Saint Paul

 
Paul, also known as Saul, of Jewish descent (Otto Menardius), was born in Tarsus in the early first century A.D. His family were Roman citizens,and had a large business making tents. He moved to the city of Jerusalem as a boy where he joined in the attacks against the newly emerging Christian faith. As a young man he became personally and passionately involved in violent attacks against Christians. He was known as the man who was present, and fully agreed, with the stoning of Stephen. According to the New Testament, he began a journey to the city of Damascus. Going with the intention of persecuting the Christians there, he had a life changing vision of Jesus. With great zeal in his newfound faith in Christ, both he and the apostle Peter became two of the main contributors the spread of the Christianity.
Paul made three major trips throughout large portions of the Roman world as a missionary, spreading the Gospel as he went. He met his death (A.D.67) while a captive in Rome; this as a direct result of his message. While his first journey centered largely on the area that is now western Anatolia, his latter two journeys included the area that are now the Greek eastern mainland and islands. His first journey began in Seleucia from which he and his companions made for Cyprus. Later they set out from the seaport of Paphos for Perga in Pamphylia. Taking the road to the interior, they reached Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, and later Lystra and Derbe. Spending a short period in each of the cities encouraging the believers, they returned by the same route and arrived back in Perga. Setting out once again, they made for Antioch by boat and completed their first journey by arriving in Jerusalem. The second journey, A.D. 50-53, Paul accompanied by another Roman citizen by the name of Silas, began again from Antioch. Making their way overland through Anatolia, they were joined by Timothy, and together made for Troy and then straight on to Macedonia. At this time, they established the churches in Phillippi, Thessalonica and Berea. Due to serious dangers, they moved on to Athens and later spent almost two years in Corinth.  The third journey, beginning around A.D 53, centered around Ephesus, and once again the Greek mainland at Macedonia.

 Because of his work, Paul is recognized worldwide for his message of the ‘Good News’, which was later partially encapsulated in the New Testament. Moreover, Paul was known as ‘Paul of Tarsus’, partially due to the excellent education received in both Tarsus and Jerusalem, combined with his experiences as a Christian spreading the Good News. Paul, despite not being amongst the original 12 Apostles (of Christ), along with Peter, showed great courage in spreading the Gospel and standing strong in their faith in Christ. It is partially for this reason that many knew him as the Apostle from Tarsus. By the middle of the first century A.D, the Christian message, beginning in Cilicia and Capadocia, and later the regions of Lyconia, Pisidia and Pamphilia, had been well established largely due to the work of Paul. Despite the many difficulties involved in working in the various Roman colonies, Paul’s displays of God’s power meant that many locals, captivated by his teachings rapidly came to faith in large numbers. The fellowship in Galatia in particular profited and became successful because of Paul’s teaching preaching and exhortment. Many of its members formerly belonging to the local synagogue there. His excellent methods became the example for missionaries in the ages to come. The letter written to that fellowship, which latter became part of the New Testament, clearly reveals the way to receive everlasting life. Because of his courageous actions and inspired writings, Paul is widely accepted as a symbol of Christian success. The letters written during his journeys contain detailed descriptions of his time; they are highly valued as Christian Literature that include priceless archeological attributes. A letter to the Roman Orator Seneca, reportedly written by Paul, contains some impressive examples of rhetoric.
Paul’s first trip to Iconium, (modern Konya) may reveal what he actually looked like. The source of our knowledge comes from a second century story entitled ‘Paul and Thekla’, ascribed a man from Iconium by the name of Onesiphoros. Paul, according to this source, had a Roman nose, wide forehead, and short hair. His face at times seemed like a man’s at other times like an angel’s. He appeared to have been a bow legged man of short stature.