About 14 books of the New Testament were written by Paul. Paul was undoubtedly one of the most-used people ever selected by Christ for the spreading of the Gospel. We have all heard about many of the things Paul said, but how much do we know about Paul the person?

Today I want to provide you this sermon in a Bible Study format, to talk to you about what the Bible says about the life and person of Paul.

1. First, let’s look at some background information about Paul:

Paul was born at Tarsus, in the province of Cilicia (south central Turkey, not far from Cypress).

Acts 22:3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.

He was born a Roman citizen.

Acts 22:25-28 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, "Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn't even been found guilty?" {26} When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. "What are you going to do?" he asked. "This man is a Roman citizen." {27} The commander went to Paul and asked, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes, I am," he answered. {28} Then the commander said, "I had to pay a big price for my citizenship." "But I was born a citizen," Paul replied.

Paul's name was originally Saul.

Acts 9:11 The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.

Acts 13:9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said....

Paul was born and raised an Israelite (a Benjamite).

Phil 3:4-6....... If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: {5} circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; {6} as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

Paul was also a Jewish citizen of Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia in southern Turkey.

Acts 21:39 Paul answered, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people."

By trade, he was a tentmaker.

Acts 18:1-3 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. {2} There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, {3} and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.

Paul was very zealous for Judaism.

Gal 1:14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

Also remember what we read in Phil 3:5 where Paul expounds on being a Pharisee and Hebrew of Hebrews.

Paul used his strict Pharisaical background.

Acts 23:6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead."

We read in Acts 22:3 that Paul trained under Gamaliel, but who was Gamaliel?

Acts 5:34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.

We know that he had a sister in Jerusalem when the Jews plotted to kill him.

Acts 23:16 But when the son of Paul's sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

Paul may have been married.

In 1 Cor 9:1-6 Paul is talking about the rights of an apostle.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? {2} Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. {3} This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. {4} Don't we have the right to food and drink? {5} Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas ? {6} Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living?

Paul was a member of the Jewish council.

Acts 26:10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.

2. Now let’s look at a chronology of major events in Paul's life:

We’ll begin with Paul's (Saul's) persecution of every Christian he could find.

Acts 6:15-7:3 - Stephen condemns the Jewish religious leaders (but not Judaism):

All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. [A display of Supernatural Radiance] {7:1} Then the high priest asked him, "Are these charges true?" {2} To this he replied: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. {3} 'Leave your country and your people,' God said, 'and go to the land I will show you.'.....

And Stephen describes the experiences of the Patriarchs and Joseph and Moses and David and Solomon and the building of the temple.

Skipping to verse 48:

Acts 7:48-53 "However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet says [Isa 66:1-2]: {49} "'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? {50} Has not my hand made all these things?' {51} "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! {52} Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who PREDICTED the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him-- {53} you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but HAVE NOT OBEYED IT."

Continuing in verse 54-8:3 When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. {55} But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. {56} "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." {57} At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, {58} dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. {59} While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." {60} Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died. {8:1} And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. {2} Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. {3} But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.

And in chapters 22 and 26, Paul reiterates how he consented to and was involved in the persecution of Christians:

Acts 22:4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,

Are we ready for that kind of persecution? How close are we to the tribulation?

3. Now let’s read about Saul's conversion:

The words in verse 5 of the KJV, "it is hard for you to kick against the pricks" are not found in most other versions. They ARE found, however, in Acts 26:14 and mean "It is hard for you to kick against the goads [the cattle prods].

Next, we will read about Paul's journey to Arabia.

Paul was called by Jesus Christ and God the Father. He goes on to describe how God directed his entire life so that he could be used for God's purpose. These scriptures exemplify that it does not matter how nefarious or abhorrent your past, God can still use you:

It is not clear whether Paul's instruction from Jesus Christ lasted the whole three years, but it apparently took place near the real Mount Sinai which is in Midian, in northwest Arabia. If his instruction from Christ took only a small portion of the three years, then Paul was demonstrating a certain degree of independence from Peter and the other apostles by staying with them for only fifteen days following the three year period since his conversion.

4. Corinth was a very lewd city - but very zealous too. But the Corinthians questioned Paul's authority:

We read in 1 Cor 9 that Paul might have been married. But let's read it again, noticing what he said about being an apostle. The definition of the word apostle is "one sent forth," such as an envoy or missionary.

[Isn't that what we have today? There are many so-called 'Christian' churches, each preaching a different Jesus. Even Islam has a Jesus.]

Paul received inspiration directly from Christ:

You might also read Galatians 2 and Acts 9.

Paul's view of himself was very humble. He recognized that Christ gave him the abilities that he had and that all apostles were inspired to give the same message:

In 2 Cor 12, Paul glories in his achievements (which are really praises to God), yet follows up on that by saying that God keeps him humble because of his infirmity (which was apparently his eyesight):

5. Paul's Health Problems:

In Galatians 4, Paul gives us further insight into his health problems:

Gal 4:13-15 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. {14} Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. {15} What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

Galatians 6:11 also gives us the same insight:

But even with his poor eyesight, he apparently wrote better than he spoke:

6. The Corinthians made more account of false apostles than of Paul. In 2 Cor 11 he felt obliged to compare himself to them and describe the hardships he had faced in their behalf.

Paul was willing to give away all the worldly wealth and physical strength he had if it would bring the Corinthians closer to him:

As I said earlier, Corinth was a very lewd city. Paul had soundly admonished them earlier to rid themselves of this sin.

The verse in 2 Cor 13:1 is a quote from Deut 19:15 which states:

Deu 19:15 One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Paul is warning that they need to determine the truth of the facts alleged against some offenders. As can be seen in 2 Cor 13:3, Paul is still having difficulty convincing the Corinthians that Christ is working through him; that he represented Christ. In any event, Paul is through playing games with them.

In 2 Cor 7 Paul points out that, though he teaches firmly, he does not mean to imply a lack of love for them, or expect a loss of love from them. In verse 3 he expresses the ultimate in brotherly love: He would live or die with them.

2 Cor 7:2-3 Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. {3} I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you.

In 2 Cor 12:11 Paul declares his apostleship and he describes the lengths he has gone to befriend the Corinthian church. Paul uses satire to make his point.

2 Cor 12:11-13 I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing. {12} The things that mark an apostle--signs, wonders and miracles--were done among you with great perseverance. {13} How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

In Phil 3 Paul encourages the Philippians to press on toward our goal and warn them that many of them live for pleasures and thereby become the enemies of the cross of Christ.

As I have stated before, most people live for pleasures - they worship the god of pleasure.

7. Paul's last book includes commendations for those who helped him most. From his prison cell in Rome, Paul writes to Timothy, who was probably at Ephesus, to commend him and express his wish that he could see him.

2 Tim 1:1-5 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, {2} To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. {3} I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. {4} Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. {5} I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

In verse 15, Paul commends Onesiphorus for his kindness toward him while in prison.

2 Tim 1:15-18 You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. {16} May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. {17} On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. {18} May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.

In 2 Tim 2, Paul exhorts faithfulness as a good soldier of Christ. He dismisses his own situation (being chained like a criminal) and accepts his own fate as a sacrifice for the elect.

2 Tim 2:8-13 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, {9} for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained. {10} Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. {11} Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; {12} if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; {13} if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

Do we disown or deny Christ by our words or actions as we associate with worldly people around us? If we do, the verses we just read are a warning of our fate.

In the final chapter of Paul's final book, Paul gives Timothy a solemn charge to do his duty zealously, that the times of apostasy are at hand, and that he, Paul, is near his end.

Paul will have a very prestigious and responsible position in the Kingdom of God. In-as-much as he was the chief apostle to the gentiles, he will probably continue that role... and there are a lot of gentiles in this world!

Brethren, the Church has had many leaders in its long history, perhaps not many as eminent as Paul, but many nearly as dedicated. Paul dedicated his life to serving Christ in the saving of the saints. When the end of your life comes, will you be able to say as Paul said :

Sermon given by Wayne Bedwell