PAUL

OF
TARSUS
The Apostle
of the
Gentiles
Who is Paul?

SOURCES OF
INFORMATION

• The Letters of
Paul

• The Acts of the

Apostles
Paul’s physical appearance
“Small in stature,
meeting eyebrows,
bald head,
bow-legged,
strongly built,
hollow-eyed,
with a large crooked nose;
… but full of grace”

(from the Acts of Paul and

Thecla)
Place of birth: TARSUS
 Information about Tarsus
• Capital of Cilicia (Turkey): 300.000 people
• Land: good for farmers (wheat, oil and
wine) and shepherds (sheep).
• Place for trading: the Roman road
connecting the East with the West passed
from there.
• Why was Paul born in Tarsus? Probably
his family migrated there because of war
or economic difficulties.
Roman road in Tarsus
Ruins of Tarsus
The coast of Tarsus
 Paul’s Childhood
• Born in Tarsus around the year 5-10 AD.
• A Jew from the tribe of Benjamin
(Philippians 3:5).
• Circumcised on the eighth day and given
the Hebrew name of Saul; Paul in Greek.
• Roman citizen from his birth (Acts of the
Apostles 16:35-39; 22:25-29; 25:1-25).
 Place
of
the
Tribe
of
Benjamin
Circumcision of Paul
 Paul’s Education
• At home, he learnt the profession of his
family: tentmakers (Acts 18:3).
• Tarsus had a synagogue and a Jewish
School: there, he learnt to read and write.
He also learnt God’s Law, the history and
traditions of the Jews and some prayers.
• Paul was sent to Jerusalem to study the
Jewish faith under Rabbi Gamaliel (16): it
took him 3 or 4 years to become a young
rabbi, an exigent Pharisee.
Other facts about Paul
• DID PAUL HEAR ABOUT JESUS OR
MET HIM PERSONALLY WHEN IN
JERUSALEM? Paul never says anything
about it, so he probably did not.

• WAS PAUL MARRIED, SINGLE OR

WIDOW? He does not say anything, so
everybody believes he was single.
The stoning of Stephen
“The witnesses put
down their clothes at
the feet of a young man
called Saul” (Acts 7:59)

• Year 34 AD.
• Paul becomes the
persecutor of Christians
• Dispersion of Christians
across neighboring
countries while fleeing
persecution.
Paul’s Conversion
 Acts 22:6-11
It happened that I was on that journey and nearly at
Damascus when in the middle of the day a bright light
from heaven suddenly shone around me. I fell to the
ground and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are
you persecuting me?” I answered, “Who are you, Lord?”
and he said to me, “I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you
are persecuting”. The people with me saw the light but
did not hear the voice which spoke to me. I said, “What I
am to do, Lord?” The Lord answered, “Get up and go
into Damascus, and there you will be told what you have
been appointed to do”. Since the light had been so
dazzling that I was blind, I got into Damascus only
because my companions led me by hand.
Main gate to Damascus
Facts about Paul’s Conversion

• Acts narrates the story 3 times: 36 AD.

• Encounter with Jesus: no punishment for his
wrongdoings, but a calling for a mission.
• Paul’s great transformation: from persecutor
of Christians to Apostle of the Gentiles.
• 3 days of blindness: symbolic meaning.
• Recovery of sight signifies his true
conversion: Baptism is symbol of new life.
Thirteen years of silence
• Damascus: preaching in the
synagogues. He has to flee
because the Jews want to kill him.
• Arabia: 3 years of spiritual retreat
and preaching.
• Jerusalem: visit to the Apostles,
especially Peter (15 days).
• Tarsus: preaching the good news
of Jesus in the new communities
nearby: Phoenicia, Cyprus,
Cyrene, Antioch…
The beginning of Paul’s mission

“One day while they were offering

worship to the Lord and keeping a
fast, the Holy Spirit said, “I want
Barnabas and Saul set apart for the
work to which I have called them”. So
it was that after fasting and prayer
they laid their hands on them and
sent them off” (Acts 13:2-3).
Paul’s way of travelling
• The roads and the
cities
• Paul’s travelling
companions
• Paul’s way of
communication
• Paul’s health
• Paul’s travel expenses
• Keeping in touch:
letters
Paul’s first missionary journey
(Acts 13:3-14:28) 48-49 AD
Paul’s second missionary journey
(Acts 15:36-18:22) 50-53 AD
 Paul’s third missionary journey
(Acts 18:23-21:17) 54-58 AD
Letter to the Romans
Similar facts during the 3 journeys
• The same strategy of
missionary action
• The visit of the new
communities
• Persecutions, sufferings
and conflicts
• The use of the Bible
• The action of the Holy
Spirit
• Celebration and prayer
• Meaningful speeches
 The Council of Jerusalem (49-50)

• The acceptance of gentiles in the Christian

community.
• Gentiles do not have to become Jews first
in order to be Christians: no need to follow
the Law of Moses and no need of
circumcision.
• The same rules for Christians coming from
different environments: Jews or Gentiles.
Jerusalem at Paul’s time
The Temple of Jerusalem
Paul’s journey to Rome (60-61)
Paul, prisoner in Rome
Inside of Paul’s prison
Paul’s death in Rome (67 AD)
Paul’s place of burial
(Ostian Way)
Saint Paul’s Basilica, Rome
Saint Paul’s tomb
 PAUL SPEAKS TO US TODAY

• PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS

• PREACHING THE GOOD NEWS

• UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR HIS

COMMUNITIES

• GIVING HIS LIFE FOR CHRIST

Praying with Paul
“I have fought
the good fight
to the end; I
have run the
race to the
finish; I have
kept the faith”
(2Timothy 4:7)