Characters
Known As
Spreading the Word
Where in the Bible?
The books of Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and 2 Timothy
Did You Know
God can change anyone. From an unlikely start, Paul went on to become the most influential Christian in the New Testament apart from Jesus himself, founding several Christian communities in Asia Minor and Europe, and shaping Christian thought and practice profoundly.
Bio – Paul
c. 4 BC– c. AD 64-68
Paul’s life is an amazing story of redemption—how one of the fiercest enemies of the Christians became the greatest Christian missionary of all time. Born in Tarsus, in present-day southern Turkey, Paul—or Saul, for he was known by his Hebrew name before his missionary days—was a zealous Pharisee who adhered strictly to the Law of Moses and who believed that the new Christians were troublemakers and heretics.
Paul led the first great wave of persecution against the early church, believing that he was doing God’s work. But while pursing fleeing Christians to the city of Damascus, Paul had a life-changing encounter with Jesus, who asked why he was persecuting him. Paul was struck blind, and when he finally regained his sight at the hands of Ananias of Damascus, he felt as though scales had fallen from his eyes and he could see clearly for the first time.
From then onwards, Paul was a changed man. He travelled across Asia Minor and Europe, spreading the gospel and founding new churches in various cities. He taught people that only through Jesus Christ could they be saved—obedience to rules and laws would not save them, only the grace of God, gained by the loving sacrifice of his Son. Paul’s travels and preaching exposed him to many dangers, and he was finally executed in Rome, faithful and still helping fellow Christians to the end.
Paul has been described as a small, meek man, whose oral abilities were far from perfect, yet his message came through loud and clear. Paul wrote many of the books in the New Testament. Known as epistles, these were letters written to new churches and believers to help them in their journey and their day to day struggles.
God can change anyone. From an unlikely start, Paul went on to become the most influential Christian in the New Testament apart from Jesus himself, founding several Christian communities in Asia Minor and Europe, and shaping Christian thought and practice profoundly. After his encounter on the road to Damascus, Paul did not look back. He dedicated the rest of his life to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, experiencing hardship and suffering along the way, but never faltering in his work or in his service to God. He showed perseverance, courage, and an unquenchable love for the Lord.
Clearly there is no one so damaged or sinful that God is not prepared to offer them a second chance and to put them to good use—and even the hardest hearts can be transformed beyond belief by God’s love.
Copyright ©2020 International Publishing Services (IPS) Sydney Australia
Bible Verses About Paul
Acts 9:15-16
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
Romans 1:1
Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God . . .
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:14
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Romans 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails . . .
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 8
But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Colossians 3:23-24
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
2 Timothy 4:6-7
. . . the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Related Hero Bios
Jesus Christ
The ultimate Hero and Son of God
Jesus came into this world in a humble beginning in Bethlehem. He was born of a virgin mother and was brought up as the son of a carpenter in Nazareth in Galilee.
John The Baptist
Proclaimer of the Messiah
From his birth, John the Baptist was set apart by God for a special purpose. The long-awaited child of Zechariah the priest, and his wife Elizabeth, a relative of Mary, John was the one of whom Isaiah had spoken so very long ago.