They began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles,” Acts 14:27. Paul had begun his work as the apostle to the Gentiles, as God had planned for him to do, Acts 13:47.
Men came from Jerusalem claiming to be sent by James and declaring that the Gentiles must also be circumcised to be saved, Galatians 2:11-14. Paul and Barnabas, along with others, went down to Jerusalem to speak to the apostles and elders about this false doctrine, Acts 15:1-35. It has been fourteen years since Paul was in Jerusalem.
Following a full discussion of the issue, it is agreed that no such requirement should be imposed on the Gentiles, Acts 15:11-12. A letter was composed to be taken to Antioch, Syria and Cilicia to deny what the false teachers were trying to require the Gentiles to do, Acts 15:22-24.
”After some days”, a decision is made to begin a second journey. Because of a disagreement over John Mark, they split up, with Paul taking Silas with him and Barnabas taking Mark with him, Acts 15:39. This journey takes Paul through Syria, Cilicia, Derbe and Lystra, where Timothy joins them, Acts 16:1-5. They also go through Phrygia and the region of Galatia.
Forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach in Asia, Mysia and Bithynia, Acts 16:6-7, Paul, in a dream, is called to go to Macedonia, Acts 16:9. On their way, it seems Luke joins them in Troas, Acts 20:5.
They end up in Philippi, a Roman Colony, Acts 16:12. Here, the households of Lydia, Acts 16:13-15, and the Jailer were baptised, Acts 16:25-34. They next go to Thessalonica and Berea, Acts 17:1-15. Finding opposition, Paul moves on to Athens and delivers his famous sermon on Mars Hill, Acts 17:22-32.
He then moves to Corinth, where he stays for a year and a half, Acts 18:11. Paul then returns to Antioch by way of Ephesus, sailing to Caesarea, Acts 18:18-23. He goes up to Jerusalem, where he is greeted by the church, Acts 21:17-18, and then returns to Antioch. It had taken three years for this second missionary journey.
After “some time”, Paul leaves on his third journey. Like his second journey, he revisits all the churches he had established previously. He arrives at Ephesus and finds some men who needed to be re-baptised, having known only of John’s baptism, Acts 19:1-7.
He speaks for three months in the synagogue, Acts 19:8. Forced to leave, he goes to the school of Tyrannus, where he remains for two years, Acts 19:9-10. It is said that while there, all of Asia heard the gospel, Acts 19:10.
He plans to go into Macedonia and on into Achaia and then on to Jerusalem, Acts 19:21. However, problems develop in Corinth, which he deals with in two letters.
Delayed, he goes to Macedonia and then on to Corinth, where he spends three months of wintertime, Acts 20:3. Paul now decides to return to Jerusalem, taking a contribution from Gentile churches to be given to the poor Jews in Jerusalem, Acts 20:22-23.
On his journey, he spends time in Philippi and has an emotional meeting with the elders in Ephesus, Acts 20:17-28. He then goes on to Jerusalem, where the brethren gladly received him, Acts 21:17-25.
While in Jerusalem, old grudges against Paul have not subsided. He had been in Jerusalem only seven days when he was mobbed, Acts 21:27-29. He is seized and dragged out of the temple, Acts 21:30, but is rescued by a Roman captain, Acts 21:31-32.
Paul seeks permission to speak to the mob, Acts 21:37-40. For his own protection, he is taken to Caesarea and placed in prison, Acts 23:23-35. Felix, the Governor of Judea, resided there, and Paul made his defence before Felix, Acts 24:10-21. His imprisonment would last for two years, Acts 24:27.
Paul appeals his case to Caesar and is sent to Rome, Acts 25:6-12. This proves to be a very difficult and dangerous trip. Their first stop was Sidon, Acts 27:3. Then they sailed “under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary,” Acts 27:4. Here they changed ships.
They made very slow progress for many days, the winds being contrary to them. They arrived at Cnidus, Acts 27:7. Turning southwest, they sailed under the lee of Crete, Acts 27:7. Having spent much time because of bad weather, they sailed on.
Paul warns the voyage will end in disaster, but the Centurion took the evaluation of the ship’s master, Acts 27:9-12. Thus, they set sail for Phoenix, Acts 27:12. The ship was soon at the mercy of the wind. For fourteen days, they are tossed about in an angry sea, Acts 27:27-28.
Then, about midnight, they realised they were near land, Acts 27:27. They ended up being shipwrecked, Acts 27:27-28. The natives of the island showed them much kindness, Acts 28:1-9. After three months, they leave for Italy, Acts 28:11.
Some brethren from Rome meet Paul outside Rome, Acts 28:14-15. Reaching Rome, he is permitted to live in his own hired dwelling with soldiers guarding him, Acts 28:30.
He was able to have many people come and visit with him, which gave him the opportunity to teach many of the leaders of the church as well as non-Christians, Acts 28:30-31. Luke leaves us without telling us the final outcome of Paul. Most scholars believe he was released after the two-year confinement.