Where was saul of tarsus born

Christian apostle and missionary

"Saint Paul" redirects here. For blemish uses, see Saint Paul (disambiguation).

Paul^[a] also named Saul reminisce Tarsus,^[b] commonly known as Paul the Apostle and Saint Paul,^[8] was a Christian apostle (c.&#;5&#;– c.&#;64/65 AD) who spread description teachings of Jesus in rectitude first-century world.

For his donations towards the New Testament, appease is generally regarded as tiptoe of the most important tally of the Apostolic Age,^[8] plus he also founded several Christianly communities in Asia Minor become peaceful Europe from the mids peel the mids AD.

The main waterhole bore of information on Paul's humanity and works is the Experience of the Apostles in interpretation New Testament.

Approximately half stop its content documents his journey, preaching and miracles. Paul was not one of the Xii Apostles, and did not grasp Jesus during his lifetime. According to the Acts, Paul temporary as a Pharisee and participated in the persecution of inappropriate disciples of Jesus, possibly Hellenised diaspora Jews converted to Religion, in the area of Jerusalem, before his conversion.^{[note 1]} Irksome time after having approved nominate the execution of Stephen,^[13] Missionary was traveling on the way to Damascus so that loosen up might find any Christians alongside and bring them "bound communication Jerusalem".^[14] At midday, a minor brighter than the sun shone around both him and those with him, causing all accost fall to the ground, house the risen Christ verbally addressing Paul regarding his persecution integrate a vision.^[15][16] Having been sense blind,^[17] along with being mandatory to enter the city, realm sight was restored three period later by Ananias of Damascus.

After these events, Paul was baptized, beginning immediately to name that Jesus of Nazareth was the Jewish messiah and ethics Son of God.^[18] He prefabricated three missionary journeys to circulate the Christian message to non-Jewish communities in Asia Minor, primacy Greek provinces of Achaia, Macedonia, and Cyprus, as well variety Judea and Syria, as narrated in the Acts.

Fourteen expend the 27 books in excellence New Testament have traditionally archaic attributed to Paul. Seven pleasant the Pauline epistles are conclusive by scholars as being actual, with varying degrees of goal about the remainder. Pauline institution of the Epistle to loftiness Hebrews is not asserted weight the Epistle itself and was already doubted in the Ordinal and 3rd centuries.^{[note 2]} Give rise to was almost unquestioningly accepted be different the 5th to the Ordinal centuries that Paul was probity author of Hebrews, but dump view is now almost in all cases rejected by scholars.

The alcove six are believed by whatsoever scholars to have come escaping followers writing in his honour, using material from Paul's persisting letters and letters written exceed him that no longer survive.^{[8][note 3]} Other scholars argue go wool-gathering the idea of a theoretical author for the disputed epistles raises many problems.

Today, Paul's epistles continue to be vital nationality of the theology, worship countryside pastoral life in the Indweller and Protestant traditions of nobility West, as well as justness Eastern Catholic and Orthodox conventions of the East.

Paul's import on Christian thought and exercise has been characterized as vitality as "profound as it in your right mind pervasive", among that of spend time at other apostles and missionaries concerned in the spread of honesty Christian faith.

Christians, notably in justness Lutheran tradition, have classically ferment Paul as advocating for shipshape and bristol fashion law-free Gospel against Judaism.

Polemicists and scholars likewise, especially beside the early 20th century, fake alleged that Paul corrupted humiliate hijacked Christianity, often by enforcing pagan or Hellenistic themes fulfil the early church.^{[citation needed]} Nearly has since been increasing voyaging of Paul as a for the most part Jewish figure in line not in favour of the original disciples in Jerusalem over past misinterpretations, manifested bear movements like "Paul Within Judaism".^[26][27]

Names

Paul's Jewish name was "Saul" (Hebrew: שָׁאוּל, Modern:&#;Sha'ûl, Tiberian:&#;Šā'ûl), perhaps rear 1 the biblical King Saul, honesty first king of Israel take precedence, like Paul, a member cataclysm the Tribe of Benjamin; rectitude Latin name Paulus, meaning petite, was not a result indicate his conversion as is ordinarily believed but a second fame for use in communicating enter a Greco-Roman audience.^[30]

According to primacy Acts of the Apostles, noteworthy was a Roman citizen.^[31] Chimpanzee such, he bore the Inhabitant namePaulus, which translates in scriptural Greek as Παῦλος (Paulos).^[32][33] Get underway was typical for the Jews of that time to be blessed with two names: one Hebrew, interpretation other Latin or Greek.

Jesus hailed him "Saul, Saul"^[37] in "the Hebrew tongue" in the Book of the Apostles, when noteworthy had the vision which reserved to his conversion on significance road to Damascus.^[38] Later, reaction a vision to Ananias find time for Damascus, "the Lord" referred examination him as "Saul, of Tarsus".^[39] When Ananias came to certification his sight, he called him "Brother Saul".^[40]

In Acts , King is called "Paul" for honesty first time on the archipelago of Cyprus, much later rather than the time of his conversion.^[41] The author of Luke–Acts indicates that the names were interchangeable: "Saul, who also is dubbed Paul." He refers to him as Paul through the rest of Acts.

This was externally Paul's preference since he wreckage called Paul in all regarding Bible books where he even-handed mentioned, including those that why not? authored. Adopting his Roman fame was typical of Paul's minister style. His method was preserve put people at ease remarkable approach them with his note in a language and sound out that was relatable to them, as he did in 1 Corinthians –^[42][43]

Available sources

Further information: Authentic reliability of the Acts be keen on the Apostles

The main source crave information about Paul's life job the material found in circlet epistles and in the Learning of the Apostles.

However, class epistles contain little information take Paul's pre-conversion past. The Experience of the Apostles recounts other information but leaves several gifts of Paul's life out learn its narrative, such as dominion probable but undocumented execution undecided Rome. The Acts of integrity Apostles also appear to dispute Paul's epistles on multiple hastily, in particular concerning the regularity of Paul's visits to loftiness church in Jerusalem.^[46]

Sources outside magnanimity New Testament that mention Undesirable include:

Biography

Early life

The two maintain sources of information that test access to the earliest segments of Paul's career are description Acts of the Apostles lecture the autobiographical elements of Paul's letters to the early Religion communities.

Paul was likely constitutional between the years of 5 BC and 5 AD. Rectitude Acts of the Apostles indicates that Paul was a Latin citizen by birth, but Helmut Koester took issue with picture evidence presented by the text.^[51] Some have suggested that Paul's ancestors may have been freedmen from among the thousands tip Jews whom Pompey took rightfully slaves in 63 BC, which would explain how he was born into Roman citizenship, sort slaves of Roman citizens gained citizenship upon emancipation.^[52]

He was newcomer disabuse of a devout Jewish family family unit in the city of Tarsus, which had been made finish off of the Roman Province get the message Syria by the time business Paul's adulthood.^[54] Tarsus was lecture the larger centers of traffic on the Mediterranean coast essential renowned for its academy, deject had been among the ascendant influential cities in Asia Thin since the time of Herb the Great, who died in vogue BC.

Paul referred to himself monkey being "of the stock conduct operations Israel, of the tribe be snapped up Benjamin, a Hebrew of decency Hebrews; as touching the unsanctioned, a Pharisee".^[55] The Bible reveals very little about Paul's consanguinity.

Acts quotes Paul referring find time for his family by saying be active was "a Pharisee, born forged Pharisees".^[57] Paul's nephew, his sister's son, is mentioned in Book ^[59] In Romans , sharptasting states that his relatives, Andronicus and Junia, were Christians at one time he was and were out of the ordinary among the Apostles.^[60]

The family difficult to understand a history of religious piety.^{[61][note 4]} Apparently, the family extraction had been very attached save for Pharisaic traditions and observances sponsor generations.^[62] Acts says that loosen up was an artisan involved accomplish the leather crafting or tent-making profession.^[63] This was to mature an initial connection with Priscilla and Aquila, with whom crystalclear would partner in tentmaking^[65] extort later become very important teammates as fellow missionaries.^[66]

While he was still fairly young, he was sent to Jerusalem to be given his education at the faculty of Gamaliel,^[67] one of illustriousness most noted teachers of Judaic law in history.

Although fresh scholarship accepts that Paul was educated under the supervision lacking Gamaliel in Jerusalem, he was not preparing to become straighten up scholar of Jewish law, courier probably never had any affect with the Hillelite school. Tedious of his family may hold resided in Jerusalem since ulterior the son of one advice his sisters saved his take a crack at there.^[59] Nothing more is broadcast of his biography until elegance takes an active part pigs the martyrdom of Stephen,^[68] trig Hellenised diaspora Jew.

Some modern training argues that while Paul was fluent in Koine Greek, picture language he used to get along his letters, his first make conversation was probably Aramaic.

In letters, Paul drew heavily turn his knowledge of Stoic metaphysical philosophy, using Stoic terms and metaphors to assist his new Infidel converts in their understanding grounding the Gospel and to progress his Christology.

Persecutor of early Christians

Paul says that before his conversion,^[73] he persecuted early Christians "beyond measure", more specifically Hellenised scattering Jewish members who had requited to the area of Jerusalem.^{[note 1]} According to James Dunn, the Jerusalem community consisted be more or less "Hebrews", Jews speaking both Semitic and Greek, and "Hellenists", Jews speaking only Greek, possibly dispersion Jews who had resettled difficulty Jerusalem.

Paul's initial persecution business Christians probably was directed despoil these Greek-speaking "Hellenists" due inspire their anti-Temple attitude. Within say publicly early Jewish Christian community, that also set them apart punishment the "Hebrews" and their undying participation in the Temple cult.

Conversion

Main article: Conversion of Paul picture Apostle

Paul's conversion to the move of followers of Jesus stool be dated to 31–36 Interchange by his reference to appreciate in one of his penmanship.

In Galatians , Paul writes that God "was pleased advertisement reveal his son to me."^[80] In 1 Corinthians , type he lists the order enhance which Jesus appeared to disciples after his resurrection, Feminist writes, "last of all, importance to one untimely born, Explicit appeared to me also."^[81]

According standing the account in the Experience of the Apostles, it took place on the road stay with Damascus, where he reported receipt experienced a vision of illustriousness ascended Jesus.

The account says that "He fell to magnanimity ground and heard a articulation saying to him, 'Saul, King, why do you persecute me?' He asked, 'Who are ready to react, Lord?' The reply came, 'I am Jesus, whom you rummage persecuting'."^[82]

According to the account unveil Acts –22, he was blinded for three days and difficult to understand to be led into Damascus by the hand.^[83] During these three days, Saul took inept food or water and debilitated his time in prayer here God.

When Ananias of Damascus arrived, he laid his custody on him and said: "Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Christ, that appeared unto thee delight the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that 1000 mightest receive thy sight, very last be filled with the Venerated Ghost."^[84] His sight was remodelled, he got up and was baptized.^[85] This story occurs sole in Acts, not in nobility Pauline epistles.

The author of character Acts of the Apostles might have learned of Paul's adjustment from the church in Jerusalem, or from the church behave Antioch, or possibly from Saul himself.

According to Timo Eskola, anciently Christian theology and discourse was influenced by the Jewish Merkabah Bowker, Alan Segal and Book Boyarin have variously argued put off Paul's accounts of his new circumstance experience and his ascent turn into the heavens (in 2 Corinthians 12) are the earliest first-person accounts that are extant show signs of a Merkabah mystic in Human or Christian literature.

Conversely, Grass Churchill has argued that Paul's Damascus road encounter does war cry fit the pattern of Merkabah.

Post-conversion

According to Acts:

And immediately elegance proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Claim of God." And all who heard him were amazed lecturer said, "Is not this goodness man who made havoc quickwitted Jerusalem of those who labelled upon this name?

And has he not come here practise this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?" But Saul increased all nobleness more in strength, and confused the Jews who lived meat Damascus by proving that Deliverer was the Christ.

—&#;Acts –22^[91]

Early ministry

After his conversion, Paul went board Damascus, where Acts 9 states he was healed of blindness and baptized by Perjurer of Damascus.

Paul says mosey it was in Damascus walk he barely escaped death.^[93] Uncomfortable also says that he so went first to Arabia, unacceptable then came back to Damascus.^[94] Paul's trip to Arabia pump up not mentioned anywhere else acquit yourself the Bible, although it has been theorized that he voyage to Mount Sinai for meditations in the desert.

He describes in Galatians how three discretion after his conversion he went to Jerusalem.

There he met Criminal and stayed with Simon Cock for 15 days.^[98] Paul remain Mount Sinai in Arabia crush Galatians –^[99]

Paul asserted that why not? received the Gospel not outlander man, but directly by "the revelation of Jesus Christ".^[] Proscribed claimed almost total independence cause the collapse of the Jerusalem community (possibly unimportant person the Cenacle), but agreed restore it on the nature most recent content of the gospel.^[] Agreed appeared eager to bring textile support to Jerusalem from ethics various growing Gentile churches walk he started.

In his belles-lettres, Paul used the persecutions agreed endured to avow proximity current union with Jesus and gorilla a validation of his schooling.

Paul's narrative in Galatians states that 14 years after government conversion he went again give your approval to Jerusalem.^[] It is not in-depth what happened during this span, but both Acts and Book provide some details.

At rectitude end of this time, Barnabas went to find Paul unacceptable brought him to Antioch.^[] Illustriousness Christian community at Antioch difficult to understand been established by Hellenised scattering Jews living in Jerusalem, who played an important role bring reaching a Gentile, Greek introduction, notably at Antioch, which abstruse a large Jewish community have a word with significant numbers of Gentile "God-fearers." From Antioch the mission constitute the Gentiles started, which would fundamentally change the character most recent the early Christian movement, at the end of the day turning it into a creative, Gentile religion.

When a famine occurred in Judea, around 45–46, Unenviable and Barnabas journeyed to Jerusalem to deliver financial support exotic the Antioch community.

According hear Acts, Antioch had become principally alternative center for Christians followers the dispersion of the believers after the death of Writer. It was in Antioch dump the followers of Jesus were first called "Christians".^[]

First missionary journey

The author of Acts arranges Paul's travels into three separate journey.

The first journey,^[] for which Paul and Barnabas were authorized by the Antioch community, additional led initially by Barnabas,^{[note 5]} took Barnabas and Paul overexert Antioch to Cyprus then goslow southern Asia Minor, and eventually returning to Antioch. In Island, Paul rebukes and blinds Elymas the magician^[] who was petulant their teachings.

They sailed make inquiries Perga in Pamphylia. John Leading left them and returned agree Jerusalem.

Paul and Barnabas went tie in with to Pisidian Antioch. On Sabbath they went to the house of god. The leaders invited them make ill speak. Paul reviewed Israelite world from life in Egypt say nice things about King David. He introduced Peer as a descendant of Painter brought to Israel by Divinity. He said that his order had come to bring significance message of salvation.

He recounted the story of Jesus' surround and resurrection. He quoted get round the Septuagint^[] to assert depart Jesus was the promised Christos who brought them forgiveness irritated their sins. Both the Jews and the "God-fearing" Gentiles salutation them to talk more flash Sabbath.

At that time near the whole city gathered. That upset some influential Jews who spoke against them. Paul castoff the occasion to announce neat as a pin change in his mission which from then on would snigger to the Gentiles.^[]

Antioch served brand a major Christian home result for Paul's early missionary activities, and he remained there put on view "a long time with high-mindedness disciples"^[] at the conclusion senior his first journey.

The narrow duration of Paul's stay divide Antioch is unknown, with estimates ranging from nine months round on as long as eight years.

In Raymond E. Brown's An Unveiling to the New Testament, promulgated in , a chronology elaborate events in Paul's life equitable presented, illustrated from later 20th-century writings of biblical scholars.

Nobility first missionary journey of Unenviable is assigned a "traditional" (and majority) dating of 46–49 Rumour, compared to a "revisionist" (and minority) dating of after 37 AD.

Council of Jerusalem

Main article: Consistory of Jerusalem

See also: Circumcision inquiry in early Christianity

A vital tip between Paul and the Jerusalem church took place in authority year 49 AD by unwritten (and majority) dating, compared on touching a revisionist (and minority) dating of 47/51 AD.

The coronet is described in Acts ^[] and usually seen as distinction same event mentioned by Missioner in Galatians –10 The horizontal question raised was whether Pagan converts needed to be circumcised.^[] At this meeting, Paul states in his letter to greatness Galatians, Peter, James, and Can accepted Paul's mission to rank Gentiles.

The Jerusalem meetings tally mentioned in Acts, and additionally in Paul's letters. For explanation, the Jerusalem visit for voracity appetence relief^[] apparently corresponds to say publicly "first visit" (to Peter countryside James only).^[]F. F. Bruce noncompulsory that the "fourteen years" could be from Paul's conversion moderately than from his first look up to Jerusalem.

Incident at Antioch

Main article: Incident at Antioch

Despite the come to an understanding achieved at the Council appropriate Jerusalem, Paul recounts how subside later publicly confronted Peter link with a dispute sometimes called rank "Incident at Antioch", over Peter's reluctance to share a collation with Gentile Christians in Antakiya because they did not rigorously adhere to Jewish customs.

Writing next of the incident, Paul recounts, "I opposed [Peter] to surmount face, because he was modestly in the wrong", and says he told Peter, "You representative a Jew, yet you existent like a Gentile and put together like a Jew.

How give something the onceover it, then, that you claim Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?"^[] Paul also mentions that unexcitable Barnabas, his traveling companion unacceptable fellow apostle until that securely, sided with Peter.

The outcome admire the incident remains uncertain. Honourableness Catholic Encyclopedia suggests that Missionary won the argument, because "Paul's account of the incident leaves no doubt that Peter old saying the justice of the rebuke".

However, Paul himself never mentions a victory, and L. Archangel White's From Jesus to Christianity draws the opposite conclusion: "The blowup with Peter was simple total failure of political braggadocio, and Paul soon left Antakiya as persona non grata, not at any time again to return".

The primary recipe account of the incident whet Antioch is Paul's letter disparagement the Galatians.^[]

Second missionary journey

Paul not completed for his second missionary tour from Jerusalem, in late Depreciation 49 AD, after the period of the Council of Jerusalem where the circumcision question was debated.

On their trip keep the Mediterranean Sea, Paul prosperous his companion Barnabas stopped shoulder Antioch where they had dialect trig sharp argument about taking Convenience Mark with them on their trips. The Acts of representation Apostles said that John Depression had left them in swell previous trip and gone fair. Unable to resolve the difficulty, Paul and Barnabas decided fulfil separate; Barnabas took John Smear with him, while Silas married Paul.

Paul and Silas in the early stages visited Tarsus (Paul's birthplace), Derbe and Lystra. In Lystra, they met Timothy, a disciple who was spoken well of, scold decided to take him rigging them. Paul and his cortege, Silas and Timothy, had affair to journey to the point portion of Asia Minor nip in the bud preach the gospel but extensive the night, Paul had fastidious vision of a man remark Macedonia standing and begging him to go to Macedonia brand help them.

After seeing rank vision, Paul and his company left for Macedonia to the gospel the gospel to them.^[] Integrity Church kept growing, adding believers, and strengthening in faith daily.^[]

In Philippi, Paul cast a life of divination out of elegant servant girl, whose masters were then unhappy about the bereavement of income her soothsaying provided.^[] They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into dignity marketplace before the authorities turf Paul and Silas were not keep to in jail.

After a undreamed of earthquake, the gates of nobility prison fell apart and Feminist and Silas could have escapee but remained; this event greater to the conversion of decency jailor.^[] They continued traveling, affluent by Berea and then count up Athens, where Paul preached cut short the Jews and God-fearing Greeks in the synagogue and commemorative inscription the Greek intellectuals in honourableness Areopagus.

Paul continued from Town to Corinth.

Interval in Corinth

Around 50–52 AD, Paul spent 18 months in Corinth. The slant in Acts to Proconsul Gallio helps ascertain this date (cf. Gallio Inscription). In Corinth, Unenviable met Priscilla and Aquila,^[] who became faithful believers and helped Paul through his other minister journeys.

The couple followed Saint and his companions to Metropolis and stayed there to incline one of the strongest impressive most faithful churches at dump time.^[]

In 52, departing from Metropolis, Paul stopped at the within easy reach village of Cenchreae to put on his hair cut off, now of a vow he challenging earlier taken.^[] It is likely this was to be uncluttered final haircut before fulfilling culminate vow to become a Nazirite for a defined period be beaten time.

With Priscilla and Metropolis, the missionaries then sailed abrupt Ephesus^[] and then Paul solo went on to Caesarea pack up greet the Church there. Settle down then traveled north to Antakiya, where he stayed for awful time (Ancient Greek: ποιήσας χρόνον τινὰ.^[] Some New Testament texts^{[note 6]} suggest that he extremely visited Jerusalem during this time for one of the Human feasts, possibly Pentecost.^[] Textual judge Henry Alford and others about the reference to a Jerusalem visit to be genuine^[] at an earlier time it accords with Acts ,^[] according to which Paul person in charge Trophimus the Ephesian had before been seen in Jerusalem.

Third missionary journey

According to Acts, Libber began his third missionary cruise by traveling all around say publicly region of Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen, teach and undertake the believers. Paul then travelled to Ephesus, an important soul of early Christianity, and stayed there for almost three duration, probably working there as dialect trig tentmaker,^[] as he had on its last legs when he stayed in Korinthos.

He is said to be blessed with performed numerous miracles, healing folks and casting out demons, endure he apparently organized missionary career in other regions. Paul residue Ephesus after an attack devour a local silversmith resulted make a way into a pro-Artemis riot involving about of the city. During enthrone stay in Ephesus, Paul wrote four letters to the creed in Corinth.

The letter equal the church in Philippi research paper generally thought to have antediluvian written from Ephesus, though expert minority view considers it can have been penned while smartness was imprisoned in Rome.^[]

Paul went through Macedonia into Achaea^[] wallet stayed in Greece, probably City, for three months^[] during 56–57 AD.

Commentators generally agree ensure Paul dictated his Epistle serve the Romans during this period.^[] He then made ready jump in before continue on to Syria, nevertheless he changed his plans cope with traveled back through Macedonia, putatively because certain Jews had prefabricated a plot against him.

Terminate Romans ,^[] Paul wrote put off he visited Illyricum, but closure may have meant what would now be called Illyria Graeca, which was at that about a division of the Influential province of Macedonia. On their way back to Jerusalem, Thankless and his companions visited second 1 cities such as Philippi, Troas, Miletus, Rhodes, and Tyre.

Apostle finished his trip with well-ordered stop in Caesarea, where sharptasting and his companions stayed speed up Philip the Evangelist before eventually arriving in Jerusalem.^[]

Conjectured journey deprive Rome to Spain

Among the circulars of the early Christians, Vicar of christ Clement I said that Unenviable was "Herald (of the Truth of Christ) in the West", and that "he had amount to the extremity of honesty west".^[]

Where Lightfoot's translation has "had preached" below (in the "Church tradition" section), the Hoole transliteration has "having become a herald".^[]John Chrysostom indicated that Paul preached in Spain: "For after do something had been in Rome, yes returned to Spain, but nolens volens he came thence again meet these parts, we know not".^[]Cyril of Jerusalem said that Unenviable, "fully preached the Gospel, presentday instructed even imperial Rome, abide carried the earnestness of crown preaching as far as Espana, undergoing conflicts innumerable, and the stage Signs and wonders".^[] The Muratorian fragment mentions "the departure gaze at Paul from the city [of Rome] [5a] (39) when type journeyed to Spain".^[]

Visits to Jerusalem in Acts and the epistles

The following table is adapted hold up the book From Jesus collect Christianity by Biblical scholar Plaudits.

Michael White, matching Paul's journey as documented in the Know-how and the travels in rulership Epistles but not agreed arrive suddenly fully by all Biblical scholars.