Short History of Paul/Saul

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Saul was born in the town of Tarsus, which was the capital of Cicilia (present-day city within Turkey, near the Syrian border).  It was a city influenced by the Greek culture.  Saul grew up learning Grecian literature and versed in the law.  From the book of Philippians, Paul tells us that he is of Jewish descent, part of the tribe of Benjamin, a “Hebrew among Hebrews.”

When he was young, he was sent to Jerusalem to be brought up in the temple.  Saul was taught by Gamaliel, one of the wise teachers of the law of the times.  The Bible’s first encounter with Gamaliel occurs earlier in Acts 5:33-39 which shows his wisdom in verse 38b-39: “…For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."  In essence, Saul was brought up as a Pharisee, following the law to the letter.

Besides being learned in Grecian literature and Jewish law, Saul also learned how to make tents as his trade, as witnessed in Acts 18.  At this point, it is not clear how long Saul has been in Jerusalem , though some estimate it to be a little over a decade.  Being raised a zealous keeper of Jewish traditions, Saul found Christianity to be a perverse truth of Judaism.

Just as the leaders stood strongly against Christ as He went to the Cross, Saul was equally disturbed by the followers of Christ, determined to stamp any from the face of the earth.  He is the epitome of the stubbornness of the Hebrews, which is seen as far reaching as the Old Testament in books like Ezekiel and Isaiah.  

Saul, in his frenzied state of extermination, went forth to the high priest at the time for letters letting him legally persecute Christians.  It is ironic to note that the high priest Paul went to was a Sadducee who was not only appointed by the Romans, but also not a believer of the spiritual realm or of the Jewish traditions that Saul had been brought up to strictly follow.  Already having persecuted apostles and new believers alike in his young age around Jerusalem , Saul decided to expand his terror to the city of Damascus.

Sources Used:
John Darby’s Synopsis of the New Testament
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible
The Student Bible: NIV Version