St. Paul the Apostle

Their story

Saul was born in Tarsus, in what is now Turkey, and was both a Jew and a Roman citizen. He trained as a Pharisee in Jerusalem and was zealous for the Law of Moses. When followers of Jesus began to spread the news of his resurrection, Saul saw them as a threat. He approved the stoning of St. Stephen and set out to arrest Christians. On the road to Damascus, a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice asking why he was persecuting him. When Saul asked who was speaking, the answer came: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5). Saul had been attacking the Church, yet Jesus said, “You are persecuting me.” Christ and his Church are one, like a head and its body. Blinded, Saul was led into Damascus, where a disciple named Ananias laid hands on him. His sight returned, and he was baptized. Saul, now known as Paul, became the great missionary to the Gentiles. He traveled thousands of miles, founded communities across the Roman world, and wrote letters that make up much of the New Testament. He was beaten, shipwrecked and imprisoned for Christ. He was martyred in Rome around AD 64–67.