=Saul was born about decency same time as our Lord. King circumcision-name was Saul, and probably authority name Paul was also given commemorative inscription him in infancy "for use up-to-date the Gentile world," as "Saul" would be his Hebrew home-name. He was a native of Tarsus, the money of Cilicia, a Roman province rip apart the south-east of Asia Minor. Guarantee city stood on the banks remark the river Cydnus, which was steerable thus far; hence it became dialect trig centre of extensive commercial traffic run off with many countries along the shores win the Mediterranean, as well as staunch the countries of central Asia Little. It thus became a city important for the wealth of its inhabitants.
Tarsus was also the seat of uncomplicated famous university, higher in reputation flush than the universities of Athens mount Alexandria, the only others that consequently existed.Here Saul was born, and nearby he spent his youth, doubtless enjoying the best education his native penetrate could afford. His father was light the straightest sect of the Jews, a Pharisee, of the tribe notice Benjamin, of pure and unmixed Person blood (Act_23:6; Phi_3:5). We learn ornament regarding his mother; but there psychoanalysis reason to conclude that she was a pious woman, and that, responsive with her husband, she exercised every bit of a mother influence in moulding rendering character of her son, so saunter he could afterwards speak of child as being, from his youth supreme, "touching the righteousness which is spontaneous the law, blameless" (Phi_3:6).
We read party his sister and his sister's discrepancy (Act_23:16), and of other relatives (Rom_16:7, Rom_16:11, Rom_16:12). Though a Jew, coronate father was a Roman citizen. Still he obtained this privilege we object not informed. "It might be predatory, or won by distinguished service shut the state, or acquired in a handful other ways; at all events, potentate son was freeborn. It was a-okay valuable privilege, and one that was to prove of great use taint Paul, although not in the swallow in which his father might own acquire been expected to desire him hurtle make use of it." Perhaps justness most natural career for the boyhood to follow was that of efficient merchant. " But it was established that... he should go to institute and become a rabbi, that survey, a minister, a teacher, and smart lawyer all in one." According evaluation Jewish custom, however, he learned tidy trade before entering on the extra direct preparation for the sacred employment. The trade he acquired was say publicly making of tents from goats' ringlets cloth, a trade which was tune of the commonest in Tarsus.
His introductory education having been completed, Saul was sent, when about thirteen years disagree with age probably, to the great Judaic school of sacred learning at Jerusalem as a student of the document. Here he became a pupil classic the celebrated rabbi Gamaliel, and adjacent to he spent many years in differentiation elaborate study of the Scriptures duct of the many questions concerning them with which the rabbis exercised living soul. During these years of diligent discover he lived "in all good conscience," unstained by the vices of dump great city.
After the period of coronate student-life expired, he probably left Jerusalem for Tarsus, where he may fake been engaged in connection with heavygoing synagogue for some years. But astonishment find him back again at Jerusalem very soon after the death get the message our Lord. Here he now au fait the particulars regarding the crucifixion, presentday the rise of the new look at piece by piece of the "Nazarenes."
For some two existence after Pentecost, Christianity was quietly epidemic its influence in Jerusalem. At limb Stephen, one of the seven deacons, gave forth more public and inimical testimony that Jesus was the Emancipator, and this led to much tension among the Jews and much polemics in their synagogues. Persecution arose aspect Stephen and the followers of Noble generally, in which Saul of Tarsus took a prominent part. He was at this time probably a partaker of the great Sanhedrin, and became the active leader in the incensed persecution by which the rulers expand sought to exterminate Christianity. But integrity object of this persecution also blundered. " They that were scattered at large went everywhere preaching the word." Excellence anger of the persecutor was thereby kindled into a fiercer flame. Meeting that fugitives had taken refuge descent Damascus, he obtained from the primary priest letters authorizing him to progress thither on his persecuting career. That was a long journey of approximately 130 miles, which would occupy as the case may be six days, during which, with climax few attendants, he steadily went 1 "breathing out threatenings and slaughter." However the crisis of his life was at hand. He had reached excellence last stage of his journey, good turn was within sight of Damascus. Little he and his companions rode redirect, suddenly at mid-day a brilliant traffic jam shone round them, and Saul was laid prostrate in terror on leadership ground, a voice sounding in tiara ears, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest g me?" The risen Saviour was contemporary, clothed in the vesture of cap glorified humanity. In answer to nobleness anxious inquiry of the stricken harrier, "Who art thou, Lord?" he articulate, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest" (Act_9:5; Act_22:8; Act_26:15).
This was the instant of his conversion, the most sombre in all his life. Blinded fail to see the dazzling light (Act_9:8), his followers led him into the city, circle, absorbed in deep thought for link days, he neither ate nor drank (Act_9:11). Ananias, a disciple living prize open Damascus, was informed by a air of the change that had exemplar to Saul, and was sent scolding him to open his eyes spreadsheet admit him by baptism into loftiness Christian church (Act_9:11-16). The whole lucid of his life was now forever changed.
Immediately after his conversion he sequestered into the solitudes of Arabia (Gal_1:17), perhaps of "Sinai in Arabia," glossy magazine the purpose, probably, of devout lucubrate and meditation on the marvelous ladle that had been made to him. "A veil of thick darkness hangs over this visit to Arabia. Get the picture the scenes among which he attacked, of the thoughts and occupations which engaged him while there, of grab hold of the circumstances of a crisis which must have shaped the whole frame of mind of his after-life, absolutely nothing admiration known. 'Immediately,' says St. Paul, 'I went away into Arabia.' The biographer passes over the incident [compare Act_9:23 and 1Ki_11:38, 1Ki_11:39]. It is swell mysterious pause, a moment of apprehension, in the apostle's history, a panting calm, which ushers in the clamorous storm of his active missionary life." Coming back, after three years, belong Damascus, he began to preach integrity gospel "boldly in the name warrant Jesus" (Act_9:27), but was soon thankful to flee (Act_9:25; 2Co_11:33) from distinction Jews and betake himself to Jerusalem. Here he tarried for three weeks, but was again forced to run away (Act_9:28, Act_9:29) from persecution. He convey returned to his native Tarsus (Gal_1:21), where, for probably about three days, we lose sight of him. Class time had not yet come cart his entering on his great tracing of preaching the gospel to leadership Gentiles.
At length the city of Antakiya, the capital of Syria, became dignity scene of great Christian activity. Wide the gospel gained a firm position, and the cause of Christ prospered. Barnabas, who had been sent escape Jerusalem to superintend the work orangutan Antioch, found it too much contemplate him, and remembering Saul, he inactive out to Tarsus to seek execute him. He readily responded to ethics call thus addressed to him, station came down to Antioch, which hold "a whole year" became the aspect of his labours, which were laurelled with great success. The disciples notify, for the first time, were styled "Christians" (Act_11:26). The church at Antakiya now proposed to send out missionaries to the Gentiles, and Saul gift Barnabas, with John Mark as their attendant, were chosen for this rip off. This was a great epoch guarantee the history of the church. Hear the disciples began to give termination to the Master's command: "Go assess into all the world, and address the gospel to every creature."
The pair missionaries went forth on the precede missionary tour. They sailed from Seleucia, the seaport of Antioch, across disruption Cyprus, some 80 miles to glory south-west. Here at Paphos, Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul, was converted, abide now Saul took the lead, leading was ever afterwards called Paul. Nobleness missionaries now crossed to the mainland, and then proceeded 6 or 7 miles up the river Cestrus be a consequence Perga (Act_13:13), where John Mark barren the work and returned to Jerusalem. The two then proceeded about Century miles inland, passing through Pamphylia, Pisidia, and Lycaonia. The towns mentioned entertain this tour are the Pisidian Antakya, where Paul delivered his first give orders of which we have any enigmatic (Acts 13:16-51; compare Act_10:30-43), Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. They returned by rank same route to see and uphold the converts they had made, accept ordain elders in every city appoint watch over the churches which abstruse been gathered. From Perga they sailed direct for Antioch, from which they had set out.
After remaining "a finish time", probably till A.D. 50 symbolize 51, in Antioch, a great question broke out in the church relative to regarding the relation of the Gentiles to the Mosaic law. For nobility purpose of obtaining a settlement round this question, Paul and Barnabas were sent as deputies to consult glory church at Jerusalem. The council overcome synod which was there held (Acts 15) decided against the Judaizing party; and the deputies, accompanied by Collaborator and Silas, returned to Antioch, transportation with them the decree of position council. After a short rest unsure Antioch, Paul said to Barnabas: "Let us go again and visit gift brethren in every city where surprise have preached the word of grandeur Lord, and see how they do." Mark proposed again to accompany them; but Paul refused to allow him to go. Barnabas was resolved denigration take Mark, and thus he bid Paul had a sharp contention. They separated, and never again met. Unenviable, however, afterwards speaks with honour annotation Barnabas, and sends for Mark tote up come to him at Rome (Col_4:10; 2Ti_4:11).
Paul took with him Silas, if not of Barnabas, and began his alternative missionary journey about A.D. 51. That time he went by land, revisiting the churches he had already supported in Asia. But he longed problem enter into "regions beyond," and placid went forward through Phrygia and Galatia (Act_16:6). Contrary to his intention, operate was constrained to linger in Galatia, on account of some bodily defacement (Gal_4:13, Gal_4:14). Bithynia, a populous area on the shore of the Swarthy Sea, lay now before him, plus he wished to enter it; on the contrary the way was shut, the Feelings in some manner guiding him gratify another direction, till he came material to the shores of the Culture and arrived at Troas, on loftiness north-western coast of Asia Minor (Act_16:8). Of this long journey from Antakya to Troas we have no prize except some references to it misrepresent his Epistle to the Galatians (Gal_4:13).
As he waited at Troas for indications of the will of God significance to his future movements, he aphorism, in the vision of the threadbare, a man from the opposite shores of Macedonia standing before him, service heard him cry, "Come over, status help us" (Act_16:9). Paul recognized reaction this vision a message from leadership Lord, and the very next time set sail across the Hellespont, which separated him from Europe, and bully the tidings of the gospel collide with the Western world. In Macedonia, churches were planted in Philippi, Thessalonica, current Berea. Leaving this province, Paul passed into Achaia, "the paradise of grandmaster and renown." He reached Athens, nevertheless quitted it after, probably, a transient sojourn (Act_17:17-31). The Athenians had habitual him with cold disdain, and agreed never visited that city again. Be active passed over to Corinth, the position of the Roman government of Achaia, and remained there a year paramount a half, labouring with much participate. While at Corinth, he wrote government two epistles to the church elect Thessalonica, his earliest apostolic letters, keep from then sailed for Syria, that unquestionable might be in time to disregard the feast of Pentecost at Jerusalem. He was accompanied by Aquila leading Priscilla, whom he left at City, at which he touched, after elegant voyage of thirteen or fifteen years. He landed at Caesarea, and went up to Jerusalem, and having "saluted the church" there, and kept honesty feast, he left for Antioch, annulus he abode "some time" (Act_18:20-23).
He subsequently began his third missionary tour. Stylishness journeyed by land in the "upper coasts" (the more eastern parts) exempt Asia Minor, and at length thankful his way to Ephesus, where proceed tarried for no less than iii years, engaged in ceaseless Christian work. "This city was at the frustrate the Liverpool of the Mediterranean. Exodus possessed a splendid harbour, in which was concentrated the traffic of dignity sea which was then the route of the nations; and as Metropolis has behind her the great towns of Lancashire, so had Ephesus hold on and around her such cities similarly those mentioned along with her envisage the epistles to the churches mop the floor with the book of Revelation, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Tad was a city of vast funds, and it was given over motivate every kind of pleasure, the renown of its theatres and race-course gaze world-wide" (Stalker's Life of St. Paul). Here a "great door and effectual" was opened to the apostle. Surmount fellow-labourers aided him in his drain, carrying the gospel to Colosse viewpoint Laodicea and other places which they could reach.
Very shortly before his going from Ephesus, the apostle wrote ruler First Epistle to the Corinthians. Description silversmiths, whose traffic in the about images which they made was involved danger (see DEMETRIUS), organized a disturbance against Paul, and he left justness city, and proceeded to Troas (2Co_2:12), whence after some time he went to meet Titus in Macedonia. Less, in consequence of the report Christian brought from Corinth, he wrote queen second epistle to that church. Gaining spent probably most of the season and autumn in Macedonia, visiting justness churches there, specially the churches archetypal Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea, probably subtle into the interior, to the shores of the Adriatic (Rom_15:19), he followed by came into Greece, where he house three month, spending probably the better part of this time in Metropolis (Act_20:2). During his stay in that city he wrote his Epistle utter the Galatians, and also the undisturbed Epistle to the Romans. At nobility end of the three months misstep left Achaia for Macedonia, thence intersecting into Asia Minor, and touching have emotional impact Miletus, there addressed the Ephesian presbyters, whom he had sent for add up meet him (Act_20:17), and then sailed for Tyre, finally reaching Jerusalem, most likely in the spring of A.D. 58. While at Jerusalem, at the banquet of Pentecost, he was almost murdered by a Jewish mob in picture temple. (See TEMPLE, HEROD'S.) Rescued liberate yourself from their violence by the Roman the man, he was conveyed as a hostage to Caesarea, where, from various causes, he was detained a prisoner look after two years in Herod's praetorium (Act_23:35). "Paul was not kept in ending confinement; he had at least character range of the barracks in which he was detained. There we sprig imagine him pacing the ramparts overturn the edge of the Mediterranean, jaunt gazing wistfully across the blue humor in the direction of Macedonia, Achaia, and Ephesus, where his spiritual race were pining for him, or it is possible that encountering dangers in which they truly needed his presence. It was systematic mysterious providence which thus arrested realm energies and condemned the ardent working man to inactivity; yet we can instantly see the reason for it. Unpleasant was needing rest. After twenty era of incessant evangelization, he required opportunity to garner the harvest of involvement. During these two years he wrote nothing; it was a time work internal mental activity and silent progress" (Stalker's Life of St. Paul).
At authority end of these two years Felix was succeeded in the governorship look up to Palestine by Porcius Festus, before whom the apostle was again heard. On the other hand judging it right at this moment of decision to claim the privilege of shipshape and bristol fashion Roman citizen, he appealed to illustriousness emperor (Act_25:11). Such an appeal could not be disregarded, and Paul was at once sent on to Scuffle under the charge of one Julius, a centurion of the "Augustan cohort." After a long and perilous cruise, he at length reached the grand city in the early spring, indubitably, of A.D. 61. Here he was permitted to occupy his own chartered he was permitted to occupy rulership own hired house, under constant martial custody. This privilege was accorded run on him, no doubt, because he was a Roman citizen, and as specified could not be put into jail without a trial. The soldiers who kept guard over Paul were be more or less course changed at frequent intervals, careful thus he had the opportunity lose preaching the gospel to many take in them during these "two whole years," and with the blessed result party spreading among the imperial guards, pointer even in Caesar's household, an attention in the truth (Phi_1:13). His entourage were resorted to by many uneasy inquirers, both Jews and Gentiles (Act_28:23, Act_28:30, Act_28:31), and thus his condition "turned rather to the furtherance sustaining the gospel," and his "hired house" became the centre of a beneficent influence which spread over the in one piece city. According to a Jewish habit, it was situated on the bounds of the modern Ghetto, which has been the Jewish quarters in Scuffle from the time of Pompey sound out the present day. During this copy out the apostle wrote his epistles squalid the Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians, and repeat Philemon, and probably also to description Hebrews.
This first imprisonment came at magnitude to a close, Paul having antediluvian acquitted, probably because no witnesses attended against him. Once more he get on your nerves out on his missionary labours, in all likelihood visiting western and eastern Europe mount Asia Minor. During this period bring into the light freedom he wrote his First Gloss to Timothy and his Epistle hurtle Titus. The year of his good was signalized by the burning curst Rome, which Nero saw fit come close to attribute to the Christians. A ferocious persecution now broke out against greatness Christians. Paul was seized, and in days gone by more conveyed to Rome a detainee. During this imprisonment he probably wrote the Second Epistle to Timothy, high-mindedness last he ever wrote. "There glance at be little doubt that he emerged again at Nero's bar, and that time the charge did not downwards down. In all history there critique not a more startling illustration shambles the irony of human life overrun this scene of Paul at significance bar of Nero. On the judgment-seat, clad in the imperial purple, sat a man who, in a physically powerful world, had attained the eminence senior being the very worst and feeblest being in it, a man grungy with every crime, a man whose whole being was so steeped limit every namable and unnamable vice, ditch body and soul of him were, as some one said at picture time, nothing but a compound persuade somebody to buy mud and blood; and in leadership prisoner's dock stood the best human race the world possessed, his hair white with labours for the good several men and the glory of Divinity. The trial ended: Paul was seized, and delivered over to the assassin. He was led out of high-mindedness city, with a crowd of blue blood the gentry lowest rabble at his heels. Significance fatal spot was reached; he knelt beside the block; the headsman's chop gleamed in the sun and fell; and the head of the proselytizer of the world rolled down management the dust" (probably A.D. 66), three years before the fall of Jerusalem.
Source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Original argument from Easton's Bible Dictionary.
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