FIRST CENTURY; DIED MOST LIKELY 67 lem and became a leading persecutor of the new APOSTLE AND MARTYR Christian sect. He held the garments of those FEAST DAYS: JUNE 29 (WITH ST. PETER) who martyred St. Stephen by stoning, the event AND JANUARY�t. 25 (CONVERSION P) aul thethat sparked A�o the first greatstle persecution against the Church, and rounded up and arrested Chris- S THE APOSTLES began spreading the Good tians in Jerusalem, causing many of them to flee News to the known world, Jesus added the city. Saul, “breathing threats and murder” (Acts Aone more to their number, St. Paul, the last 9:1), obtained authority to carry the persecution apostle to whom the Risen Christ appeared: to Damascus, Syria. “Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also On this journey, Saul had one of the most to me” (1 Cor 15:8). This apparition, the thun- momentous conversion experiences in Chris- derclap event on the road to Damascus, brought tianity. A brilliant light from Heaven shone to Christianity one of the most zealous, fervent, brilliant, and holy of its saints. Saul, a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, was “Saul had one of the most born in Tarsus, the wealthy capital of Cilicia momentous conversion (now modern south-central Turkey), which was a province of the Roman Empire. Saul thus was experiences in Christianity.” also born a Roman citizen and given the Latin name Paul, which he began to use after his or- about him and he heard a voice saying, “Saul, dination as a priest. He had at least one sister. Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4). Saul His parents sent him at a young age to Jeru- asked who was speaking, and Jesus replied, “I salem to study under the great Rabbi Gamaliel am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5). the elder; later writing: “I advanced in Judaism Saul then asked, “What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts beyond many of my own age among my people, so ex- 22:10). Blinded, he was led to Damascus, and tremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers” for three days neither ate nor drank. A Chris- (Gal 1:14). He returned to Tarsus, probably tian named Ananias was sent to him by Jesus before Jesus began his public life, in a vision, “for he is a chosen instrument of mine but again went to Jerusa- to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel” (Acts 9:15). Ananias laid hands on Saul, who regained his sight, and baptized him. Saul began to preach the Gospel, to the shock and as- tonishment of his fellow Jews, who were filled with such anger toward the turncoat Pharisee that they tried to kill him. He had to flee Damascus, gotten out of the city by being lowered at night in a basket from the city wall. Saul spent the next three years in the Ara- bian Desert, and then went to Jerusalem to make himself known to the apostles, who feared him. This lasted until Barn- abas, a Jewish Christian who by then was accounted an apostle, vouched for him. Death threats forced the apostles to send JUPITERIMAGES Saul to Tarsus. Nothing is known of him for Statue of St. Paul at the entrance to the basilica that bears his name in Rome The Association for Catechumenal Ministry (ACM) grants the original purchaser (parish, local parochial institution, or individual) permission to reproduce this handout. some years until Barnabas was sent to investigate ings, and imprisonment, but by the time of their the evangelization of non-Jews in Antioch, Syr- departure they left behind a local church that ia. Barnabas strongly approved, sought out Saul, continued to grow. and together they strengthened the community Following the conclusion of the first journey, that was the first to be called “Christian.” They Paul and his companions returned and reported visited Jerusalem briefly in 44, bringing their remarkable success among the Gen- alms to alleviate a famine; this time, Saul tiles. This report brought to a head the was completely accepted by the Christian issue of the submission of non-Jew- community. On their return to Antioch, ish Christians to the Jewish law. In Saul and Barnabas were ordained and 49 or 50, the apostles convened as the thus were ready to embark on the mis- Church’s first council to decide what sionary journeys that are the best-docu- to require of non-Jewish converts, mented of any in the apostolic age. with Paul and Barnabas in at- Symbolically, Saul began using his tendance. The Council of Je- Latin name, Paul. rusalem made only the bar- Paul’s first journey took est requirements, ending place between 45 and 49. It for all time any require- covered a half-dozen cities ment that Christians ad- on the island of Cyprus and here to Jewish ceremo- throughout a part of Asia nial law or Christian Minor that is now part males to undergo cir- of modern midwestern cumcision. Turkey. A general pat- Immediately after- tern soon emerged. Paul ward, Paul and his com- went to the principal city panions set out on his or cities of a province. If second journey, which a city had a Jewish syn- lasted to 52. They sought agogue (most did), he to open new mission ter- began preaching there, ritories in Asia Minor and from there reached north of those they had out to non-Jews. He already visited, but the continued making con- Holy Spirit prevented verts until forced to their move northward move on. Usually, and Paul was called, but not always, dis- by a vision of a Mace- turbances were insti- donian, to evangelize gated by Jews who in Macedonia. He trav- saw Christianity in a eled westward to Macedonia hostile light. Some- and then south into Greece, times non-Jews saw staying eighteen months in the missionaries as a Corinth. There Paul began threat; once, silver- the practice of smiths whose trade to writing letters to pilgrims to the shrine Christian com- of a pagan goddess munities he had was threatened by previously es- conversions were tablished. The behind the agita- first and second of tion. City authori- the thirteen letters that ties most often sided make up a significant part against Paul. Time after of the New Testament were time, he and his companions suf- written to the community in Thes- fered stonings, beatings, scourg- St. Paul, by Timothy Schmalz salonika. St. Paul the Apostle ~ Page 2 Paul’s third journey took place between 52 and illegal to crucify Roman citizens). Peter’s cru- 56. He and his companions revisited areas he had cifixion about the same time, Peter’s position as already evangelized in Asia Minor. He stayed the bishop of Rome, and Paul’s martyrdom es- two-plus years in Ephesus, during which the sil- tablished Rome as the seat of the Church. versmiths’ riot occurred. From there he traveled Paul’s letters reveal the initial unfolding of to Macedonia, south to Greece, and then back Christian doctrine, the first growth from the apos- through Macedonia. During this time he wrote tolic seed to the mature tree of Catholicism. Paul’s his First and Second Letters to the Corinthians acceptance of Jesus as the promised Messiah led from Ephesus and Macedonia respectively, his to his theology of Jesus as the new Adam and the Letter to the Romans (a community he had not Church as the fulfillment of the law and the new founded or visited) from Corinth, and his Letter Israel. His comprehensive understanding of the to the Galatians, also probably from Corinth. Jewish Scriptures in light of the message of Christ Against advice, he went to Jerusalem in 57, led him to spell out doctrines on original sin, free where he reported the successes of this journey. will, and humanity’s need for redemption and in- A week later, Paul was nearly killed in a riot over ability to redeem itself; on the unmerited grace of his teaching and rescued from death by the Roman God’s merciful love for fallen humanity; on Je- garrison. To avoid trial by the Sanhedrin, the gov- sus, truly both God and man, as the savior of hu- erning religious body of the Jews, he claimed the manity through his suffering and death; and how rights of Roman citizenship. An assassination plot by cooperating with God’s unmerited gift of grace against him was discovered by his nephew, and each person is justified and sanctified. From the he was therefore sent under depths of his sinfulness and heavy guard to the Palestin- the heights of his prayer life, ian port of Caesarea Maritima “Paul’s letters reveal he was able to call Christians for trial. The Roman governor the initial unfolding to the perfection of virtue and avoided rendering a verdict for union with God. He worked two years because Paul would of Christian doctrine.” out the implications of Je- not bribe him and he did not sus’ salvific death and laid the want to deal with the consequences of acquitting foundation for the participation of every Chris- Paul. Paul eventually appealed to Rome for judg- tian in Jesus’ suffering. Jesus’ accusation of Paul ment and was sent under guard to Rome by ship. as his persecutor led to the theology of the Mys- Delayed by storms and a shipwreck, he arrived in tical Body of Christ. In the letters, too, are seen 60 or 61 and lived under house arrest for another the equal dignity of the baptized; the high state of two years awaiting trial.