Paul was a Benjamite Jew who had inherited Roman citizenship from his father. He was educated in Jerusalem under Gamaliel, an eminent Pharisee and teacher of the Law,
who was broadminded and tolerant toward the early Christians (Acts 5:34-39; 22:3). He was a tentmaker by trade. Paul was present at the stoning of Stephen and seems to have been a member of
the Sanhedrin, who tried to stop the apostles from preaching Christ. He may himself have witnessed Peter's bold and defiant refusal. Stephen's dying words may have touched Paul's heart, though its immediate effect
was to start him on his rampage against the Christians. It may even be, that Stephen's Martydom was the price paid for Paul's soul. Paul was the leader of the first persecution of the Church, even though he had two relatives who were
Christians. He laid waste to the Church, imprisoning women and children, beating those who believed, and even putting many to death. This persecution led to the Dispersion of the Church. Determined the destroy the Church, he set out for Damascus in AD 31-32 to
weed out the Christians who had fled there. On his way, the Lord appeared to Paul and he was converted. Next to Jesus, Paul became the greatest man of the ages. He went on several missionary journeys: the first, ca AD 45-48, to Galatia, Cyprus, Antioch,
Lystra, and Derbe; the second, ca AD 50-53, to Troas, Philippi, Thessalonica. Berea, Athens, and Corinth; the third, ca AD 54-57, he traveled to Ephesus. His missionary journeys covered about 12 years, AD 45-57. He planted powerful Christian centers in almost
every city of Asia Minor and Greece. He was arrested in Jerusalem in June, AD 58. He was later imprisoned in Caesarea from the Summer of AD 58 to the Fall of AD 60. In the Fall of AD 60, he was taken to Rome as a prisoner, where he was held at least two years.
It is believed that he was acquitted ca AD 63 or 64. Tradition states that he went to Spain after this, but it is known that he was back in Greece and Asia Minor about AD 65-67, where is was rearrested and taken back to Rome. He was beheaded ca AD 66-67.
One tradition states that he was killed the same day as Peter. He suffered many persecutions during his ministry: he was flogged by the Jews five times (for a total of 195 lashes), beaten with rids three times, stoned in Lystra, and shipwrecked three times. Of these trials, he stated: "In journeys often, in perils of water, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own
countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness- besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches." (II Cor. 11:26-28). "But
I want you to know my brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the Gospel." (Philippians 1:12).
Paul was the author
of at least thirteen epistles, and perhaps the book of Hebrews. Many of his books were written from his prison cell. The epistles of Paul include: I Thessalonians (ca AD 51), II Thessalonians (ca AD 51), Galations (ca AD 55), I Corinthians (ca AD 55), II Corinthians (ca AD 55), Romans (ca AD 56-57),
Philippians (ca AD 59-61), Ephesians (ca AD 60), Colossians (ca AD 60), I Timothy (ca AD 60), II Timothy (ca AD 60), Philemon (ca AD 62), Titus (ca AD 65-67), and possibly Hebrews (before AD 70).
Paul's journeys: 
