Saint Paul the Apostle
Stored in Cargo: Saint Paul the Apostle
| Saint Paul the Apostle | |
| Feast Day | June 29 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Missionaries, theologians, evangelists, Gentiles, rope makers, Malta |
| Birthplace | Tarsus, Cilicia, Roman Empire |
| Death Place | Rome, Roman Empire |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom, beheading |
| Primary Shrine | Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Rome, Italy |
Saint Paul the Apostle (AD 5 – AD 64–67), also known as Saul of Tarsus or the Apostle to the Gentiles, was a saint, missionary, and theologian pivotal in early Christianity’s spread. Born in Tarsus, Cilicia, to Jewish parents of the tribe of Benjamin, Paul was a Roman citizen and Pharisee trained under Gamaliel in Jerusalem. Initially a persecutor of Christians, he converted around AD 33–36 after a vision of Christ on the road to Damascus (*Acts 9:3–9*). Baptized and mentored by Ananias, he preached in Damascus, Jerusalem, and beyond. His missionary journeys (AD 46–60) to Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth, and other regions established Christian communities among Gentiles. Author of 13–14 New Testament epistles, including *Romans* and *1 Corinthians*, he articulated doctrines of grace, salvation, and the Church as Christ’s body. Imprisoned in Rome, he was martyred by beheading under Nero around AD 64–67. Canonized pre-Congregation, his feast day is June 29, shared with Saint Peter, in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. He is patron of missionaries, theologians, evangelists, Gentiles, rope makers, and Malta.[1][2]
His relics rest in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Rome, with his head in the Lateran Basilica. Paul’s epistles, shaping Christian theology, emphasize justification by faith and universal salvation. His miracles, like healing Publius’s father (*Acts 28:8*) and surviving a viper bite (*Acts 28:3–6*), bolstered his apostolic authority. His mentorship of figures like Saint Timothy and his role in the Council of Jerusalem (AD 49) solidified Gentile inclusion in the Church, complementing the work of Saint James of Nisibis in spreading early Christian teachings.[3][4]
Biography
Birth
Saint Paul was born around AD 5 in Tarsus, Cilicia (modern Turkey), to Jewish parents. A Roman citizen by birth, he was named Saul, reflecting his Hebrew heritage, and later adopted Paul, possibly for Gentile audiences.[1][5]
Early Life
Raised as a devout Jew, Paul studied in Jerusalem under Gamaliel, a leading Pharisee (*Acts 22:3*). Fluent in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic, he was a tentmaker by trade (*Acts 18:3*). Before his conversion, he persecuted Christians, notably approving Stephen’s stoning (*Acts 7:58–8:3*). His Damascus vision (AD 33–36) transformed him into a Christian apostle.[2][6]
Occupation
Paul was an apostle, missionary, and theologian. After his conversion, he preached in Damascus and Arabia, then joined Barnabas in Antioch (AD 46). His three missionary journeys (AD 46–56) spread Christianity to Asia Minor, Greece, and Macedonia, founding churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Corinth. He wrote epistles addressing theology and ethics, mentored Timothy and Titus, and faced imprisonments in Jerusalem, Caesarea, and Rome. His final years included house arrest in Rome (AD 60–62), where he wrote *Ephesians* and *Colossians*.[1][3]
Vocation
Paul’s vocation was evangelizing Gentiles and articulating Christian doctrine. His epistles, like *Romans* and *Galatians*, emphasize salvation through faith, not works of the Law, reconciling Jewish and Gentile believers. At the Council of Jerusalem (AD 49), he advocated for Gentile exemption from circumcision (*Acts 15*). His miracles, including raising Eutychus (*Acts 20:9–12*), authenticated his mission. Despite conflicts with Judaizers and Roman authorities, his theology shaped the Church’s universal mission, earning him the title “Apostle to the Gentiles.”[4][7]
Death
Paul was martyred by beheading in Rome around AD 64–67, under Emperor Nero, likely during the persecution following the Great Fire. Tradition holds he was executed at Tre Fontane, with his head bouncing thrice, creating springs. Buried outside Rome’s walls, his relics are in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, with his head in the Lateran Basilica.[1][5]
Significant events
- Converted on road to Damascus, AD 33–36.
- First missionary journey, AD 46–48.
- Council of Jerusalem, AD 49.
- Second missionary journey, AD 49–52.
- Third missionary journey, AD 53–57.
- Imprisoned in Rome, AD 60–62.
- Martyred in Rome, AD 64–67.[1][2]
Significant locations
Legend
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Death location: None
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Parishes
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Canonization
Servant of God
Paul’s recognition as a Servant of God began post-martyrdom, with early veneration in Rome and Antioch, evidenced by his epistles’ circulation and Acts’ account by the 1st century.[2]
Venerable
No formal Venerable declaration was recorded, as his sainthood predates modern processes. His cult grew through relic veneration and church dedications.[1]
Beatification
No distinct beatification occurred, as his apostolic role and martyrdom ensured early veneration.[4]
Canonization
Paul was canonized pre-Congregation, with no recorded date or canonizer. His feast is June 29, shared with Peter, in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, reflecting their joint martyrdom.[1][3]
Miracles
Paul’s canonization rested on miracles like healing Publius’s father (*Acts 28:8*), surviving a viper bite (*Acts 28:3–6*), and raising Eutychus (*Acts 20:9–12*), recorded in Acts.[6]
Miracle for beatification
No specific miracle was required, as his veneration predates modern processes.[2]
Miracle for canonization
Key miracles included the Malta healings and Eutychus’s restoration, per Acts.[4]
Other notable miracles
- Blinding Elymas the sorcerer (*Acts 13:11*), AD 46.
- Healing a lame man in Lystra (*Acts 14:8–10*), AD 46.[7]
Patronage
Saint Paul is patron of missionaries, theologians, evangelists, Gentiles (for his outreach), rope makers (linked to tentmaking), and Malta (for his shipwreck ministry in *Acts 28*).[8]
Feast day
His feast day is June 29, shared with Peter, in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, with January 25 celebrating his conversion.[1][7]
Veneration
Paul is venerated across Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran traditions. Pilgrimages to the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Rome, and Tre Fontane honor his relics and martyrdom site. His image, often with a sword (symbolizing martyrdom) or book, adorns churches like Saint Paul’s in London and Saint Paul’s in Valletta, Malta. Feast day liturgies feature his epistles, emphasizing faith and mission. His influence endures in theology, with figures like Saint Timothy continuing his legacy, building on the foundations laid by Saint James of Nisibis in early Christian communities.[4][9]
Books
Written about the saint
- Lives of the Saints, Vol. VI by Alban Butler[2]
- Paul: His Story by Jerome Murphy-O’Connor[1]
- The Apostle Paul: His Life, Thought, and Letters by Stanley E. Porter[1]
Written by the saint
- The Letters of Paul: Conversations in Context by Calvin J. Roetzel[1]
- *Romans*, *1 Corinthians*, *Galatians*, and other epistles (New Testament).[2]
External links
- Saint Paul the Apostle at CatholicSaints.Info
- St. Paul at Catholic Online
- St. Paul in the Catholic Encyclopedia
- Saint Paul the Apostle at Wikipedia
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 "Paul the Apostle". Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_the_Apostle.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "St. Paul". New Advent. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11567b.htm.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Saint Paul". Franciscan Media. 2024-06-29. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-paul.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Saint Paul the Apostle". CatholicSaints.Info. https://catholicsaints.info/saint-paul-the-apostle/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "St. Paul". Catholic News Agency. 2024-06-29. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-paul-541.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "St. Paul the Apostle". Eternal Word Television Network. https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/saints/paul-the-apostle-1219.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "St. Paul". Vatican News. 2024-06-29. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/06/29/st--paul.html.
- ↑ "Saint Paul". Saint of the Day. 2022-11-30. https://saintoftheday.com/st-paul.
- ↑ "Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls". Vatican. https://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_paolo/en/storia.htm.