The Life and Writings of St. Paul

Paul, formerly a persecutor of Christians, was on the road to Damascus when suddenly God spoke to him.   “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4) God asked.   Paul was then blinded and led by his friends to Damascus, where a disciple named Ananias was waiting for him.   Ananias cured Paul’s blindness and baptized him.   From then on, Paul was devoted to spreading the Good News all over the world.


        Having returned to Damascus, he stayed there for a little while, preaching that Jesus is the Son of God.   Because of this the Jews began to hate him and Paul had to flee from the city.   Then he went to the city of Jerusalem to meet Paul, the head of the new Church.


After leaving Jerusalem he was called by Barnabus to come to Antioch.   One year later there was a large famine and both Barnabus and Paul were sent to the poor Christian community at Jerusalem.   Having fulfilled their goals they returned to Antioch.   Soon after this, Paul and Barnabus made their first missionary journey, visiting the island of Cyprus.   Then they took a trip to Asia Minor and established new churches in Iconium and Lystra.


After the Apostolic Council of Jerusalem, Paul made his second missionary journey, first visiting churches that had already been established by him in Asia Minor.   At Troas Paul had a vision, which he translated as a call from God to convert in Macedonia.   To do this, Paul sailed for Europe, and preached the Gospel in Philippi.   He also went to Thessalonica, where he had a lot of success.   After that he went to Greece, specifically Athens, where he basically failed but saw how devoted the Athenians were to their gods, and Corinth.   Then he returned to Antioch by way of Ephesus and Jerusalem.


On his third missionary journey, Paul visited nearly the same regions as on the second trip, but made Ephesus where he stayed nearly three years, the center of his missionary activity.   He also made plans also for another...