Apostle Paul (CA. 2–67 CE)

Baptism

Saul witnessed the stoning of Stephen, who was later identified as the first Christian martyr. In 32 CE, Saul was given permission by the high priest to inspect the synagogues of Damascus for the emerging followers of Jesus and to bring those he found to Jerusalem for judicial investigation. According to the biblical account, on the road to Damascus, Saul had an encounter with a bright light appearing in front of him. The voice of Jesus asked him, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” (King James Version, Acts of the Apostles 9:4), and Saul was struck blind. After 3 days of blindness while he was in Damascus, Saul was healed by Ananias, a disciple sent by Jesus to heal him. After his sight was restored, Saul was baptized and received the Holy Spirit of God.

Activity

Between 33 and 36 CE, Saul (now Paul) stayed in Damascus to preach the gospel that promotes Jesus as the Messiah. This provoked some leaders of the Jewish community, and they plotted to assassinate him. Luckily Paul found out about this conspiracy and fled the city by night. He then went to Arabia and stayed there for 3 years, preaching the gospel of Jesus.

In 36 CE, Paul went back to Damascus and then to Jerusalem. He faced serious opposition and rejection from his fellow Christians there, a situation that continued until Barnabas took his side and he was finally accepted. The Jewish parties subjected him to yet another assassination attempt, and the Christian brotherhoods sent him to Caesarea and then back home to Tarsus. There he stayed until 40 CE.

The assumption that Paul was married is primarily based on the social norms observed by the Pharisees, which required members of the Sanhedrin to be married. That implies that if he was married, he might have been a widower at the time of his ministry and preaching.

By 40 CE, Paul's help was being sought by Barnabas, who was sent to spread the Gospel among the Syrian Greeks in Antioch. Barnabas [Page 51]traveled to Tarsus and asked for Paul's help in converting believers to the Church. Both of them stayed there and taught for a year.

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