Saint Paul

Saint Paul, born Saul of Tarsus (c. 5 – c. 64/65 AD), was a Christian apostle who played an instrumental role in spreading the teachings of Jesus during the first-century AD. His contributions towards the New Testament are widely recognized as significant, and he is generally regarded as one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age. Paul founded several Christian communities in Asia Minor and Europe from the mid-40s to the mid-50s AD. The main sources of information on his life and works include his letters and the Acts of the Apostles, which document his travels, preaching, and miracles. Although he was not one of the Twelve Apostles and did not personally know Jesus during his lifetime, Paul had knowledge of the life of Jesus and his teachings through personal contacts with disciples such as Peter and John, and brother James.

According to the Acts of the Apostles, Paul lived as a Pharisee and participated in the persecution of early Christians before his conversion. His conversion occurred on the road to Damascus when he saw a bright light, heard Christ speak, was blinded, and later healed by Ananias. After this event, Paul began proclaiming that Jesus of Nazareth was the Jewish messiah and the Son of God. He made three missionary journeys to spread the Christian message to non-Jewish communities. Fourteen of the 27 books in the New Testament have traditionally been attributed to Paul, with seven of these being undisputed as authentic. The other six are generally considered pseudepigraphical or debated by scholars. Today, Paul's epistles continue to be vital roots of theology, worship, and pastoral life in various Christian traditions, particularly the Latin and Protestant traditions of the West, and Eastern Catholic and Orthodox traditions of the East. His influence on Christian thought and practice is pervasive and profound.