Saint Paul

Paul, Saint (d.A.D.64? or 67?), apostle to the Gentiles. The son of a Roman citizen, Paul was a zealous Jew who was active in the persecution of Christians until a vision of Christ seen on the road to Damascus made him a fervent convert to the new faith. After being baptized, Paul began preaching. He went on extensive missionary journeys (A.D.47–59) to Cyprus, Asia Minor, and Greece. Returning to Jerusalem, he was violently attacked by the Jews and imprisoned for 2 years. Claiming his Roman citizen's right, he was transferred (A.D. 60) to Rome, where he was imprisoned again. His final fate is uncertain. His tomb and shrine are in Rome at St. Paul's Without the Walls. His life is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles and the Pauline Epistles. The epistles attributed to Paul are Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, First Thessalonians, and Philemons; also generally accepted to be his work are Ephesians and Second Thessalonians.

See also: New Testament.