While Paul himself never mentions his citizenship in his letters, Luke mentions it on multiple occasions (see Acts 16:3738; 22:2528; 25:11). [27] For more on the Jerusalem conference, including the events that led up to it and the outcomes that followed, see Robert J. Matthews, The Jerusalem Conference, in The Apostle Paul: His Life and Testimony, ed. Stephen, the first martyr - God does not always save his people. Apostle Paul: His Life and Theology, trans. [31] Gallio saw through the charade and responded to the Jews that they should look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters (Acts 18:15). [24] It is important to note that at this juncture two possible sequences of events are introduced by Luke in Acts and Paul in Galatians. While on his way, Paul was blinded by a bright light and confronted by the voice of Jesus. Paul, however, felt no such concerns: But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? (Galatians 2:14). Acts 15:1 relates that certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. It is quite possible that these certain men did not stop in Antioch, but actually continued traveling to other places where the Christian message had been preached, including the congregations founded by Barnabas and Paul during their first mission. Worried that the conflict between the Sadducees and the Pharisees over Pauls testimony might become violent, Claudius Lysias was forced once again to take Paul back into custody. Before the Sanhedrin, Paul maintained his innocence and successfully won over the Pharisees to his side by highlighting his pharisaic pedigree, although not before insulting Ananias, the high priest (see Acts 23:19). Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days (Galatians 1:1718). Click here to download Paul's lesson, posters, time lineand File Flip Book activity application pack. Previously, those who adhered to the Messianic movement surrounding Jesus had been called simply followers of [the] way (Acts 9:2), an enigmatic title that perhaps refers to the way of Jesus (see John 14:6) or perhaps connotes the other way of being a Jew. [8] One later piece of folklore claims that Paul was involved with the daughter of the high priest, and that her rejection of Paul led to his animosity toward Judaism: Paul was a man of Tarsus and indeed a Greek, the son of a Greek mother and a Greek father. When the magistrates heard that Paul and Silas were citizens, they were justly fearful, for they could lose their positions as a result of this violation, and their attempt to quietly usher Paul and Silas out of Philippi is certainly understandable. 11:13) and used Paul the Apostle to expand the church and write many of the New Testament books. Yet while Paul certainly viewed his missionary efforts as complementing what Peter and others were doing, he goes to great lengths to establish his own independence. However, it is unclear whether or not Paul would have seen himself being converted in the same sense in which we use the term today. Saul escaped Damascus through the wall at night, 2 Those fleeing persecution found a haven in the city of Antioch, the capital of the Roman province of Syria and at the time the third-largest city in the Roman Empire. Perhaps concern for affairs in Corinth caused Paul to leave Ephesus. Barnabas and Paul must have been making strides in their evangelizing efforts, because they were summoned to meet with Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul governing Cyprus. Being left blind as a result of his vision, Paul was led by his companions the rest of the way to Damascus, where he met Ananias, who subsequently healed Paul and may have performed his baptism (see Acts 9:18). The most notable member of the tribe of Benjamin was King Saul, the ruler who preceded David. Over the course of three weeks, he achieved the usual resultmany Jews and Greeks alike embraced the gospel . The last of the Hasmonean rulers over Judea, Herod Agrippa II would have been able to help Festus understand the complexities of Pauls circumstances. He ignored them. However, it is notable that Paul is baptized shortly after regaining his sight (see Acts 9:18). Some opponents of Christianity wanted to kill Paul, but his new . When Saul of Tarsus, who was later renamed Paul, saw the resurrected Jesus Christ on the Damascus Road, Saul converted to Christianity. Paul had earlier sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia, and Timothys return to Ephesus likely alerted Paul to the apostasy that had crept into the Corinthian branch. Receiving an education in Tarsus would very likely have brought Paul into contact with not only the Greek alphabet and language but also the writings of those whose works were considered the pinnacle of Greek literary achievement, such as the epics of Homer and the tragedies of Sophocles and Euripides. At the end of Acts 7, Stephen is stoned as a young man named Saul stood by watching. Get it here.). This miracle did not escape the notice of the Lystrans, who concluded that Barnabas and Paul must be gods in disguise, specifically Zeus and Hermes. Pauls first mission included several key elements that would become part of the evangelizing process in Pauls subsequent missionary endeavors. In a Roman colony it appears that arrest, beating, and imprisonment were normal for aliens, but that it was potentially dangerous to give citizens the same treatment. Peter Garnsey, Social Status and Legal Privilege in the Roman Empire (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1970), 268. 185 Heber J. The stoning at Lystra is just one of several such threats Paul encountered over the next fifteen or so years until his eventual death in Rome. [17] Josephus, Antiquities 18.10915. In Acts 9, we find an exciting story of Paul being persecuted by the religious and government leaders of his day. [21] Compare 1 Corinthians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 10:1316. As more Greeks embraced the gospel, the Corinthian Jews brought Paul before the governor, who basically told them to take a hike and refused to help. Together, Paul and Barnabas travelled to Pisidian Antioch, where local synagogue leaders invited them to speak. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Late at night, while they were worshiping, an earthquake shook the foundations of the prison, opened the doors, and freed the prisoners from their chains. are not ye my work in the Lord? (1 Corinthians 9:1; compare Acts 1:2122). An apostle of Jesus Christ is a messenger sent to spread the gospel of salvation. The information on Paul's life is plentiful and the New Testament s full of his adventures and epistles, which are letters. Lydia's House At some point after their return, the leaders of the church in Antioch, acting upon the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, selected Barnabas and Paul to begin moving the gospel out into the gentile world. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. As word spread about what happened, people began to revere the name of Jesus. Lesson focus: This lesson provides meaningful inspiration for finding joy in any situation. Timothy had the special privilege of serving from his youth. Still, he pressed on to Jerusalem, and by the end of Acts, the Jewish leaders had handed him over to Roman rulers. Here Paul was given the chance to explain Christian theology to an intellectual audience that included Stoics and Epicureans, an audience that would appreciate its novelty even if they rejected the message (see Acts 17:1832). Armed with a letter from the apostles and elders and brethren that summarized the decision of the conference, Barnabas and Paul and a few associates traveled back to Antioch. This story contains a clear anti-Pauline bias, and it is unlikely to contain anything historical. First, Luke tells us that Paul and Silas initially attempted to continue their travels north into Bithynia, but the Spirit suffered them not (Acts 16:7). Theyre great for church, classroom, or homeschool use. This time would not have been devoted to Paul seeking a greater understanding of the gospel, as Paul already felt like he understood all he needed to. Acts Chapter 16 gives details of one of Pauls difficult journeys. Compare Tacitus, Hist. Unlike Lukes account of Pauls second mission, which showed Paul traveling extensively throughout the Aegean, Pauls third mission was largely spent in Ephesus, a city Paul had briefly visited at the end of his second mission. Select: Group license - make multiple copies for your school, church, ministry, or congregation. [37] If this scenario is accurate, while Pauls death could have taken place as early as AD 62 it may have extended as late as AD 68 (the year of Neros death). In Acts chapter 17, we read about Paul traveling to Athens (an important city in Greece) on his second missionary journey. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Nicholas J. Frederick, "The Life of the Apostle Paul: An Overview," inNew Testament History, Culture, and Society: A Background to the Texts of the New Testament,ed. His letters in the New Testament continue to be a major influence in the Church today. Notable Quote: For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21, ESV). Seven sons of a chief priest named Sceva said to an evil spirit, In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out (Acts 19:13). In each city, they encouraged the believers there and strengthened their faith, as they would continue doing on their future missionary journeys. Paul tells us that the purpose of this trip was to finally meet and become acquainted with Peter (see Galatians 1:18). This is a fun project and includes several different ways to print the scroll. From Athens, Paul continued about forty miles west to Corinth, a port city that was the capital of the Roman province of Achaia. [35] By all accounts a decent administrator, Festus initially acted impartially but likely underestimated the hatred Pauls Jewish opponents had for Paul. [19] Taking into consideration the three years mentioned by Paul in Galatians, this would put Pauls experience on the road to Damascus around AD 34. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The inclusion of the first we passage in Acts 16:11 suggests that Luke joined Paul, Silas, and Timothy at this point. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1994. He states that he preached for three years before he even met Peter, and emphasizes that his understanding of the gospel came straight from Jesus Christ, for after his vision I conferred not with flesh and blood (Galatians1:16). Again Barnabas and Paul preached in the synagogue, and this time they found success among both Jews and Gentiles. "Meet the Apostle Paul: Christian Missionary Giant." Jesus called Paul to be "an apostle to the Gentiles" (Rom. The girls masters complained to the Philippian authorities that Paul and Silas do exceedingly trouble our city (Acts 16:20). Pauls reference to time spent in Arabia likely refers to the kingdom of the Nabataeans, an area stretching from Damascus down into the Hijaz (modern Saudi Arabia). Below is a preview of what each lesson covers. While Paul does not explicitly say that he actually saw Jesus Christ in Acts, Pauls letters imply it. Herod Agrippa II was more sympathetic, and his famous response, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian (Acts 26:28) is ambiguous and could be read either respectfully or ironically. This is a downloadable PDF Activity Book. Felix had been working on quelling the Egyptians revolt and had largely been successful, although the Egyptian remained at large. Paul wanted Timothy to travel with him and Silas and even offered to circumcise Timothy. When Peter came to Antioch to visit, he also shared table fellowship with Gentiles. Following their time preaching in Cyprus, Barnabas and Paul decided to travel to the mainland of Asia Minor and continue their work. Paul Y. Hoskisson (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1994), 96109. It is the denouncement of this marriage by John the Baptist that provides the setting for his execution. Paul and his companions stopped briefly in Kos, Rhodes, and Patara before heading across the Mediterranean Sea to Phoenicia (the coastal region south of ancient Syria, which is now part of Syria). Quotations from the Hebrew Bible are strewn throughout Pauls letters, perhaps as a direct result of his early education. "Meet the Apostle Paul: Christian Missionary Giant." Since Thessalonica had a synagogue, Paul turned to his usual methodpreaching the gospel on the Sabbath. His request that Timothy bring him the cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus (2 Timothy 4:13) may reveal conditions indicative of a harsher imprisonment than his previous one (see 2 Timothy 4:16). Dunn, James D. G. Christianity in the Making, vol 2: Beginning from Jerusalem. Trouble in Antioch and the Council of Jerusalem (ca. Perhaps Paul felt that his suffering and persecution were part of the discipleship processjust as Jesus suffered, so should those who follow him suffer. Additionally, their feet were held fast in the stocks (Acts 16:24), a measure that would greatly have increased their discomfort (compare 1 Thessalonians 2:2). Likely encouraged by the results of both the conference and the reception in Antioch, Barnabas and Paul decided to undertake another mission to spread news of this milestone in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord (Acts 15:36). That Paul bore some resentment at John Marks early departure becomes clear in events that follow the Council of Jerusalem the following year (see Acts 15:3740). Each lesson contains crafts and activities that reinforce the Bible verse. Barnabas took John Mark and went with the original plan, making their way back to the island of Cyprus. he stayed with Aquila and Priscilla making tents, Acts 18:8 However, Timothys report made Paul realize that the situation required his actual presence. Zavada, Jack. In Corinth, Paul stayed and worked with a couple of Jewish tentmakers named Priscilla and Aquila. This suggests that Paul would have been raised in a devout Jewish home. Wayment, Thomas A. Paul and Barnabas attempted to redirect their praise to God, but struggled to keep the crowds from offering sacrifices to them. This citizenship was highly prized and would have entitled Paul to many important benefits, such as the three-part Roman name (tria nomina), exemption from ill-treatment at the hands of Jewish and Roman authorities, and the right to have a capital legal case brought before the Roman emperor himself. Numerous activities can illustrate insights from this story and help children remember the story and the lesson. https://www.learnreligions.com/all-about-apostle-paul-701056 (accessed July 6, 2023). A classic study of Roman law and the New Testament is A. N. Sherwin-White, Roman Society and Roman Law in the New Testament (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1963). (Read Acts 17:11 .) Since hed last visited, a man named Apollos had been preaching part of the gospel, but he didnt know about the Holy Spirit. The locals spoke highly of Timothy, and Paul wanted to bring him along even though he was half Greek, which meant local Jews would have a harder time accepting their message. Or perhaps Paul hoped that the magistrates would be more sympathetic toward his recent converts (now that he had an advantage over the magistrates), should any future trouble arise.
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