Paul in the Bible

Saul of Tarsus: Jewish upbringing and Roman citizenship

Paul tells the Jerusalem crowd that he was born in Tarsus in Cilicia, brought up in Jerusalem, and educated under Gamaliel. He describes himself as a Pharisee and a member of the tribe of Benjamin. His Jewish identity and Roman citizenship were not alternatives: he was both Jewish and a Roman citizen by birth.

Acts mentions Paul’s sister and the nephew who later warned him about an ambush, but gives neither of their names. In 1 Corinthians 7:7–8, Paul speaks as an unmarried man. That passage does not tell us whether he had ever been married.

Acts 22:3, 25–29; 23:6, 16–22; Philippians 3:5; 1 Corinthians 7:7–8

From persecuting the church to preaching Jesus

Saul guarded the witnesses’ garments at Stephen’s stoning, approved of his death, and dragged believers from their homes. He was approaching Damascus to make further arrests when Jesus confronted him. After three days without sight, Saul received Ananias, regained his sight, and was baptized. He began proclaiming in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.

Paul supplies more of the early chronology in Galatians 1. He went to Arabia, returned to Damascus, and went to Jerusalem after three years, staying with Peter for fifteen days and also seeing James, the Lord’s brother. He does not say he spent all three years in Arabia. Acts describes Barnabas helping the frightened Jerusalem disciples receive him.

Acts 7:58–8:3; 9:1–30; Galatians 1:15–24 · Read the Damascus-road encounter and compare the three accounts in Acts →

Paul’s missionary journeys: Antioch, Asia Minor, and Greece

The first missionary journey is the usual name for Acts 13–14. The Holy Spirit called Barnabas and Saul, and the Antioch church prayed and sent them out. They traveled through Cyprus and cities including Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. They then revisited communities, appointed elders, and returned to Antioch to report what God had done.

On the second journey, Paul traveled with Silas after separating from Barnabas over John Mark. Timothy joined them. A vision at Troas led them toward Macedonia. In Philippi, Lydia welcomed them; later Paul and Silas were imprisoned. An earthquake opened the prison, but the prisoners did not flee. Paul also preached in Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth, where he worked as a tentmaker with Priscilla and Aquila.

The third journey begins in Acts 18:23 with visits to Galatia and Phrygia. Paul spent an extended period teaching in Ephesus, traveled through Macedonia and Greece, and returned toward Jerusalem. At Miletus, he said farewell to the Ephesian elders. These three numbered journeys are a common way to outline Acts, not a claim that Paul traveled only three times. His voyage to Rome came later, in custody.

Acts 13:1–14:28; 15:36–18:22; 18:23–21:17

Coworkers, disagreements, and Gentile believers

Paul did not work alone. Barnabas brought him from Tarsus to teach at Antioch. Priscilla and Aquila worked and traveled with him. Timothy became a trusted coworker, and Romans 16 names many women and men who served the churches, including Phoebe, Prisca, and Aquila.

Some believers argued that Gentiles had to be circumcised to be saved. Acts 15 describes the apostles and elders meeting in Jerusalem, with Peter, Barnabas, Paul, and James contributing to the discussion. The decision did not require Gentile believers to be circumcised. It also gave instructions about food associated with idols, blood, strangled animals, and sexual immorality.

Agreement did not remove every conflict. Paul and Barnabas parted over whether to take Mark, and Paul later opposed Peter at Antioch for withdrawing from meals with Gentile believers. Neither incident is a reason to erase those men’s work together. In 2 Timothy 4:11, Paul asks for Mark because he is useful to him in ministry.

Acts 11:25–26; 15:1–29, 36–41; 18:1–5, 18–19; Romans 16:1–16; Galatians 2:11–14; 2 Timothy 4:11

Which New Testament letters bear Paul’s name?

Thirteen letters identify Paul as their sender: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. Christians traditionally attribute these letters to Paul; scholars debate the authorship of some of them. Hebrews does not name its author, so its earlier association with Paul should not be presented as something the letter itself states.

These letters address particular people and problems. Romans discusses sin, faith, and God’s righteousness. First Corinthians deals with divisions, worship, spiritual gifts, and resurrection. Philemon asks its recipient to welcome Onesimus as a beloved brother. Their order in the New Testament is not a timeline of when Paul wrote them.

Writing a letter also involved other people. Several openings name coworkers alongside Paul, and Romans 16:22 includes a greeting from Tertius, who wrote the letter. The illustration above imagines Paul writing; it is not a historical portrait or evidence that he personally penned every letter.

Romans 1:1; 3:21–28; 16:22; 1 Corinthians 1:1; 12:12–27; 15:12–23; Philemon 1–2, 8–21 · Read a Bible publisher’s introduction to the letters and authorship questions →

Arrest in Jerusalem and the voyage to Rome

A crowd attacked Paul in Jerusalem after accusers alleged that he had brought a Gentile into the temple. Acts says they had seen Trophimus with him in the city and assumed Paul had taken him inside. Roman soldiers intervened and took Paul into custody. His nephew later uncovered an ambush plot, and Paul was transferred to Caesarea.

Felix left Paul in custody for two years. Under Festus, Paul appealed to Caesar. He also explained his case before King Agrippa. On the voyage to Italy, a storm wrecked the ship, but all 276 people reached land safely. They were on Malta, where they stayed three months before continuing the journey.

In Rome, Paul was allowed to live with a soldier guarding him. Acts closes with two years in his own rented dwelling, welcoming visitors and teaching about Jesus unhindered. It does not give the outcome of his appeal. Romans 15 records his hope of traveling to Spain, not proof that he reached it.

Acts 21:27–36; 23:12–35; 24:27; 25:1–12; 26; 27:37–28:31; Romans 15:22–29

How did Paul die? Scripture and later testimony

The New Testament does not narrate Paul’s execution. In 2 Timothy 4:6–8, he speaks of his approaching departure and looks toward the Lord’s reward, but the passage does not describe a method of execution or supply a date.

Writing later, Eusebius reports that Paul was beheaded in Rome during Nero’s reign (Church History 2.25.5). This is a source for the Christian tradition about Paul’s martyrdom, distinct from the account in Acts, which leaves him alive. An exact execution date should not be presented as a biblical fact.

Acts 28:30–31; 2 Timothy 4:6–8; Eusebius, Church History 2.25.5 · Read Eusebius’s report in Church History, Book 2, chapter 25 →

Two names, not a narrated renaming

What do the names Saul and Paul mean?

Saul is the Hebrew name Sha’ul, understood as “asked for.” Paul comes from the Latin Paulus, meaning “small” or “little.” Acts 13:9 identifies Saul as also called Paul; it does not describe a name change at conversion. The meaning of Paul’s name does not establish his height or explain why he used it.

Saul: Brown–Driver–Briggs entry 7586

Paul: Greek lexicon entry 3972