Dictionary of Bible Themes Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5070 Individuals in OT and NT » 5107 Paul » 5108 Paul, life of Paul, previously known as Saul, had been a zealous persecutor of the church, but an encounter with the risen Christ (c. A.D. 35) led to his becoming the apostle to the Gentiles, with a mission to proclaim the gospel throughout the Gentile world. He was probably martyred during the persecutions of Nero, possibly in A.D. 67. Paul's early life His Jewish heritage His citizenship His place of birth and education Acts 22:3 See also Acts 21:39 His trade as a tentmaker Paul's conversion His persecution of the church Philippians 3:5-6 See also Acts 7:59-8:3; Acts 9:1-2; Acts 22:19-20; Galatians 1:13 His conversion on the road to Damascus and his apostolic calling Acts 9:1-19 pp Acts 22:3-16 pp Acts 26:9-18 Paul's early Christian activity His journey to Arabia Galatians 1:15-17 Acts makes no mention of this trip, but it seems that Paul went to Arabia immediately after he met Ananias and then subsequently returned to preach in Damascus. His return to Damascus 2 Corinthians 11:32-33 See also Acts 9:19-25 His visit to Jerusalem (c. A.D. 38) Galatians 1:18 See also Acts 9:26-28 His return to his home town of Tarsus Acts 9:29-30 See also Galatians 1:21 Tarsus was in Cilicia. His stay in Antioch Paul's first missionary journey and his partnership with Barnabas (c. A.D. 46-48) See also Acts 13:1-6,13-14,49-51; Acts 14:1,5-7,21-28 Paul and the Council of Jerusalem (c. A.D. 49) The similarities between Paul and Luke here suggests that both writers are referring to the same events in these passages. Some, however, prefer to equate the meeting recorded in Gal 2:1-10 with the journey to Jerusalem mentioned in Ac 11:30: Acts 15:1-6,22-35; Galatians 2:1-10 Paul's second missionary journey (c. A.D. 50-52) His disagreement with Barnabas and his new partnership with Silas In Asia Minor In Macedonia In Greece Acts 17:15; Acts 18:1 It was from Corinth that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians. His return to Antioch Paul's third missionary journey (c. A.D. 53-57) His general purpose in making his journey At Ephesus See also Acts 19:1-12; 1 Corinthians 15:32; Corinthians 16:8-9 His visit to Corinth 2 Corinthians 1:15-16,23-2:4; Corinthians 13:2 Most scholars believe that Paul wrote 1Corinthians from Ephesus, and that he also visited Corinth during this period. This visit, however, proved to be such a painful experience for him that he abandoned plans for a third visit, and instead wrote the Corinthians a “tearful” letter, calling them to repent of their sinful behaviour. His journey to Greece Acts 20:1-6; 2 Corinthians 2:12-13 Paul had hoped that Titus would bring him news from Corinth. They finally met in Macedonia, and Titus brought good news about the Corinthians' change of heart. Paul then wrote 2Corinthians before visiting Corinth for a third time. His return to Jerusalem with the collection Acts 20:6,13-16; Acts 21:1-8,15,17-19; Romans 15:25-26 Paul wrote Romans at this point in his travels. There is a considerable degree of uncertainty as to precisely when Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon were written. Paul under arrest His life threatened in Jerusalem In Caesarea (c. A.D. 57-59) His appeal to Caesar His shipwreck His visit to Rome (c. A.D. 60) Acts 28:11-16,30-31 The latter part of Paul's life These verses from the Pastoral Epistles may indicate that Paul was ultimately released and undertook further journeys in the Eastern Mediterranean before his death: 1 Timothy 1:3; 2 Timothy 4:13,20; Titus 1:5; Titus 3:12 See also
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