Paul's Life and Background

Paul’s Life and Background

I. Paul, the Man
A. Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, born in Tarsus, which was a Hellenistic, university center
B. Born a Roman citizen, implying that he came from a wealthy, prominent home
C. Also, the fact that Paul could get into the school of Gameliel indicates that his family had
means.
D. Paul came to Jerusalem to study under the great rabbi, Gameliel at about 13 years old (Acts
22:3)
1. Thus, Paul was trained to be a rabbi, a Pharisee.
2. Paul was very good and quickly became a leader. He led the persecution of the
Christians in Acts 8 and 9.
E. Paul’s appearance was not too impressive (Acts 14: 12) (II Cor. 10:10), and his oratorical
skills were less than others (I Cor. 2:1-5; II Cor. 10:10; 11:6), though he has good rhetorical skills.
1. In addition to this, he had a bodily ailment (a thorn in the flesh) for which he prayed repeatedly for deliverance (Gal. 4:13-15; II Cor. 12:7-10).
2. He also bore the marks of Jesus upon his body (Gal. 6:17).
F. Yet, his letters reveal a man of keen intellect, sensitive nature, infectious spirit, immense
vitality, strong determination, and a vast capacity for friendship.
G. Paul was probably single throughout his entire life (I Cor. 7:8)
H. Paul is a man of the city, with attitude and experiences which prepared him to think broadly
and minister widely. Tarsus and Jerusalem were both intellectual centers.
1. Many of Paul’s metaphors such as: the stadium, the law-courts, the processions, and
the markets are drawn from his urban experience.
I. Paul was a zealous persecutor of the Christians prior to the time of his conversion because he
was convinced that the Law had discredited Jesus. Deut. 21:23 states that, “if anyone was hanged, he was accursed.” Thus, God had rejected Jesus’ claim for Messiahship. The early Christians’ claims, therefore, were clearly blasphemous and should be punished.
1. Also, the Jews believed that the coming of the Messianic Age could be
delayed by apostasy within the nation. Thus, just as Moses and Phinehas took drastic action in Numbers 25 to dispel God’s wrath, so Paul also was following a righteous path.


II. Paul’s Conversion
A. Told three times in Acts (Acts 9:1-19; 22:1-22; 26:1-18)
B. While traveling to Damascus to extradite Christians, Paul is confronted by the risen and
glorified Lord in a manner comparable to the other resurrection appearances (I Cor. 15:3-8)
C. Paul is stricken by blindness for three days and God sends a Christian, Ananias, to minister to
Paul. Paul’s sight is restored and he is baptized.
D. As a result of this experience, Paul not only becomes a believer, but this is his call and
commission to be an apostle. This event becomes central in Paul’s thinking. As an apostle, Paul is a representative of Jesus Christ and he speaks with the authority of Jesus. However, like the O.T. prophet, Paul does not volunteer for this position, it is thrust upon him by the Lord. It is particularly to the Gentiles that Paul’s ministry is given.
E. As a result of this conversion experience, Paul’s thinking also undergoes a radical
transformation. He comes to believe that Jesus really was alive and that he was the promised Messiah. Christ’s death on the cross, rather than discrediting him as an imposter, was really God’s provision for man’s sin and was in fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus was accursed, but it was for our sake, that we might be reconciled to God.


III. Arabia and Damascus (Acts 9:19-22; Gal. 1:17,18)
A. For three years following Paul’s conversion, Paul carries on a ministry in Arabia and
Damascus. It is probably during this time that much of Paul’s thinking begins to change.

IV. He then ministers for 15 days in Jerusalem before he is forced to leave. (Acts 9:26-30)

V. He goes to Antioch where he stays for one year, working with Barnabas.

VI. First missionary journey (Acts 13 and 14) --- Expansion to Asia
A. Places – Cyprus, Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe
B. Date – about 46-48 A.D.
C. Events – the conversion of the proconsul Serguis Paulus; the defection of John Mark, the
conversion of Timothy in Lystra.


VII. The second missionary journey (Acts 15:36 – 18:22) --- Expansion to Europe
A. Places – Revisiting some of the first missionary churches – Phillipi, Thessalonica, Athens,
Corinth, Ephesus
B. Date – 49–52 A.D.
C. Events – Separation into two missionary teams. Barnabas and Mark go to Cyprus. Paul and
Silas go on route given in Acts; at Troas, Paul has a vision to go to Europe (Macedonia); it is at this time (16:10) that Luke joins Paul’s missionary team, indicated by the beginning of the “we” section.


VIII. The third missionary journey (Acts 18:23 – 21:16)
A. Places – Ephesus, Troas, Corinth
B. Date – 53-58 A.D.
C. Events – Three-year story at Ephesus, terminated by a clash with the silversmith, Demetrius,
who is being run out of business by Paul (goddess Artemis, Diana); it is also during this time that Paul organizes another collection of money for the church at Jerusalem; during a midnight Eucharistic service at Troas, Eutychus falls from a third story window ledge and is revived by Paul.


IX. We will deal with Paul’s epistles in a roughly chronological sequence.