Dictionary of Bible Themes: 5108 Paul, life of

5108 Paul, life of

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

Philippians 3:4-5

His citizenship

Acts 22:27-28

His place of birth and education

Acts 22:3 See also Acts 21:39

His trade as a tentmaker

Acts 18:1-3

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

Acts 11:25-26

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

Acts 15:36-41

In Asia Minor

Acts 16:6-8

In Macedonia

Acts 16:9-12; Acts 17:1,10

In Greece

Acts 17:15; Acts 18:1 It was from Corinth that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians.

His return to Antioch

Acts 18:18-22

Paul's third missionary journey (c. A.D. 53-57)

His general purpose in making his journey

Acts 18:23

At Ephesus

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

Acts 21:27-34; Acts 23:12-21

In Caesarea (c. A.D. 57-59)

Acts 23:23-35; Acts 24:23-27

His appeal to Caesar

Acts 25:1-12

His shipwreck

Acts 27:1-28:10

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