- Paul’s exact date of birth is unknown, but he was likely born around the same time Jesus was. He was born in Tarsus, on the southern coast of what is now Turkey.
- Paul was born a Roman citizen.
- He died, probably as a martyr in Rome sometime between 64 and 68 AD. The great persecution of Christians started after the fire that raged in Rome for six days in July of 64 when Nero blamed the massive conflagration on them. Nero died in June of 68.
- Paul spoke Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and probably some Latin.
- Paul did not change his name. His Hebrew name was Saul, and he was apparently educated for about 6 years (beginning at age 13) in Jerusalem by the renowned rabbi Gamaliel. When in Greek and Roman environments, he went by the name Paulos (Greek) or Paulus (Roman). It was quite common for men to have a Hebrew and a Greek or Roman name.
- Paul oversaw the stoning of Stephen. He traveled 150 miles from Jerusalem to Damascus armed with legal authority to hunt down Jewish Christians, but was stopped by a heavenly voice–It was Jesus, who wanted to know why Paul was persecuting Him.
- Paul then spent three years in “Arabia,” studying before he began his extensive ministry.
- Paul visited heaven, where he saw “inexpressible things.”
- At one point, things were so bleak Paul thought he and his companions might die. This might refer to the riot in Ephesus, or his stoning in Lystra, or any number of other dire circumstances.
- Three of Paul’s missionary journeys are recorded in Acts, though there was probably another one or even two after his release in Rome.
- Thirteen of the New Testament books are letters written by Paul.
- At the end of his third missionary journey, Paul traveled to Jerusalem, where he was arrested and imprisoned for two years in Caesarea Maritima.
- Paul had a sister and a nephew, who saved his life. After his arrest, 40 Jewish men bound themselves in an oath to not eat or drink anything until they had killed Paul. His nephew learned of the plot and told Paul, who told a centurion, and the Roman commander ordered a detachment of almost 500 guards to move him to Caesarea in the middle of the night.
- When the governor offered to send Paul back to Jerusalem, he appealed to Rome as he knew he would in all probability be killed if he returned. He was instead shipped to Rome to be tried in Nero’s court. While there, he wrote the “prison epistles”: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.
- When the Jewish leaders did not show up for the trial (Roman law required a wait of two years for plaintiffs to travel), he was released after another two years in chains.
- Paul was likely rearrested near the end of Nero’s reign and beheaded, the only way citizens were allowed to be killed.
