Sources of information

Conversion of Saint Paul, fresco by Michelangelo

The Book of Acts contains an account of Paul's travels and deeds, his conflicts with pagans and Jews, and his interactions with the other apostles. The account of Acts, however, is widely challenged. It was written from a perspective of reconciliation between Pauline Christians and their opponents, so portrays Paul as a law-abiding Jewish Christian and omits his dispute with Peter. Acts schematizes Paul's travels and takes liberties with his speeches. The primary source for historical information about Paul's life is the material found in his seven letters generally thought to be authentic. However, these letters contain very little information about Paul's past. Even Acts leaves important parts of Paul's life undocumented.[6]

Many scholars, such as Hans Conzelmann and 20th century theologian John Knox (not the 16th century John Knox), dispute the historical accuracy of Acts.[7][8] Paul's own account of his background is found particularly in Galatians. Acts sometimes contradicts Paul's own epistles.[9] (Please see the full discussion in Acts of the Apostles). An example is the account in Acts of Paul visiting Jerusalem (Acts 11:27-30) which doesn't fit the account in Paul's letters.[6] Most scholars consider Paul's accounts more reliable than those found in Acts.[10]

Life

 Prior to conversion

St Paul, whose earlier Hebrew name was Saul[11], was of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews and in religious respects “as touching the law, a Pharisee” (Philippians 3:5). Acts identifies Paul as from Mediterranean Tarsus (in present-day south-central Turkey), well-known for its intellectual environment. Acts also claims Paul said he was "a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee" (Acts 23:6).

According to his own testimony, Paul “violently persecuted” the “church of God” (followers of Jesus) prior to his conversion to Christianity (Galatians 1:13-14, Philippians 3:6, and Acts 8:1-3).

Paul asserted that he received the Gospel not from person, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11–12). Paul claimed independence from the "mother church" in Jerusalem [10], but was just as quick to claim agreement with it on the nature and content of the "gospel of Christ" (Galatians 1:23–24).

Conversion and mission

Geography relevant to Paul's life, stretching from Jerusalem to Rome.

Paul's conversion can be dated to around AD 33 by his reference to it in one of his letters.[6] According to the Acts of the Apostles, his conversion (or metanoia) took place on the road to Damascus, where he experienced a vision of the resurrected Jesus after which he was temporarily blinded (Acts 9:1-31, 22:1-22, 26:9-24). This event is the source of the phrase pauline conversion.

Early ministry

Main article: Conversion of Paul

The house believed to be of St. Ananias in Damascus

Bab Kisan, believed to be where St. Paul escaped from persecution in Damascus

Following his stay in Damascus after his conversion, where he was healed of his blindness and baptized by Ananias of Damascus,[12] Paul says that he first went to Arabia, and then came back to Damascus (Galatians 1:17). He describes in Galatians how three years after his conversion he went to Jerusalem. There he met James and stayed with Simon Peter for 15 days (Galatians 1:13–24).

There is no evidence that Paul had known Jesus prior to the Crucifixion. Paul asserted that he received the Gospel not from any person, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11–12). Paul claimed almost total independence from the "mother church" in Jerusalem.[10]

Paul's narrative in Galatians states that 14 years after his conversion he went again to Jerusalem (Galatians 2:1–10). It is not completely known what happened during these so-called "unknown years," but both Acts and Galatians provide some partial details.[13] At the end of this time, Barnabas went to find Paul and brought him back to Antioch (Acts 11:26).

When a famine happened in Judea, around 45–46,[14] Paul and Barnabas journeyed to Jerusalem to deliver financial support from the Antioch community.[15] According to Acts, Antioch had become an alternative centre for Christians following the dispersion of the believers after the death of Stephen. It was in Antioch that the followers of Jesus were first called "Christians" (Acts 11:26).

First missionary journey

Luke, writing c 85-90, arranges Paul's travels into three separate journeys. The first journey, led by Barnabas, takes Paul from Antioch to Cyprus then southern Asia Minor (Anatolia), and back to Antioch.[16] Antioch served as a major Christian center for Paul's evangelizing.[17]

Council of Jerusalem

Main article: Council of Jerusalem

Icon of James the Just, whose judgment was adopted in the Apostolic Decree of Acts 15:19-29, c. 50 AD.

Most scholars agree that a vital meeting between Paul and the Jerusalem church took place in AD 49 or 50.[6] Paul refers to this meeting in Galatians, and Luke describes it in Acts 15.[6] Most think that Galatians 2:1 corresponds to the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15.[18][19] The key question raised was whether Gentile converts needed to be circumcised (Acts 15:2ff; Galatians 2:1ff). At this meeting, Peter, James, and John accepted Paul's mission to the Gentiles. See also Circumcision controversy in early Christianity.

Some Jerusalem meetings are mentioned in Acts, some meetings are mentioned in Paul's letters, and some appear to be mentioned in both.[18] For example, it has been suggested that the Jerusalem visit for famine relief implied in Acts 11:27–30 corresponds to the "first visit" (to Cephas and James only) narrated in Galatians 1:18–20.[18] F. F. Bruce suggested that the "fourteen years" could be from Paul's conversion rather than the first visit to Jerusalem.[20]

Incident at Antioch

Main article: The Incident at Antioch

Despite the agreement achieved at the Council of Jerusalem as understood by Paul, Paul recounts how he later publicly confronted Peter, also called the "Incident at Antioch" over his reluctance to share a meal with Gentile Christians in Antioch.[21]

Writing later of the incident, Paul recounts: "I opposed [Peter] to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong". Paul reports that he told Peter: "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?" (Galatians 2:11–14). Paul also mentions that even Barnabas (his travelling companion and fellow apostle until that time) sided with Peter.[22]

The final outcome of the incident remains uncertain. The Catholic Encyclopedia states: "St. Paul's account of the incident leaves no doubt that St. Peter saw the justice of the rebuke." In contrast, L. Michael White's From Jesus to Christianity claims: "The blowup with Peter was a total failure of political bravado, and Paul soon left Antioch as persona non grata, never again to return."[23]

The primary source for the Incident at Antioch is Paul's letter to the Galatians.

Paul's visits to Jerusalem in Acts and the epistles

This table is adapted from White, From Jesus to Christianity.[18]

Acts

Epistles

  • First visit to Jerusalem (Acts 9:26–27)
    • after Damascus conversion
    • preaches openly in Jerusalem with Barnabas
  • Third visit to Jerusalem (Acts 15:1–19)
    • With Barnabas
    • "Council of Jerusalem"
  • Second visit to Jerusalem (Galatians 2:1–10)
    • With Barnabas and Titus
    • Possibly the "Council of Jerusalem"
    • Paul agrees to "remember the poor"
    • Followed by confrontation with Peter in Antioch (Galatians 2:11–14)

Resumed mission

Around AD 50-52, Paul spent 18 months in Corinth.[6] The reference in Acts to proconsul Gallio helps ascertain this date.[6] Here he worked with Silas and Timothy.[6]

After Corinth, the next major center for Paul's activities was Ephesus.[6] Ephesus was an important center for Early Christianity from the AD 50s, see also Early Christianity#Western Anatolia. From AD 52-54, Paul lived here, working with the congregation and apparently organizing missionary activity into the hinterlands.[24] Paul's time here was marked by disturbances and possibly imprisonment. Finally, he was forced to leave.[6]

Next he traveled to Macedonia before going probably to Corinth for three months (AD 56-57) before his final visit to Jerusalem.[6]

Arrest and death

Further information: Basilica_of_Saint_Paul_Outside_the_Walls#The_tomb_of_St._Paul

Paul arrived in Jerusalem c AD 57 with a collection of money for the congregation there.[6] Acts reports that the church welcomed Paul gladly, but it was apparently a proposal of James that led to his arrest.[6] Paul caused a stir when he appeared at the Temple, and he escaped being killed by the crowd by being taken into custody.[6] He was held as a prisoner for two years in Caesarea until, in AD 59, a new governor reopened his case.[6] He appealed to Caesar as a Roman citizen and was sent to Rome for trial.[6] Acts reports that he was shipwrecked on Malta[6] where he was met by St Publius (Acts 28:7) and the islanders, who showed him "unusual kindness" (Acts 28:1). He arrived in Rome c AD 60 and spent two years under house arrest.[6]

Irenaeus of Lyons believed that Peter and Paul had been the founders of the Church in Rome and had appointed Linus as succeeding bishop.[25] Though not considered a bishop of Rome, Paul is considered highly responsible for bringing the Christianity to Rome.

Tradition has said that Paul was beheaded, likely ad Aquas Salvias. By comparison, Peter was crucified Next post: