Saul's Introduction

Acts 8:1-4

1 And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. 4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

The first introduce of Saul is from Hebrew name meaning “asked for.”[1] After the road to Damacus, Jesus calls him by his Greek name Paul. Paul wrote thirteen epistles. Acts 13-28 focus on his missionary labors. Paul was born in a Jewish family in Tarsus. (Acts 22:3) His family later moved to Galilee. He was from the clan of Benjamin (Philippians 3:15) By trade, his family worked with leather and were tentmakers. This was a wealthy profession. Paul was granted Roman citizenship because of either his father or grandfather rendered a special service to the military proconsul or his parents were prisoners of war. Upon release, they were granted citizenship. His citizenship helped him with his missionary labors such as:

Rights to appeal

            Exemption from imperial service

             Right to speak to local or Roman travail

            Protection from degrading forms of punishment

Paul grew up in Jerusalem. (Acts 22:3) He trained under Rabbi Gamaliel, a member of the Sanhedrin. (Acts 5:33-39) Galatian 1:14 explains Paul’s zeal for the traditions of his ancestors. He was a Pharisee. (Acts 23:6) Paul saw Jesus’ teachings as a threat to the Jewish religion. (Acts 26:9-11) Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit in Damacus.

Missionary Journeys

The first journey can be found in Galatians 1:17 and 2 Corinthians 11:32-33.

Jews were seeking to kill Paul in Damascus, but he escaped out of a window. (Acts 9:22-25)

The first trip took place with Paul and Barnabas, they traveled to Cyprus and Anatolia around AD 47-48.

The second trip was around AD 50-52 with Paul and Silas traveling to Phillip, Thessalonica, and Berea. Barnabas took his nephew John Mark to Corinth.

The third trip was around AD 53-57 where Paul spent three years in Ephesus. It is believed that during this time he wrote First and Second Corinthians and Romans.

In the final years, Paul was arrested following a riot in Jerusalem. He was sent to stand trial before Felix. After two years of procrastination, he was sent to Rome. He was on house arrest for two years. During this time, he wrote Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians, and Philippians.

Paul had a second imprisonment in Rome and it is believed that he was beheaded during the reign of Nero.

From the writing of Galatians 4:12-16, it leads us to believe that he had an eye disease.[2]

When reading Acts 8:1-40, how do you see Saul? Do you see yourself? Have you ever fought for a cause to later determine you were wrong? If so, how did you correct your fault? Please study Saul and learn from him.

Bibliography

Quarles, Charles L. “Paul,” In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1227-1232. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015.

“Saul,” In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1417. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015.

[1] “Saul,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 1417.

[2] Charles L. Quarles, “Paul,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 1227-1232.