NLT Illustrated Study Bible - Book of Acts - Flipbook - Page 30
1986
PAUL (SAUL) Apostle to the Gentiles
Acts 9:131
Acts 7:58–8:3;
11:2530;
12:25–28:31;
Rom 1:1–16:27;
1 Cor 1:1–16:24;
2 Cor 1:1–13:14;
Gal 1:1–6:18;
Eph 1:1–6:24;
Phil 1:1–4:23;
Col 1:1–4:18;
1 Thes 1:1–5:28;
2 Thes 1:1–3:18;
1 Tim 1:1–6:21;
2 Tim 1:1–4:22;
Titus 1:1–3:15;
Phlm 1:125;
2 Pet 3:1516
Paul was a leading persecutor of the early
Christians who later became an apostle of
Jesus Christ, the most illustrious of the early
Christian missionaries, and the great apostle
to the Gentiles. He has done more to shape
Christianity than any other individual except
Christ himself. We know about him from
Luke’s account of his conversion and minis
try in Acts and from the thirteen letters bear
ing his name in the New Testament.
Paul was born in Tarsus to Jewish parents
who were Roman citizens (through which
he himself acquired Roman citizenship) and
grew up in a traditional Jewish home. A tent
maker (or leatherworker) by trade, he was
educated as a Pharisee by the w
ell-known
rabbi Gamaliel in Jerusalem. He became
active in the violent persecution of Christians
as a young man (22:35). But through a life-
changing, personal revelation of the resur
rected Jesus (9:36; 22:610), he was radically
converted. He then dedicated the rest of his
life to proclaiming Jesus as Savior and Lord
throughout the Mediterranean world (see
Gal 1:1116). His dedication and hard work,
especially among Gentiles (to whom he was
specifically called), resulted in the founding
of scores of churches during the first cen
tury. Most of his letters were written to these
churches.
Paul’s belief in Jesus as the Jewish Messiah
AD 35
Pentecost,
or 33
The birth of the
church in Jerusalem
(Acts 2:1-47)
AD 30
about AD 34
Saul’s conversion
near Damascus
(Acts 9:1-19;
Gal 1:15-16)
AD 33~34
Saul persecutes the church of Judea
(Acts 8:1-3; Gal 1:13-14)
set him apart from his Jewish contem
poraries. His vision of Jesus (Acts 9:143)
brought him to the realization that Jesus’
death and resurrection bring righteousness
and life-transforming power to those who
believe in him. Paul no longer understood
righteousness in terms of the careful obser
vance of the law of Moses, but as a gift from
God to those who put their trust in Christ,
the Savior who died for their sins (Rom
4:18). And he was convinced that this gift is
for Gentiles as well as Jews (Rom 3:2126).
Paul’s thirteen letters deal with a wide
range of issues, such as salvation and what
Christians believe about Christ (Romans,
Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians), specific
problems in the church (1 Corinthians),
the nature of Christian life and community
(Ephesians, Colossians), and questions about
Paul’s own authority as an apostle (2 Cor
inthians, Galatians). Some of his letters are
intended to encourage young believers who
are suffering for their faith (Philippians,
1 Thessalonians) or to correct false teachings
(Galatians, Colossians, 2 Thessalonians). Still
others are written to individuals, giving spe
cific advice related to their life and ministry
(1–2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon). Together,
these thirteen letters reveal much about
the life of the earliest
Christians and
AD 40
about AD 37
about AD 35
Barnabas goes to Tarsus
Saul’s retreat in and takes Saul to Antioch
Arabia (Gal 1:17); (Acts 11:25-26)
Saul is sent to
Tarsus (Acts 9:30)
AD 37~38:
Barnabas and Paul’s first trip
to Jerusalem (Acts 11:27-30; Gal 1:18-20)
AD 45
about AD 47
Barnabas and Paul travel to
Jerusalem with famine relief
(Acts 12:25; Gal 2:1-10)
AD 47~48: Barnabas and Paul’s first
missionary journey (Acts 13:4–14:28)
