Paul

Overview

Paul possessed Roman citizenship from birth (Acts 22:28), a privilege he strategically employed to further gospel work and secure fair trials. He was also thoroughly trained in Jewish law and tradition under the renowned teacher Gamaliel (Acts 22:3), making him deeply rooted in his Hebrew heritage. This combination of cultural backgrounds equipped him uniquely for his missionary calling.

Key Scriptures

"'Are you a Roman citizen?' [the commander] asked. Paul answered, 'Yes.'" (Acts 22:27, NIV). Paul declared, "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors" (Acts 22:3, NIV). "I have the same advantages as you, since I was also born a citizen" (Acts 25:10, NCV).

Application

Recognize that God uses our unique backgrounds and legitimate rights to accomplish His purposes—Paul's citizenship opened doors for gospel advancement that might otherwise have been closed.

✦ Scripture References 40 references

Acts 22:25 Acts 22:26 Acts 22:27 Acts 22:28 Acts 16:37 Acts 22:3 Acts 23:6 Acts 26:5 2 Corinthians 11:22 Galatians 1:14 Philippians 3:5 Acts 25:10 Acts 25:11 Acts 25:12 Acts 9:11 Acts 21:39 Acts 22:3 Acts 8:1 Acts 9:1 Acts 13:9 Acts 22:14 Acts 22:15 Acts 22:16 Acts 22:17 Acts 22:18 Acts 22:19 Acts 22:20 Acts 22:21 Acts 26:16 Acts 26:17 Acts 26:18 1 Corinthians 9:1 1 Corinthians 9:2 Galatians 1:15 Galatians 1:16 Romans 1:1 1 Corinthians 1:1 1 Corinthians 15:9 Galatians 1:1 Ephesians 1:1

✦ Topical Scripture Breakdown 750 verses

A Roman

Acts 16:37 Acts 22:25 Acts 22:26 Acts 22:27 Acts 22:28

A zealous Pharisee

2 Corinthians 11:22 Acts 22:3 Acts 23:6 Acts 26:5 Galatians 1:14 Philippians 3:5

Appeals to Caesar

Acts 25:10 Acts 25:11 Acts 25:12

Born in Tarsus

Acts 9:11 Acts 21:39 Acts 22:3

Called Saul

Acts 8:1 Acts 9:1 Acts 13:9

Called to be an apostle

Calls the chief Jews together; states his situation; is kindly received; expounds the gospel; testifies to the kingdom of heaven

Acts 28:17 Acts 28:18 Acts 28:19 Acts 28:20 Acts 28:21 Acts 28:22 Acts 28:23 Acts 28:24 Acts 28:25 Acts 28:26 Acts 28:27 Acts 28:28 Acts 28:29

Caught up to the third heavens

2 Corinthians 12:1 2 Corinthians 12:2 2 Corinthians 12:3 2 Corinthians 12:4

Chooses Silas as his companion, and passes through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches

Acts 15:36 Acts 15:37 Acts 15:38 Acts 15:39 Acts 15:40 Acts 15:41

Contends with Elymas the sorcerer

Acts 13:6 Acts 13:7 Acts 13:8 Acts 13:9 Acts 13:10 Acts 13:11 Acts 13:12

Contends with the Judaizing Christians against circumcision

Acts 15:1 Acts 15:2

Conveys the contributions of the Christians in Antioch to the Christians in Jerusalem

Acts 11:27 Acts 11:28 Acts 11:29 Acts 11:30

Departs for Caesarea; enters the house of Philip, the Evangelist; is admonished by Agabus not to go to Jerusalem; proceeds nevertheless to Jerusalem

Acts 21:8 Acts 21:9 Acts 21:10 Acts 21:11 Acts 21:12 Acts 21:13 Acts 21:14 Acts 21:15

Disputes on Mars' Hill with Grecians

Acts 17:16 Acts 17:17 Acts 17:18 Acts 17:19 Acts 17:20 Acts 17:21 Acts 17:22 Acts 17:23 Acts 17:24 Acts 17:25 Acts 17:26 Acts 17:27 Acts 17:28 Acts 17:29 Acts 17:30 Acts 17:31 Acts 17:32 Acts 17:33 Acts 17:34

Dwells two years in his own hired house, preaching and teaching

Acts 28:30 Acts 28:31

Educated at Jerusalem in the school of Gamaliel

Acts 22:3 Acts 26:4

Escapes by being let down from the wall in a basket; goes to Jerusalem

Acts 9:25 Acts 9:26 Galatians 1:18 Galatians 1:19

Escapes to Berea by night; preaches in the synagogue; many honorable women, and men, not a few, believe

Acts 17:10 Acts 17:11 Acts 17:12

Escapes to Derbe, where he preaches the gospel, and returns to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch, confirms the souls of the disciples, exhorts them to continue in the faith, and ordains elders

Acts 14:19 Acts 14:20 Acts 14:21 Acts 14:22 Acts 14:23

Goes through Phrygia and Galatia; is forbidden by the Holy Ghost to preach in Asia; visits Mysia; essays to go to Bithynia, but is restrained by the Spirit; goes to Troas, where he has a vision of a man saying, »Come over into Macedonia, and help us;« imm

Acts 16:6 Acts 16:7 Acts 16:8 Acts 16:9 Acts 16:10

Goes to Caesarea

Acts 9:30 Acts 18:22

Has »a thorn in the flesh«

2 Corinthians 12:7 2 Corinthians 12:8 2 Corinthians 12:9 Galatians 4:13 Galatians 4:14

Has Barnabas as his companion

Acts 11:25 Acts 11:26

He declares to the apostles at Jerusalem the miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them

Acts 15:12

Heals an impotent man

Acts 14:8 Acts 14:9 Acts 14:10

Heals the ruler's father and others

Acts 28:7 Acts 28:8 Acts 28:9 Acts 28:10

His defense

His examination before Agrippa

Acts 25:13 Acts 25:14 Acts 25:15 Acts 25:16 Acts 25:17 Acts 25:18 Acts 25:19 Acts 25:20 Acts 25:21 Acts 25:22 Acts 25:23 Acts 25:24 Acts 25:25 Acts 25:26 Acts 25:27

His independence of character

1 Thessalonians 2:9 2 Thessalonians 3:8

His message received gladly by the Gentiles

Acts 13:42 Acts 13:49

His resolute determination to go to Jerusalem against the repeated admonition of the Holy Ghost

Acts 20:22 Acts 20:23 Acts 21:4 Acts 21:10 Acts 21:11 Acts 21:12 Acts 21:13 Acts 21:14

His trial before Festus

Acts 25:1 Acts 25:2 Acts 25:3 Acts 25:4 Acts 25:5 Acts 25:6 Acts 25:7 Acts 25:8 Acts 25:9 Acts 25:10 Acts 25:11 Acts 25:12

His vision and conversion

1 Corinthians 9:1 1 Corinthians 15:8 1 Timothy 1:12 1 Timothy 1:13 Acts 9:3 Acts 9:4 Acts 9:5 Acts 9:6 Acts 9:7 Acts 9:8 Acts 9:9 Acts 9:10 Acts 9:11 Acts 9:12 Acts 9:13 Acts 9:14 Acts 9:15 Acts 9:16 Acts 9:17 Acts 9:18 Acts 9:19 Acts 9:20 Acts 9:21 Acts 9:22 Acts 22:4 Acts 22:5 Acts 22:6 Acts 22:7 Acts 22:8 Acts 22:9 Acts 22:10 Acts 22:11 Acts 22:12 Acts 22:13 Acts 22:14 Acts 22:15 Acts 22:16 Acts 22:17 Acts 22:18 Acts 22:19 Acts 26:9 Acts 26:10 Acts 26:11 Acts 26:12 Acts 26:13 Acts 26:14 Acts 26:15 Galatians 1:13

Is baptized

Acts 9:18 Acts 22:16

Is bitten by a viper and miraculously preserved

Acts 28:3 Acts 28:4 Acts 28:5 Acts 28:6

Is brought before the council; his defense

Acts 22:30 Acts 23:1 Acts 23:2 Acts 23:3 Acts 23:4 Acts 23:5

Is cheered by a vision, promising him that he shall bear witness in Rome

Acts 23:11

Is confined in Herod's Judgment Hall in Caesarea

Acts 23:35

Is confined in the castle

Acts 22:24 Acts 22:25 Acts 22:26 Acts 22:27 Acts 22:28 Acts 22:29 Acts 22:30

Is delayed in Melita three months; proceeds on the voyage; delays at Syracuse; sails by Rhegium and Puteoli; meets brethren who accompany him to Rome from Appii forum; arrives at Rome; is delivered to the captain of the guard; is permitted to dwell by him

Acts 28:11 Acts 28:12 Acts 28:13 Acts 28:14 Acts 28:15 Acts 28:16

Is escorted to Caesarea by a military guard

Acts 23:23 Acts 23:24 Acts 23:25 Acts 23:26 Acts 23:27 Acts 23:28 Acts 23:29 Acts 23:30 Acts 23:31 Acts 23:32 Acts 23:33

Is persecuted

2 Thessalonians 1:1 2 Thessalonians 1:2 2 Thessalonians 1:3 2 Thessalonians 1:4 Acts 17:5 Acts 17:6 Acts 17:7 Acts 17:8 Acts 17:9

Is persecuted by certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, and is stoned

2 Corinthians 11:25 2 Timothy 3:11 Acts 14:19

Is persecuted by the Jews

Acts 9:23 Acts 9:24

Is received at the house of Lydia

Acts 16:40

Is received by the brethren gladly; talks of the things that had been wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry; enters the temple; the people are stirred against him by Jews from Asia; an uproar is created; he is thrust out of the temple; the chief capt

Acts 21:17 Acts 21:18 Acts 21:19 Acts 21:20 Acts 21:21 Acts 21:22 Acts 21:23 Acts 21:24 Acts 21:25 Acts 21:26 Acts 21:27 Acts 21:28 Acts 21:29 Acts 21:30 Acts 21:31 Acts 21:32 Acts 21:33

Is released by the civil authorities on the ground of his being a Roman citizen

1 Thessalonians 2:2 2 Corinthians 6:5 2 Corinthians 11:25 Acts 16:35 Acts 16:36 Acts 16:37 Acts 16:38 Acts 16:39

Is returned to the castle

Acts 23:10

Is taken to Rome in custody of Julius, a centurion, and guard of soldiers; takes shipping, accompanied by other prisoners, and sails by way of the coasts of Asia; stops at Sidon, and at Myra

Acts 27:1 Acts 27:2 Acts 27:3 Acts 27:4 Acts 27:5

Jews conspire against his life

Acts 23:12 Acts 23:13 Acts 23:14 Acts 23:15

John, a companion of, departs for Jerusalem

Acts 13:13

Kind treatment by the inhabitants of the island

Acts 28:1 Acts 28:2

Makes his second tour of the churches

Acts 15:36

Of the tribe of Benjamin

Philippians 3:5 Romans 11:1

Persecuted and expelled

Acts 13:50 Acts 13:51

Persecuted by Jews, drawn before the deputy, charged with wicked lewdness; accusation dismissed; takes his leave after many days, and sails unto Syria, accompanied by Aquila and Priscilla

Acts 18:12 Acts 18:13 Acts 18:14 Acts 18:15 Acts 18:16 Acts 18:17 Acts 18:18

Persecuted by the Jews who come from Thessalonica; is conducted by the brethren to Athens

Acts 17:13 Acts 17:14 Acts 17:15

Persecuted, beaten, and cast into prison with Silas; sings songs of praise in the prison; an earthquake shakes the prison; he preaches to the alarmed jailer, who believes, and is baptized with his household

Acts 16:19 Acts 16:20 Acts 16:21 Acts 16:22 Acts 16:23 Acts 16:24 Acts 16:25 Acts 16:26 Acts 16:27 Acts 16:28 Acts 16:29 Acts 16:30 Acts 16:31 Acts 16:32 Acts 16:33 Acts 16:34

Persecutes the Christians; present at, and gives consent to, the stoning of Stephen

Acts 7:58 Acts 8:1 Acts 8:3 Acts 9:1 Acts 22:4

Persecutions endured by

1 Corinthians 4:11 1 Corinthians 4:12 1 Corinthians 4:13 2 Corinthians 1:8 2 Corinthians 1:9 2 Corinthians 1:10 2 Corinthians 4:8 2 Corinthians 4:9 2 Corinthians 4:10 2 Corinthians 4:11 2 Corinthians 4:12 2 Corinthians 6:4 2 Corinthians 6:5 2 Corinthians 6:8 2 Corinthians 6:9 2 Corinthians 6:10 2 Corinthians 11:23 2 Corinthians 11:24 2 Corinthians 11:25 2 Corinthians 11:26 Acts 9:23 Acts 9:24 Acts 9:25 Acts 16:19 Acts 16:20 Acts 16:21 Acts 16:22 Acts 16:23 Acts 16:24 Acts 16:25 Acts 20:22 Acts 20:23 Acts 20:24 Acts 21:27 Acts 21:28 Acts 21:29 Acts 21:30 Acts 21:31 Acts 21:32 Acts 21:33 Acts 22:22 Acts 22:23 Acts 22:24 Acts 23:12 Acts 23:13 Acts 23:14 Acts 23:15 Romans 8:35 Romans 8:36 Romans 8:37

Persecutions of

1 Thessalonians 2:2 Hebrews 10:34

Personal appearance of

2 Corinthians 10:1 2 Corinthians 10:10 2 Corinthians 11:6

Preaches at Paphos

Acts 13:6

Preaches at Salamis

Acts 13:5

Preaches in Damascus

Acts 9:20 Acts 9:22

Predicts misfortune to the ship; his counsel not heeded, and the voyage resumed

Acts 27:9 Acts 27:10 Acts 27:11 Acts 27:12 Acts 27:13

Proceeds to Macedonia after confirming the churches in those parts; comes into Greece and abides three months; returns through Macedonia, accompanied by Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timothy, Tychicus, and Trophimus

Acts 20:1 Acts 20:2 Acts 20:3 Acts 20:4 Acts 20:5 Acts 20:6

Received by the disciples in Jerusalem

Acts 9:26 Acts 9:27 Acts 9:28 Acts 9:29

Refers the question as to circumcision to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem

Acts 15:2 Acts 15:4

Remains in custody for two years

Acts 24:27

Reproves the exorcists; casts an evil spirit out of a man, and many believe, bringing their books of sorcery to be burned

1 Corinthians 16:8 1 Corinthians 16:9 Acts 19:13 Acts 19:14 Acts 19:15 Acts 19:16 Acts 19:17 Acts 19:18 Acts 19:19 Acts 19:20

Reproves the soothsayer; causes the evil spirit to come out of the damsel who practices divination

Acts 16:16 Acts 16:17 Acts 16:18

Returns to Antioch, accompanied by Barnabas, Judas, and Silas, with letters to the Gentiles

Acts 15:22 Acts 15:25

Returns to Ephesus; baptizes in the name of the Lord Jesus, and lays his hands upon the disciples, who are baptized with the Holy Ghost; preaches in the synagogue; remains in Ephesus for the space of two years; heals the sick

Acts 19:1 Acts 19:2 Acts 19:3 Acts 19:4 Acts 19:5 Acts 19:6 Acts 19:7 Acts 19:8 Acts 19:9 Acts 19:10 Acts 19:11 Acts 19:12

Returns with John to Antioch

Acts 12:25

Revisits Pisidia, Pamphylia, Perga, Attalia, and Antioch, in Syria, where he abode

Acts 14:24 Acts 14:25 Acts 14:26 Acts 14:27 Acts 14:28

Sends for the elders of the church of Ephesus; rehearses to them how he had preached in Asia, and his temptations and afflictions testifying repentance toward God; declares he was going bound in spirit to Jerusalem; exhorts them to take heed to themselves

Sends Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia, but remains himself in Asia for a season

Acts 19:21 Acts 19:22

Sent to Damascus with letters for the arrest and return to Jerusalem of Christians

Acts 9:1 Acts 9:2

Sent unto the Gentiles

Sergius Paulus, deputy of the country, is a convert of

Acts 13:7 Acts 13:8 Acts 13:9 Acts 13:10 Acts 13:11 Acts 13:12

Sickness of, in Asia

2 Corinthians 1:8 2 Corinthians 1:9 2 Corinthians 1:10 2 Corinthians 1:11

Supports himself

Acts 18:3 Acts 20:33 Acts 20:34 Acts 20:35

Teaches at Antioch one year

Acts 11:26

The people attempt to worship him

Acts 14:11 Acts 14:12 Acts 14:13 Acts 14:14 Acts 14:15 Acts 14:16 Acts 14:17 Acts 14:18

The ship encounters a tempest; Paul encourages and comforts the officers and crew; the soldiers advise putting the prisoners to death; the centurion interferes, and all on board, consisting of two hundred and seventy-six souls, are saved

Acts 27:14 Acts 27:15 Acts 27:16 Acts 27:17 Acts 27:18 Acts 27:19 Acts 27:20 Acts 27:21 Acts 27:22 Acts 27:23 Acts 27:24 Acts 27:25 Acts 27:26 Acts 27:27 Acts 27:28 Acts 27:29 Acts 27:30 Acts 27:31 Acts 27:32 Acts 27:33 Acts 27:34 Acts 27:35 Acts 27:36 Acts 27:37 Acts 27:38 Acts 27:39 Acts 27:40 Acts 27:41 Acts 27:42 Acts 27:43 Acts 27:44

The ship is wrecked, and all on board take refuge on the island of Melita

The spread of the gospel through his preaching interferes with the makers of idols; he is persecuted, and a great uproar of the city is created; the town clerk appeases the people; dismisses the accusation against Paul, and disperses the people

Thwarted by his nephew

Acts 23:16 Acts 23:17 Acts 23:18 Acts 23:19 Acts 23:20 Acts 23:21 Acts 23:22

Transferred to a ship of Alexandria; sails by way of Cnidus, Crete, Salamis, and the Fair Havens

Acts 27:6 Acts 27:7 Acts 27:8

Visits Amphipolis, and Apollonia, and Thessalonica, preaches in the synagogue

Acts 17:1 Acts 17:2 Acts 17:3 Acts 17:4

Visits Antioch in Pisidia, and preaches in the synagogue

Visits Assos, Mitylene, Chios, Samos, Trogyllium, and Miletus, hastening to Jerusalem, to be there at Pentecost

Acts 20:13 Acts 20:14 Acts 20:15 Acts 20:16

Visits Coos, Rhodes, Patara; takes ship for Tyre; tarries at Tyre seven days; is brought on his way by the disciples to the outskirts of the city; kneels down and prays; takes ship; comes to Ptolemais; salutes the brethren, and abides one day

Acts 21:1 Acts 21:2 Acts 21:3 Acts 21:4 Acts 21:5 Acts 21:6 Acts 21:7

Visits Corinth; dwells with Aquila and his wife, Priscilla, who were tentmakers; joins in their handicraft; reasons in the synagogue every Sabbath; is rejected of the Jews; turns to the Gentiles; makes his abode with Justus; continues there one year and s

Acts 18:1 Acts 18:2 Acts 18:3 Acts 18:4 Acts 18:5 Acts 18:6 Acts 18:7 Acts 18:8 Acts 18:9 Acts 18:10 Acts 18:11

Visits Cyprus

Acts 13:4

Visits Ephesus, where he leaves Aquila and Priscilla; enters into a synagogue, where he reasons with the Jews; starts on his return journey to Jerusalem; visits Caesarea; goes over the country of Galatia and Phrygia, in order, strengthening the disciples

Acts 18:18 Acts 18:19 Acts 18:20 Acts 18:21 Acts 18:22 Acts 18:23

Visits Iconium, and preaches to the Jews and Greeks; is persecuted; escapes to Lystra; goes to Derbe

Acts 14:1 Acts 14:2 Acts 14:3 Acts 14:4 Acts 14:5 Acts 14:6

Visits Lystra; circumcises Timothy

Acts 16:1 Acts 16:2 Acts 16:3 Acts 16:4 Acts 16:5

Visits Perga in Pamphylia

Acts 13:13

Visits Samothracia and Neopolis; comes to Philippi, the chief city of Macedonia; visits a place of prayer at the river side; preaches the word; the merchant, Lydia, of Thyatira, is converted and baptized

Acts 16:11 Acts 16:12 Acts 16:13 Acts 16:14 Acts 16:15

Visits Seleucia

Acts 13:4

Visits Troas; preaches until break of day; restores to life the young man who fell from the window

Acts 20:6 Acts 20:7 Acts 20:8 Acts 20:9 Acts 20:10 Acts 20:11 Acts 20:12

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