Important Figures of the Bible – Saint Paul
The New Testament consists of twenty-seven books. Paul takes credit for thirteen of these books. All of them are in letter form written to the Churches of the cities which he visited during his missionary journeys. These thirteen books are commonly referred to as the Pauline letters. Paul was almost single handedly responsible for the spread of Christianity. The Pauline letters are still regarded as the most brilliant theological writings to ever be published. Christians everywhere quote Paul’s verses and the Church of Christ heeds to the doctrines as if they were God’s law. In this brief article we will examine the life of Paul. A closer and more in depth look at this amazing man will give the reader a greater understanding of how the Christian church began. Understanding Paul’s journeys will give greater meaning to his letters as well.
Saul of Tarsus
Paul is commonly known as Saul of Tarsus because he is from Tarsus. The Bible began referring to Saul as Paul starting in Acts 13:10. Paul was most probably named after the Saul in the Old Testament who was Israel’s first king. For the sake of simplicity I will just refer to Saul as Paul. Paul was born of a wealthy family. He refers to himself as a Hebrew of the Hebrews. Paul was a Pharisee, therefore he knew the Law of Moses perfectly (see Philippians 3:5). Because of his heritage, Paul was a persecutor of the followers of Christ. The Jews were not fond of Christ’s teachings because they considered them to be blasphemous. The Mosaic Law was the law of the land and Christians were preaching Christ’s teachings which claimed that Jesus was God. This was totally unacceptable to the Jews; therefore they sought to kill them. Paul first appears in the Bible as being present during Saint Stephen’s death. Stephen was stoned for preaching Christ’s teachings, which in those days was considered blasphemy. Paul who was a young man at the time, had the clothing of Stephen placed at his feet (see Acts 7:50). Paul’s profession was to condemn Christians to prison (see Acts 8:3). It was while on the road to Damascus, to bring further persecution to the Church of Christ, that Paul was “converted”.
Conversion of Paul
This is probably the most celebrated event in the book of Acts. Paul speaks of this “conversion” twice more. It is a moving testimony, and is probably God’s message to us that Christians should share their testimony of how they became saved more often. While on the road to Damascus, Paul saw a bright shining light come out of heaven. He also heard a voice saying to him “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” Paul went on to have a conversation with this voice which he found to be the voice of Jesus. The voice told Paul to go into the city of Damascus and there it would be told him what he must do. Paul was made blind for three days (see Acts 9:4-6). God came to a man called Ananias in a vision. God explained to Ananias that Paul was a chosen vessel that would bear his name before the Gentiles and kings and children of Israel (see Acts 9: 11-16). Ananias found Saul, placed his hands on him and Paul received his sight. Paul was then baptized and immediately began preaching that Jesus was the Son of God. At first, Christ’s disciples did not believe that Paul was now a Christian. Barnabas brought Paul unto them and explained how Paul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how Paul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus (see Acts 9: 26, 27). The disciples accepted him and began preaching the word of the Lord together.
Paul’s journeys
Paul made three missionary journeys and one voyage as a prisoner in his lifetime. The missionary journeys were by the direction of the Holy Ghost, but even the voyage as a prisoner gave glory to God and helped to increase Christ’s church. In Paul’s first journey, he traveled with Barnabas. In the first part of the journey hey traveled to Seleucia, Cyprus, and Paphos. In Paphos they found a false prophet who claimed to be a sorcerer and a Jew whose name was Barjesus. While Paul and Barnabas were teaching the word of God to the deputy of the country, this man Barjesus tried to prevent them by turning the deputy away from the faith. Paul harshly reprimanded this false prophet and caused him to be blind. The deputy, after he saw the power of God, immediately believed on the Lord (see Acts 13: 6-12). From Paphos, Paul and Barnabas went to Perga which was in Pamphlia, and Antioch. In Antioch, Paul stood up and preached the word of the Lord. He spoke of the complete history of the Bible from Noah to Jesus (see Acts 13: 16-38). On the next Sabbath Day almost the whole city came to hear the word of God. There was rebellion from the Jews and they persecuted Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from the country. From Antioch they went to Iconium. They preached the word of the Lord for a long time in Iconium, but soon the persecution from the Jews forced Paul and Barnabas to leave. They then fled to Lystra and Derbe, which were cities in Lycaonia, and there they preached the gospel. In Lystra, Paul healed a man that was crippled from birth. The people thought that Paul and Barnabas were gods and began their sacrificial ceremonies. Paul stopped them by preaching the gospel to them. Paul was almost stoned to death so he went with Barnabas to Derbe (see Acts 14:19). After preaching the gospel and teaching many people in Derbe, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples there, and urging them to continue in the faith. They ordained elders in every church. Then they passed through Pisidia and traveled to Pamphylia. They preached the word in Perga and then went to Attalia. Then they sailed to Antioch from where they began. They abode a long time there in Antioch with the disciples.
The goal of the second journey was to go back to the places where Paul and Barnabas had been to see how they were doing. Barnabas wanted to take a disciple named John, but Paul disagreed. They disagreed so vehemently that they split up. Paul decided to take a disciple name Silas instead. Paul went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. From there he went back to Derbe and Lystra where he met Timothy. The churches were established in their faith and increased in number daily (see Acts 16:5). Then Paul took Timothy with him throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia but they were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach in Asia. They passed by Mysia and went to Troas. There Paul saw a vision. He saw a man of Macedonia asking him for help. Paul took this as a message from the Lord to go into Macedonia, and so they went. From Troas they went to Samothracia and then to Neapolis. Finally they reached Philippi, which is the chief city in Macedonia. There they met a woman named Lydia who brought them to a girl that was possessed by demons. Paul commanded that the evil spirit come out of her in the name of Jesus Christ. The same day the spirit did indeed come out of her and this made the people of the city angry. They beat and whipped Paul and Silas and threw them in the prison. Paul and Silas began to sing praises to the Lord and a great earthquake freed them from the prison. The guard, who was afraid of being punished for allowing them to get free, wanted to kill himself. Instead, Paul preached to him the word of the Lord and he became saved. When they left the prison they went to Lydia’s house again and from there they departed the city (see Acts 16: 14-40). On the way to Thessalonica, they passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia. They preached to the Jews there but this caused uproar in Thessalonica so they left for Berea. The people of Berea were very noble and received the word with readiness of mind (see Acts 17: 11), but when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that Paul and Silas were preaching in Berea, they stirred the people. Paul left Silas and Timothy there at Berea but departed for Athens. While at Athens, Paul saw nothing but a city given over to idolatry. He preached Jesus unto the Jews in the synagogues. Some of the philosophers were intrigued with Paul’s teachings so they brought him to Areopagus. There Paul explained to them that the gods that they were worshipping were false. He explained that the one true God is not like unto gold or silver or stone, graven by art and man’s devices. He went on to say that God has given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised Jesus from the dead (see Acts 17:31). Upon hearing of the resurrection, some people believed and some people mocked him. Paul departed and brought some true believers with him. After departing Athens, Paul went to Corinth. Paul preached the gospel of Jesus in Corinth for a year and a half and then sailed into Syria. From Syria he went to Ephesus. He did not have much success with the Jews in Ephesus so he departed for Caesarea where he spent some time (see Acts 18:23) and the second journey ended.
The third journey of Paul began in Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening the disciples. Paul then moved into the upper coasts of Ephesus for two years. God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul. He healed the sick and delivered men from evil spirits that possessed them (see Acts 19:11, 12). He then sent Timotheus and Erastus to Macedonia and stayed in Asia for a time. Here he encountered a city whose god was Diana. There was a big uproar because teachings against Diana were strictly forbidden. After this Paul gathered the disciples and planned to go to Macedonia. There they met some disciples that were willing to join the journey. They then went to Troas and stayed there seven days. Then they sailed to Assos and then to Chios and then to Samos and then to Trogyllium and then to Miletus. Paul then addresses the elders of the church of Ephesus. He tells them to “feed the church of God, which Jesus had purchased with his own blood” (see Acts 20:28). Paul hasted because he wanted to be in Jerusalem by the day of Pentecost (see Acts 20:16). He sailed in to Cocos, then Rhodes and then into Patara. From there he sailed into Phenicia and then into Syria and landed in Tyre. The disciples in Tyre said that it was not a good idea to go to Jerusalem so they went into Ptolemais and saluted the brethren there. Then next day they went into Caesarea and visited Philip. There was a certain prophet there named Agabus who warned that they shouldn’t go into Jerusalem because they would put Paul in prison. Paul was ready to die for Jesus and went up to Jerusalem in spite of the warnings (see Acts 21:13-15). Paul preached the gospel of Jesus again unto the Jews and was indeed put in prison. He was ordered to stand before the council and this is where he gave his testimony of his vision on the road of Damascus the first time (Acts 22:3-21). Paul’s third journey ends with him seeing a vision of the Lord calling him to Rome. There was a group of Jews who made an oath to kill Paul, but the chief captain of the council drew up a parade of horseman and soldiers to bring Paul safely to Felix the governor (see Acts 23:4).
Imprisonment
Paul spent two years in prison in Caesarea under Felix. When Festus came into power and replaced Felix, he suggested that Paul be judged in Jerusalem. Paul appealed to Caesar who was in Rome. Paul wanted to be judged by the Romans and not the Jews. After a few days passed, a certain King named Agrippa came to Caesarea to salute Festus. He found out about Paul who was staying in the prison under Festus. This King Agrippa, who stayed for a long time in Caesarea, demanded that he hear Paul. This is where Paul gave the testimony of the road to Damascus a second time. This testimony almost persuaded King Agrippa to be a Christian (see Acts 26:28). Finally Paul is sent to Rome. Because of shipwreck, they end up on the island of Melita. During their stay there, they were received by barbarians and they kindled a fire. When Paul laid some sticks on the fire, a viper came out of the heat and fastened on his hand. At first, the barbarians thought that he was a murderer whose justice had finally come upon him. But after seeing that Paul had shaken off the beast without injury, that said that he was a god (see Acts 28:3-6). Paul also healed many diseases on the island. After three months on the island they sailed to Syracuse for three days, and then to Rhegium for one day, and then to Puteoli for seven days. Finally they arrived in Rome. Paul was set free in Rome and dwelt two whole years in his own house, preaching the kingdom of God.
Conclusion
Paul was an amazing vessel of God. Through stripes and shipwrecks and stonings, he kept the faith. He did not let persecution stop him from doing the Lord’s work. The Lord blessed him with the power to heal and the power to save.
