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10 Facts About Paul the Apostle
Aaron Erhardt

1. His Hebrew name was Saul (Acts 13:9)

2. He was a native of Tarsus in Cilicia (Acts 22:3)

3. He was a Roman citizen by birth (Acts 22:25-29) (1)

4. He studied under the rabbi Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) (2)

5. He was a tentmaker by trade (Acts 18:3) (3)

6. He had been a persecutor of the church (Gal. 1:13)

7. He was an apostle to the Gentiles (Rom. 11:13)

8. He played a prominent role in Acts (4)

9. He wrote 13 books of the NT (5)

10. Tradition says he was beheaded by Nero

Footnotes:

1. Roman citizenship was a coveted honor. While some were able to purchase citizenship, Paul inherited his citizenship. Perhaps some ancestor of Paul had been granted citizenship as a reward for service to Rome.

2. Gamaliel was a teacher of the Law (Acts 5:34). He taught in the famous school founded by his grandfather, Hillel. The school was rivaled by the more narrow school of Shammai.

3. A Talmudic writer asked, “What is commanded of a father towards his son? To circumcise him, to teach him the law, to teach him a trade.” Hence, it was customary for Jewish fathers to teach their sons a trade. Paul was taught how to make tents. Throughout his ministry, Paul worked to support himself (Acts 20:34; 1 Cor. 4:12; 1 Thess. 2:9).

4. Paul’s work primarily dominates the latter half of Acts (chs. 13-28). His conversion, three missionary journeys, and trip to Rome are recorded. He also spoke at the Jerusalem meeting.

5. I do not believe that Paul wrote Hebrews: (1) Paul would not have included himself in the “us” of 2:3 and (2) Hebrews does not have the handwritten greeting which Paul said was “the sign of genuineness” in every letter he wrote (2 Thess. 3:17).