St. Paul

Laminated card with rounded corners. Size: 2.25” x 4.5

Paul (born Saul of Tarsus; [b] c. 5 – c. 64/65 AD), commonly known as Paul the Apostle and Saint Paul, was a Christian apostle (although not one of the original Twelve Apostles) who spread the teachings of Jesus in the first-century world. Generally regarded as one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age,  he founded several Christian communities in Asia Minor and Europe from the mid-40s to the mid-50s AD.

According to the New Testament book Acts of the Apostles, Paul was a Pharisee; he participated in the persecution of early disciples of Jesus, possibly Hellenised diaspora Jews converted to Christianity, in the area of Jerusalem, prior to his conversion. In the narrative of Acts, Paul was traveling on the road from Jerusalem to Damascus on a mission to “arrest them and bring them back to Jerusalem” when the risen Christ appeared to him in a great bright light. He was struck blind, but after three days his sight was restored by Ananias of Damascus and Paul began to preach that Jesus of Nazareth was the Jewish messiah and the Son of God.  Approximately half of the Acts of the Apostles deals with Paul’s life and works. Fourteen of the 27 books in the New Testament have traditionally been attributed to Paul.

Painting of Apostle St Paul (c.1610-14) by El Greco

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