Saul’s birthplace was in the city of Tarsus which is in the southeastern part of Turkey. But at the time this was a Roman province and a Hellenistic culture. However, Saul was born a Jew and his lineage was of the Hebrew tribe of Benjamin. His Jewish training from boyhood was in Jerusalem where he was schooled in both Greek and Jewish traditions. At the time of his training, the ranking rabbi was Gamaliel, his teacher.
After the crucifixion of Jesus, Saul, supposedly a part of the Sanhedrin council, cast his vote against the Christ follower Stephen after he was questioned by the council. He was also present at the stoning. It was at this stoning (Acts 8:1-3) that launched the zeal of Saul to hunt men and women who were following “the Way.”

God scattered these Christ followers throughout Judea and Samaria. Those who had been scattered preached the good news that the Messiah they were looking for had come and now there was a new way. Salvation by the Grace of God through the blood sacrifice of Jesus, The High Priest, and Son of the Most High God. Saul was not content to just look for these people in Jerusalem, he went to the council in Jerusalem to ask for letters to the synagogues at Damascus so that if he found any men or women there, he might bring them back to Jerusalem for jail and prosecution.

As he and the soldiers were traveling the road to Damascus, a sudden and blinding light from heaven shone around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” When Saul asked him who he was, the Lord spoke to him and told him that He was the Jesus Saul was persecuting. Jesus also told him to rise and go to the city where he would get instructions. The men traveling with him were speechless, they heard the voice but saw no one. Even though Saul’s eyes were open, the Bible records that he could not see. The men led him into the city where for three days he neither ate nor drank and was without sight.

A disciple in Damascus named Ananias heard his name called in a vision. It was the Lord. Ananias answered, “here I am Lord.” He was told to go to a street in Damascus named Straight Street and at the house of Judas, he would find a man named Saul of Tarsus. This man is praying and has seen a vision whereby a man named Ananias will come to him, lay hands on him, and restore his sight. However, Ananias questioned the Lord because he had heard rumors about this man who had permission from the chief priests to bind all those who followed the teachings of Christ. But the Lord told him that He had chosen Saul to be an instrument to carry His name to Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. “I will show him how much he will suffer for the sake of my name.” Acts 9:16

Ananias went to the house where Saul was and laid hands on him so that he might regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Bible records that scales fell from his eyes, then he rose up and was baptized and then ate food to regain his strength. He had been praying and fasting for three days.
He spent several days with the disciples in Damascus and then he, himself began to proclaim the name of Jesus and to discuss with others the proof that Jesus was the Christ, the promised Messiah, the Son of God. Meanwhile, the non-believing Jews having received word of this began to plot how they could kill Saul. They were looking everywhere, but disciples were able to sneak him out of the city by night and lower him in a basket over the city wall.

When he returned to Jerusalem, those disciples were afraid of him. They thought it was a trick to trap them, except a man named Barnabas took him to the disciples and told them about Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. He told them of the boldness of Saul to preach about Jesus. After some time with the disciples, they sent him to Tarsus where he began to spread the gospel.

Now as time passed, many began to believe in Jesus. Peter was now preaching to Gentiles as well as the Jews. Many were converted because the persecution had stopped, and the power of the Lord was being seen in every place the gospel was being preached. In the city of Antioch, there were so many being converted that Barnabas went to Tarsus looking for Saul to come and help teach and instruct the new believers. It is at Antioch that the Bible records believers were first identified as Christians.

Saul stayed at Antioch and preached for about a year before he went out of the Jerusalem church on his first missionary journey. During this time, he began using the name Paul which is his Roman name. This proved to be helpful as he traveled through the Roman provinces. From then on, he was identified in all of the letters of guidelines and encouragement he wrote back to the established work.

During his ministry, Paul wrote letters to churches and individuals which are a part of the Bible today: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. I personally add Hebrews to the list, which is debated. I lean towards the author being Paul because of the way the sentences are constructed. They are packed with so much information that you almost have to diagram the sentences to understand the fullness and meaning as in all the other listed letters.

It is hard to comprehend all the suffering Paul includes in his letter to the Corinthian church:

“Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger in the sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am no indignant? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” 2 Corinthians 11:23-33

In spite of all the beatings, shipwrecks, jail time, and just plain suffering, these scriptures came from his writings. May you be encouraged by them today.

“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” Ephesians 6:10

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

“For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

“May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.” Colossians 1:11