Skip to main content

Paul

Portrait of Paul

Paul, originally known as Saul of Tarsus, was a zealous Pharisee who actively persecuted early Christians before his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, where he encountered the risen Christ. This transformation led him to undertake extensive missionary journeys throughout the Roman Empire, establishing churches among Gentiles and proclaiming the gospel despite repeated hardships and imprisonment. He authored a significant portion of the New Testament through letters such as Romans, Corinthians, and Ephesians, which articulate core doctrines on salvation by grace, the role of faith, and Christian community life. His story illustrates the theme of redemption and remains central to understanding the spread of Christianity beyond its Jewish origins in Scripture.

0:00

Videos from BibleProject

Acts Overview (Part 2: Ch. 13-28)

Paul carries the gospel across the Roman Empire despite opposition and hardship.

Romans Overview (Part 1: Ch. 1-4)

Paul explains how God's righteousness is revealed through faith in Jesus.

BibleProject is the author and owner of this content. To find more BibleProject resources, visit bibleproject.com. Bible Navigator is not affiliated with BibleProject.

Biography

Born
c. AD 5, Tarsus, Cilicia
Died
c. AD 64-67, Rome (executed)
Occupation
Tentmaker, Apostle, Missionary
Tribe
Benjamin
Father
Unnamed Pharisee
Era
New Testament
Nationality
Roman citizen, Jewish
Also Known As
Saul

Family

Parents
Unnamed Pharisee
โ†“
Paul
New Testament New Testament Era Apostle Acts

Did You Know?

1

Paul's Roman citizenship, acquired through his birth in the prominent city of Tarsus, granted him the rare legal privilege to appeal directly to Caesar, which he exercised during his trial before Festus and ultimately led to his voyage to Rome.

2

While supporting his missionary work, Paul practiced the trade of tentmaking alongside Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth, a skill he leveraged to remain financially independent from many churches and avoid charges of exploiting converts for money.

3

Paul studied under the renowned Pharisee Gamaliel in Jerusalem, receiving advanced training in Jewish law that he later referenced when defending his background before the Sanhedrin and in his epistles.

4

In 2 Corinthians, Paul details surviving three shipwrecks, a night and day adrift at sea, and being stoned and left for dead at Lystra, hardships that underscore the physical dangers of his travels beyond the more commonly recounted imprisonments.

5

Paul's nephew, the son of his sister in Jerusalem, uncovered an assassination plot against him and alerted Roman authorities, an intervention recorded in Acts that facilitated Paul's transfer to Caesarea under heavy guard.

Key Passages

Conversion on the Road to Damascus

Acts 9:1-19

The church's greatest persecutor becomes its greatest missionary. Paul's dramatic encounter with the risen Christ demonstrates that no one is beyond God's reach and that grace can transform anyone.

A1nd Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 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. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, 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: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my nameโ€™s sake. 17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

Read full chapter: Acts 9 โ†’

First Missionary Journey

Acts 13:1-12

Paul and Barnabas carry the gospel beyond Jewish boundaries into the Gentile world - a pivotal moment that transforms Christianity from a Jewish sect into a universal faith.

N1ow there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. 6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: 7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Read full chapter: Acts 13 โ†’

Speech in Athens

Acts 17:22-34

Paul engages Greek philosophy on its own terms, finding common ground before proclaiming the resurrection - modeling how to communicate the gospel across cultural barriers.

T22hen Paul stood in the midst of Marsโ€™ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with menโ€™s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and manโ€™s device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. 32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Read full chapter: Acts 17 โ†’

Love Chapter

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Paul's hymn to love in 1 Corinthians 13 elevates love above all spiritual gifts and achievements - defining the character that should mark every believer and community.

T1hough I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Read full chapter: 1 Corinthians 13 โ†’