Paul
Apostle to the Gentiles
Also known as: Saulus, Saul
Paul, originally called Saul, was first a persecutor of Christians but was converted on the road to Damascus. He became the most important missionary in the early church and wrote many of the letters in the New Testament.
Key events
Persecution of Christians
Saul was a zealous persecutor of Christians before his conversion.
58They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.
καὶ ἐκβαλόντες ἔξω τῆς πόλεως ἐλιθοβόλουν. καὶ οἱ μάρτυρες ἀπέθεντο τὰ ἱμάτια ⸀αὐτῶν παρὰ τοὺς πόδας νεανίου καλουμένου Σαύλου.
1Saul approved of Stephen's execution. That same day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.
Σαῦλος δὲ ἦν συνευδοκῶν τῇ ἀναιρέσει αὐτοῦ. Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ διωγμὸς μέγας ἐπὶ τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τὴν ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις· πάντες δὲ διεσπάρησαν κατὰ τὰς χώρας τῆς Ἰουδαίας καὶ Σαμαρείας πλὴν τῶν ἀποστόλων.
3But Saul was ravaging the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and threw them into prison.
Σαῦλος δὲ ἐλυμαίνετο τὴν ἐκκλησίαν κατὰ τοὺς οἴκους εἰσπορευόμενος, σύρων τε ἄνδρας καὶ γυναῖκας παρεδίδου εἰς φυλακήν.
The Conversion on the Road to Damascus
Jesus revealed himself to Saul on the road to Damascus, and he was blind for three days.
3As he traveled and was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
ἐν δὲ τῷ πορεύεσθαι ἐγένετο αὐτὸν ἐγγίζειν τῇ Δαμασκῷ, ⸂ἐξαίφνης τε αὐτὸν περιήστραψεν⸃ φῶς ⸀ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ,
4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
καὶ πεσὼν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἤκουσεν φωνὴν λέγουσαν αὐτῷ Σαοὺλ Σαούλ, τί με διώκεις;
5"Who are you, Lord?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied.
εἶπεν δέ· Τίς εἶ, κύριε; ὁ ⸀δέ· Ἐγώ εἰμι Ἰησοῦς ὃν σὺ διώκεις·
6"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
ἀλλὰ ἀνάστηθι καὶ εἴσελθε εἰς τὴν πόλιν, καὶ λαληθήσεταί σοι ⸂ὅ τί⸃ σε δεῖ ποιεῖν.
8Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus.
ἠγέρθη δὲ ⸀Σαῦλος ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς, ἀνεῳγμένων ⸀δὲ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ ⸀οὐδὲν ἔβλεπεν· χειραγωγοῦντες δὲ αὐτὸν εἰσήγαγον εἰς Δαμασκόν.
17So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
ἀπῆλθεν δὲ Ἁνανίας καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν, καὶ ἐπιθεὶς ἐπʼ αὐτὸν τὰς χεῖρας εἶπεν· Σαοὺλ ἀδελφέ, ὁ κύριος ἀπέσταλκέν με, ⸀Ἰησοῦς ὁ ὀφθείς σοι ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ ᾗ ἤρχου, ὅπως ἀναβλέψῃς καὶ πλησθῇς πνεύματος ἁγίου.
18Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,
καὶ εὐθέως ἀπέπεσαν ⸂αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν⸃ ⸀ὡς λεπίδες, ἀνέβλεψέν τε καὶ ἀναστὰς ἐβαπτίσθη,
First Missionary Journey
Paul and Barnabas were sent out on the first missionary journey.
2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
λειτουργούντων δὲ αὐτῶν τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ νηστευόντων εἶπεν τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον· Ἀφορίσατε δή μοι τὸν Βαρναβᾶν ⸀καὶ Σαῦλον εἰς τὸ ἔργον ὃ προσκέκλημαι αὐτούς.
3So after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
τότε νηστεύσαντες καὶ προσευξάμενοι καὶ ἐπιθέντες τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῖς ἀπέλυσαν.
4Sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus.
⸀Αὐτοὶ μὲν οὖν ἐκπεμφθέντες ὑπὸ τοῦ ⸂ἁγίου πνεύματος⸃ κατῆλθον ⸀εἰς Σελεύκειαν, ἐκεῖθέν ⸀τε ἀπέπλευσαν ⸁εἰς Κύπρον,
5When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. John was with them as their helper.
καὶ γενόμενοι ἐν Σαλαμῖνι κατήγγελλον τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς τῶν Ἰουδαίων· εἶχον δὲ καὶ Ἰωάννην ὑπηρέτην.
The Apostolic Council in Jerusalem
Paul defended the gospel for the Gentiles at the apostolic council.
7After a long debate, Peter stood up and said to them: "Brothers, you know that in the early days God chose me from among you, so that the Gentiles might hear the word of the gospel from my lips and believe.
πολλῆς δὲ ⸀ζητήσεως γενομένης ἀναστὰς Πέτρος εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· Ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί, ὑμεῖς ἐπίστασθε ὅτι ἀφʼ ἡμερῶν ἀρχαίων ⸂ἐν ὑμῖν ἐξελέξατο ὁ θεὸς⸃ διὰ τοῦ στόματός μου ἀκοῦσαι τὰ ἔθνη τὸν λόγον τοῦ εὐαγγελίου καὶ πιστεῦσαι,
8And God, who knows the heart, testified in their favor by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.
καὶ ὁ καρδιογνώστης θεὸς ἐμαρτύρησεν αὐτοῖς ⸀δοὺς τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον καθὼς καὶ ἡμῖν,
9He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts by faith.
καὶ ⸀οὐθὲν διέκρινεν μεταξὺ ἡμῶν τε καὶ αὐτῶν, τῇ πίστει καθαρίσας τὰς καρδίας αὐτῶν.
10So then, why are you putting God to the test by laying on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
νῦν οὖν τί πειράζετε τὸν θεόν, ἐπιθεῖναι ζυγὸν ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον τῶν μαθητῶν ὃν οὔτε οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν οὔτε ἡμεῖς ἰσχύσαμεν βαστάσαι;
11No, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the very same way they are."
ἀλλὰ διὰ τῆς χάριτος τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ πιστεύομεν σωθῆναι καθʼ ὃν τρόπον κἀκεῖνοι.
12The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul recount all the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
Ἐσίγησεν δὲ πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος, καὶ ἤκουον Βαρναβᾶ καὶ Παύλου ἐξηγουμένων ὅσα ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν διʼ αὐτῶν.
19Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who are turning to God,
διὸ ἐγὼ κρίνω μὴ παρενοχλεῖν τοῖς ἀπὸ τῶν ἐθνῶν ἐπιστρέφουσιν ἐπὶ τὸν θεόν,
20but should write to them to abstain from what has been polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.
ἀλλὰ ἐπιστεῖλαι αὐτοῖς τοῦ ⸀ἀπέχεσθαι τῶν ἀλισγημάτων τῶν εἰδώλων καὶ τῆς πορνείας καὶ ⸀τοῦ πνικτοῦ καὶ τοῦ αἵματος·
Imprisonment in Rome
Paul was imprisoned in Rome where he continued to preach and write letters.
16When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.
Ὅτε δὲ ⸀εἰσήλθομεν εἰς Ῥώμην, ⸂ἐπετράπη τῷ Παύλῳ⸃ μένειν καθʼ ἑαυτὸν σὺν τῷ φυλάσσοντι αὐτὸν στρατιώτῃ.
30Paul stayed there two whole years in his own rented quarters, and he welcomed all who came to him,
⸀Ἐνέμεινεν ⸀δὲ διετίαν ὅλην ἐν ἰδίῳ μισθώματι, καὶ ἀπεδέχετο πάντας τοὺς εἰσπορευομένους πρὸς αὐτόν,
31proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness, and without hindrance.
κηρύσσων τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ διδάσκων τὰ περὶ τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μετὰ πάσης παρρησίας ἀκωλύτως.
Exhortations to Timothy
Paul wrote his final letters to his young coworker Timothy.
6As for me, I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
Ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤδη σπένδομαι, καὶ ὁ καιρὸς τῆς ⸂ἀναλύσεώς μου⸃ ἐφέστηκεν.
7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
τὸν ⸂καλὸν ἀγῶνα⸃ ἠγώνισμαι, τὸν δρόμον τετέλεκα, τὴν πίστιν τετήρηκα·
8From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who have loved his appearing.
λοιπὸν ἀπόκειταί μοι ὁ τῆς δικαιοσύνης στέφανος, ὃν ἀποδώσει μοι ὁ κύριος ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, ὁ δίκαιος κριτής, οὐ μόνον δὲ ἐμοὶ ἀλλὰ καὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς ἠγαπηκόσι τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν αὐτοῦ.
Mentioned in the Bible (161)
Acts 7:58Acts 9:1Acts 9:4Acts 9:11Acts 9:17Acts 9:22Acts 9:24Acts 9:27Acts 11:25Acts 11:30Acts 12:25Acts 13:1Acts 13:2Acts 13:7Acts 13:9Acts 13:13Acts 13:21Acts 13:43Acts 13:45Acts 13:46Acts 14:9Acts 14:11Acts 14:12Acts 14:14Acts 15:2Acts 15:12Acts 15:22Acts 15:25Acts 15:35Acts 15:36Acts 15:38Acts 15:40Acts 16:3Acts 16:14Acts 16:17Acts 16:18Acts 16:19Acts 16:25Acts 16:28Acts 16:29Acts 16:36Acts 16:37Acts 17:2Acts 17:4Acts 17:10Acts 17:14Acts 17:15Acts 17:16Acts 17:33Acts 18:1Acts 18:2Acts 18:5Acts 18:9Acts 18:12Acts 18:14Acts 18:18Acts 19:1Acts 19:4Acts 19:6Acts 19:11Acts 19:13Acts 19:15Acts 19:26Acts 19:29Acts 19:30Acts 20:1Acts 20:7Acts 20:9Acts 20:10Acts 20:13Acts 20:37Acts 21:11Acts 21:13Acts 21:18Acts 21:26Acts 21:29Acts 21:30Acts 21:32Acts 21:34Acts 21:37Acts 21:39Acts 22:7Acts 22:13Acts 22:24Acts 22:25Acts 22:29Acts 23:1Acts 23:2Acts 23:3Acts 23:10Acts 23:12Acts 23:14Acts 23:16Acts 23:18Acts 23:20Acts 23:24Acts 23:31Acts 23:33Acts 24:1Acts 24:2Acts 24:10Acts 24:23Acts 24:24Acts 24:25Acts 24:26Acts 24:27Acts 25:3Acts 25:4Acts 25:6Acts 25:8Acts 25:9Acts 25:10Acts 25:14Acts 25:19Acts 25:21Acts 25:23Acts 26:1Acts 26:14Acts 26:24Acts 26:25Acts 26:28Acts 27:1Acts 27:3Acts 27:9Acts 27:11Acts 27:24Acts 27:31Acts 27:33Acts 27:43Acts 28:8Acts 28:16Acts 28:25Romans 1:11 Corinthians 1:11 Corinthians 1:121 Corinthians 1:131 Corinthians 3:41 Corinthians 3:51 Corinthians 3:221 Corinthians 16:212 Corinthians 1:12 Corinthians 10:1Galatians 1:1Galatians 5:2Ephesians 1:1Ephesians 3:1Philippians 1:1Colossians 1:1Colossians 1:23Colossians 4:181 Thessalonians 1:11 Thessalonians 2:182 Thessalonians 1:12 Thessalonians 3:171 Timothy 1:12 Timothy 1:1Titus 1:1Philemon 1:1Philemon 1:9Philemon 1:192 Peter 3:15