Paul (Saul of Tarsus)

Technical Profile

• Name Meaning: Saul (Heb. Šā’ûl, “asked for”); Paul (Gk. Paulos, “small/little”), reflecting his Roman name in a Greco-Roman setting
• Period/Era: Second Temple Period; Early Church; Apostolic Age; Roman Imperial Context
• Main References: Acts 7:58–9:31; Acts 13–28; Romans–Philemon; Galatians 1–2; 2 Corinthians 11–12
• Key Connections: Jerusalem apostles (Peter/Cephas, James, John); Barnabas; Silas; Timothy; churches in Antioch, Galatia, Macedonia, Achaia, and Asia

Who was Paul (Saul of Tarsus)?

Paul, originally Saul, was a Jewish Pharisee from Tarsus who opposed the early followers of Jesus.
He encountered the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus and became a witness to Jesus’ resurrection.
In the early church he served as a leading missionary and teacher, especially among Gentiles.
He wrote letters to congregations and coworkers that shaped early Christian instruction and practice.

Key Events & Achievements

• Conversion and commission: After the Damascus-road encounter, he was baptized and began proclaiming Jesus (Acts 9:1–22).
• Missionary work: He undertook multiple journeys establishing and strengthening churches across the eastern Mediterranean (Acts 13–21).
• Appeal and witness in Rome: After arrest in Jerusalem and hearings before Roman authorities, he appealed to Caesar and reached Rome (Acts 21–28).

Life Lesson & Legacy

Paul’s life illustrates how commitment to Jesus can redirect a person’s vocation toward sustained mission and endurance amid hardship.

Key Verse

"But the Lord said to him, 'Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.'" — Acts 9:15, ESV