| | Apostle Paul
Birth to First Missionary JourneySubmit YOUR questions, through our easy to use form,
to our team of mature Christians known as the Email Evangelists! | | | | | Date | | Significant Events | | | | | c. 2 A.D.
| | Born in Tarsus | | | | Apostle Paul (Saul) is born in Tarsus, a city in the Roman province of Cilicia, to an Israelite family of the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5). He is circumcised on the eighth day, in compliance with the law of God (Genesis 17:12, Leviticus 12:3, Philippians 3:5). He has at least one sister (Acts 23:16). Before Paul’s birth, the Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar, as a reward for its exertions and sacrifices during its civil wars, declares Tarsus a FREE CITY. Although born a Jew, apostle Paul's birth in the city makes him a Roman citizen with all its rights and privileges. | | | | c. 12 A.D.
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15 A.D. | | Young Saul goes to Jerusalem | | | Saul goes to Jerusalem to receive teaching in a Pharisaic Rabbinical school. The school he attends is headed up by the well-known Rabbi Gamaliel (see Acts 5:34), who today Jews consider to be one of the greatest teachers ever of Judaism. Gamaliel personally teaches Saul (Acts 22:3) who eventually becomes a Pharisee (Acts 23:6-8, 26:4-5; Philippians 3:5). | | | | | | | | Who are the PHARISEES? The word Pharisee means "to separate" or "separated." Pharisaism was a major school of thought or sect of the Jews. Popular at the time of Jesus (John 7:48) they were known for their rigid adherence to the letter of the law (Acts 26:5, Matthew 23:3, Luke 11:39, etc.).
Jesus frequently rebuked the Pharisees for their self-righteous, unmerciful, hypocritical way of life (Matthew 9:11, 23:14; John 8:7, Luke 18:11, etc.). | |
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| | | | Date | | Significant Events | | | | | 32 A.D. | | Martyrdom of Stephen and persecution | | | | Stephen, whose Grecian name means " crown," is stoned for his testimony about Jesus (Acts 6-7). Stephen was one of the first deacons specially appointed by the early church to serve (Acts 6:1-6). He becomes the first Christian martyr. A young, zealous Saul (Paul) consents to and witnesses Stephen's death (Acts 7:58-8:1), after which he leads persecution against believers of Christ (Acts 8:1-4). | 33 A.D. | | The conversion of Saul | | | | Paul receives written permission from the High Priest (Sanhedrin) to search in Damascus' synagogues for those who believe Jesus is the Messiah. He also has authority to arrest and bring these believers to Jerusalem for trial and punishment. (Acts 9:1-2) | | | | | | | What is the SANHEDRIN? The Sanhedrin, or more properly the Great Sanhedrin, was the supreme council of the Jews composed of seventy elders plus the high priest. The Great Sanhedrin, who met daily in Jerusalem's temple, had jurisdiction over religious matters. They were the ones who arrested, tried, and condemned Jesus to death.
The New Testament calls the Sanhedrin "the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people" (Matthew 26:3). | | | | | Paul (Saul), accompanied by several others, travels to Damascus. As he approaches the city, a burst of light suddenly appears and causes him to fall to the ground (Acts 9:3-4). He then hears the booming voice of Jesus saying: "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (Acts 9:4, NIV) He becomes blind and his traveling companions must lead him into Damascus. Three days later Jesus inspires a disciple named Ananias to visit Saul and heal him of his blindness. After his healing and baptism, Saul receives God's Holy Spirit. (Acts 9:4-18) Saul (first called Paul in Acts 13:9) stays in Damascus and powerfully preaches the gospel. After learning of the plot against his life, Paul flees the city at night by having Christians lower him down a gate wall using a basket! Once out of the city he travels to Arabia. | Spring
33 A.D.
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36 A.D. | | Taught by Jesus | | | Paul spends three years in Arabia and has Jesus personally teach him. "But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, BUT IT CAME THROUGH THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. . . " "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; BUT I WENT TO ARABIA, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days." (Galatians 1:11-12, 15-18, NKJV unless otherwise stated)
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36 A.D. | | Paul's First Visit to Jerusalem after conversion | After three years in Arabia, Paul journeys back to Damascus in the Spring of the year (Galatians 1:17). He then travels to Jerusalem and stays fifteen days (Acts 9:26, Galatians 1:18-19). Although he tries to get to know other converted people in Jerusalem, the brethren are suspicious of him and stay away (Acts 9:26). Barnabas, a disciple known for encouraging others, takes Paul to the apostles and personally vouches for his converted character (Acts 9:27). Fellow Christians then accept him. Paul's preaching once again infuriates some Jews to the point where they seek to kill him (Acts 9:29). When the brethren learn about the threat they escort him to Caesarea and then send him back to his hometown of Tarsus (Acts 9:30). | | | | | | Was the apostle Paul married? The Bible does not definitively state what Paul’s marital status was. However, the social norm of the time required Pharisees and members of the Sanhedrin to be married. As he was a Pharisee and likely a member of the Sanhedrin, he was almost certainly married at one point. If this were the case, he would have been a widower at the time of his ministry. | | | | | | | Summer
36 A.D.
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40 A.D. | | Staying Home in Tarsus
Paul stays in his hometown of Tarsus for four years. | | | | | Summer
40 A.D.
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41 A.D. | | Growth in the Antioch church | Brethren scattered because of Paul's persecution (before his conversion) preach the Word of God to Jews as far away as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch (Acts 11:19). Some converted men from Cyprus and Cyrene travel to Antioch in Syria and begin to speak to Grecians (non-Jews) concerning Jesus. God blesses their efforts and a great number of people become converted. (Acts 11:20-21). Word of the gospel's success in Antioch reaches Jerusalem. The Jerusalem church sends Barnabas to aid in the ministering to the new converts. When he arrives in Antioch, he encourages the brethren to continue to grow as believers. (Acts 11:22-24). Because of the continued growth of the Antioch church Barnabas travels to Tarsus to seek Paul's help with teaching the newly converted Gentiles. Paul and Barnabas journey from Tarsus back to Antioch and stay in the city for an entire year (Acts 11:25-26). | | | | First called CHRISTIANS It is in Syrian Antioch that the term 'Christian' to designate someone who believes Jesus is the Messiah is first used. The Bible does not state whether the term originated from those in or outside the church. The word Christian occurs only THREE times in the New Testament (Acts 11:26, 26:28, 1Peter 4:16). | | | | | | Spring
42 A.D. | | | | | The prophet Agabus travels from Jerusalem to Antioch. In Antioch he prophesies that a three-year famine will soon occur (Acts 11:27-28). In response to the prophecy the disciples plant and prepare food and relief to send to the believers in Jerusalem (Acts 11:29). | | | | | Spring
44 A.D. | | Famine relief to Jerusalem | | | Food and relief are sent to Jerusalem by the hands of Paul and Barnabas (Acts 11:30). After delivering relief the pair, along with John Mark, return to Antioch (Acts 12:25). | | | | | Late Spring
44 A.D.
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Fall 46 A.D. | | Apostle Paul's First Missionary Journey begins | | | In late Spring of 44 A.D., the brethren ordain Paul and Barnabas as apostles (Acts 13:1-3). From Antioch Paul, Barnabas and John (surnamed Mark) begin the first missionary journey (Acts 13:4-52, 14:1-25). They travel to Seleucia then sail to Salamis, the principle city and seaport of the island of Cyprus. Cyprus is where Barnabas was born and raised (Acts 4:36). In Salamis, they preach the gospel in several synagogues. Paul and company then cross the island by foot and arrive at Paphos. While in Paphos the island's Roman governor requests Barnabas and Paul meet with him so that he can personally hear the word of God. Accompanying the governor to the meeting is a sorcerer and false prophet known as Elymas the magician. Elymas resists the gospel and tries to prevent the governor from accepting the truth of God (Acts 13:6-8). Paul perceives Elymas' intentions, intently looks at him, then . . . : "Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, 'O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.'" (Acts 13:9-11, NKJV throughout) Elymas immediately goes blind and is unable to see. The governor, astonished at what he sees, believes the gospel (Acts 13:11-12). | | | | Mark abruptly leaves | | | | Paul, Barnabas, and Mark soon board a ship and sail to Perga. Mark then abruptly leaves the group and returns to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). The issue of Mark suddenly abandoning the first missionary journey will be the catalyst for a separation before Paul's second missionary journey (Acts 15:36-41). The two evangelists leave Perga and journey to Antioch in Pisidia (also called Pisidian Antioch, to distinguish it from the Antioch located in Syria).
| | | | Thrown out of one city and fleeing from another! | | | | In Antioch Paul and Barnabas attend a local synagogue where Paul preaches a powerful message (Acts 13:16-41). After the Jews leave the synagogue, the Gentiles (proselytes) in the audience ask him to speak the next sabbath day. Then, after the synagogue’s dismissal, many Jews and proselytes follow the evangelists in order to hear more about the gospel. On the next Sabbath, almost the entire city comes to hear the word of God. (Acts 13:42-44). Some Jews, however, envious of the large crowd drawn by Paul, begin to speak against the gospel. Their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah means that the two evangelists will now primarily preach only to Gentiles (Acts 13:45-47). As the word of the Lord spreads through the entire region, some Jews begin a campaign to convince important men and women of the city to be against the pair. Persecution soon sets in and culminates with both men expelled from the area. Arriving in Iconium Paul speaks at a local synagogue. His preaching convinces many Jews and Greeks to become believers. Jews who do not believe in what he teaches, however, stir others up against the gospel. Although signs and wonders occur to confirm their preaching, the city divides as to whether Paul and Barnabas are true servants of God. In a short time, some Jewish leaders, along with other Jews and Gentiles, conspire to have the two apostles stoned to death. After discovering a threat against their lives, they flee the city to Lystra (Acts 14:1-6). | | | | Worshipped like gods | | | | In Lystra Paul meets a man born crippled and never able to walk. He perceives, after the man hears his message, that he has enough faith for God to heal him. When Paul commands the crippled man to stand, he miraculously leaps up and is able to walk (Acts 14:6-10)! The response to such a miracle was immediate and unexpected: "Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, 'THE GODS HAVE COME DOWN TO US IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN!' And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes." (Acts 14:11-13)
Paul and Barnabas tear their clothes in amazement! They are BARELY able to keep the crowd from sacrificing to them like Greek gods (Acts 14:14-18)! | | | | Stoned to death then resurrected | | | | In a short time, Jews from Pisidian Antioch and Iconium arrive in Lystra and succeed in turning people against the evangelists. Paul is soon STONED and has his dead body dragged out of the city. Some believers find his body and as they stand around it, he comes back to life! Amazingly, Paul re-enters the city. The next day he and Barnabas travel to Derbe (Acts 14:19-20). | | | | | | | | A few more cities then home | | | | Paul and Barnabas preach the gospel in Derbe and then retrace their steps through Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch in order to strengthen the brethren. From Pisidian Antioch they travel to Perga and then to Attalia, where they catch a ship to sail back to where their missionary journey started (Acts 14:21-26). | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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