Paul (Saul of Tarsus)
This post continues my reflections on influential figures in the Bible—aside from Jesus—who have shaped my Christian journey. After writing about John and Stephen, who bear my namesake, I turn now to the Apostle Paul.
Paul, also known as Saul of Tarsus, was one of the most impactful figures in early Christianity. Born a Jew in the Roman city of Tarsus (in modern-day Turkey), Paul held dual citizenship, being a Jew by birth and a Roman citizen by privilege. This dual status offered him unique advantages as he spread the gospel throughout the Roman Empire.
In Acts 7:58, we read that Saul witnessed the stoning of Stephen, with the verse stating, “When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.” Saul’s zeal against Christians continued as described in Acts 8:3, “But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and he would drag away men and women and put them in prison.” It’s important to clarify a common misconception: while Saul persecuted early Christians, he did not personally execute them.
Saul’s life took a dramatic turn when he encountered the risen Christ on the road to Damascus—a transformative event that led to his conversion to Christianity and his lifelong mission to spread the gospel. In Acts 9:3-4, we read, “Now as he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’”
Blinded by this encounter, Saul remained sightless for three days until the Lord commissioned a man named Ananias to restore his sight. In Acts 9:15-16, we hear the Lord’s words to Ananias: “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer in behalf of My name.”
It is not until Acts 13:9 that Saul is referred to as “Paul,” reflecting his Roman identity with the Latin name Paulus, meaning “small” or “humble.” This shift signifies Paul’s new mission field: the Gentiles.
Paul became an untiring missionary, traveling extensively through the Roman Empire to establish churches and share the message of Jesus Christ with both Jews and Gentiles. He is credited with writing 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament, including foundational letters like Romans, Corinthians, and Galatians. These epistles articulate key theological principles—salvation by grace through faith, the unity of believers, and the transformative power of Christ.
Despite facing fierce opposition, imprisonment, and numerous hardships, Paul remained steadfast in his mission. His writings and teachings laid much of Christianity’s doctrinal foundation and continue to shape theology and practice today. Tradition holds that Paul was martyred in Rome under Emperor Nero around 64-67 AD, sealing his legacy as one of the faith’s most significant apostles and thinkers.