Who was Paul in the Bible?
Asking who Paul was in the Bible directs attention to one of the most influential figures in Christian history. Known first as Saul of Tarsus, Paul is remembered as a zealous persecutor turned devoted apostle—an unlikely but divinely chosen witness to Jesus Christ. His life displays the power of God’s grace to transform an enemy of the gospel into its premier messenger. Through his missionary work and letters, Paul helped shape the early church’s understanding of Jesus, salvation, mission, and the inclusion of the Gentiles in God’s people.
1. Paul’s background combined Roman citizenship with deep Jewish identity
Paul was born in Tarsus, a prominent Hellenistic city in what is now Turkey (Acts 21:39). As a Roman citizen (Acts 22:28), he possessed rights and social advantages that gave him mobility and legal protections throughout the empire. Yet he was also thoroughly Jewish, descended from the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5), educated in the traditions of the Pharisees, and committed to Israel’s Scriptures.
This unique background made Paul fluent in the world of Greek culture while remaining deeply rooted in Jewish faith and practice—a combination that later equipped him to speak to both Jews and Gentiles.
2. Paul began as a fierce persecutor of the church
Before becoming an apostle, Paul fiercely opposed the Christian movement. He believed the early followers of Jesus were a dangerous threat to Israel’s faith. Acts describes him ravaging the church, “breathing threats and murder” (Acts 9:1), entering homes, dragging believers away, and trying to destroy the community Jesus had established.
He was present at the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and approved of the execution (Acts 8:1). His reputation produced fear among Christians throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria.
Understanding who Paul was requires seeing the depth of his hostility toward the church—because his transformation is all the more remarkable in light of it.
3. Paul’s dramatic conversion came through an encounter with the risen Christ
Everything changed on the road to Damascus. While traveling to arrest Christians (Acts 9:2), Paul encountered the risen Jesus in a blinding revelation. Jesus confronted him: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4). This moment transformed Paul from persecutor to disciple.
Jesus declared that Paul was His chosen instrument to carry the gospel to the Gentiles, to kings, and to the children of Israel (Acts 9:15). Paul later understood this call as a divine commissioning grounded in God’s mercy (1 Timothy 1:12–14). His conversion was not a gentle shift in perspective but a sovereign act of God redirecting his entire life.
This moment explains why Paul could later say, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10).
4. Paul became an apostle whose mission focused on preaching Christ to the nations
After his conversion, Paul spent years growing in understanding before beginning his missionary journeys. As an apostle, he:
preached the gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 17:2–3),
planted churches throughout the Roman world (Acts 14:21–23),
performed miracles by God’s power (Acts 19:11–12),
trained and appointed leaders (Titus 1:5),
and wrote letters forming a significant portion of the New Testament.
Paul understood his apostolic calling as a priestly service, presenting the Gentiles as an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:16). His mission was not self-chosen—it was given by the risen Christ for the sake of the nations.
5. Paul’s gospel centered on God’s gracious salvation through faith
Paul’s writings consistently emphasize the heart of the Christian message: sinners are justified by God’s grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ, apart from human merit (Romans 3:23–26). God’s righteousness is revealed in Christ’s saving work, demonstrating that God is both just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
For Paul, salvation is:
a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8–9),
grounded in Christ’s death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3–4),
applied by the Spirit (Galatians 3:2–5),
and extended to Jew and Gentile alike (Romans 1:16).
Paul’s letters unpack how believers live as God’s new creation, walking by the Spirit and belonging to the new covenant community formed through Christ.
His gospel shaped the early church, formed its theology, and continues to shape Christianity today.
Conclusion
According to Scripture, Paul was a Roman-born Jew from Tarsus, a zealous persecutor of early Christians, and a witness of the risen Christ whom God transformed into an apostle. He became the leading missionary to the Gentiles, planting churches, proclaiming Christ, and writing letters that articulate the core of the gospel: salvation by grace through faith in Jesus. Understanding who Paul was reveals the depth of God’s mercy, the power of Christ’s calling, and the global scope of the gospel. Paul’s life stands as a testimony to the God who turns enemies into ambassadors and uses unlikely people to build His church.
Bible Verses About Paul
“Saul was ravaging the church.” (Acts 8:3)
“Saul approved of his execution.” (Acts 8:1)
“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4)
“He is a chosen instrument of mine.” (Acts 9:15)
“By the grace of God I am what I am.” (1 Corinthians 15:10)
“I am not ashamed of the gospel.” (Romans 1:16)
“The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)
“We hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” (Romans 3:28)
“In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God.” (Galatians 3:26)
“From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.” (Galatians 6:17)
