Paul, the Apostle of Christ, Sorely Persecuted, and Finally Beheaded, in the Year 69

Saul, afterwards called Paul, was of Jewish descent, a Hebrew of the tribe of Benjamin; but as to who his father and mother were, we find no record in Holy Writ. Philippians 3, verse 5.

As regards the place of his birth, it appears that his parents, either because of persecution, or of the Roman war, or for some other reason, left their place of residence in the portion of Benjamin, and went to live in a Roman free city in Cilicia, called Tarsus, where Paul was born, who, although he was a Jew, yet by the privileges of this city became a Roman citizen. Acts 22, verse 3.

Respecting his early training, he was diligently instructed by the wise Gamaliel in the law of the fathers; in which he became so proficient that there were but few things in the entire Old Testament with which he was not acquainted. Galatians 1, verse 14. [n108-2]

He lived blamelessly, according to the law of Moses and the holy prophets, and that in the strictest order of Judaism; but having not yet been rightly instructed in the doctrine of the holy Gospel, he, although in accordance with the law, showed a wrong zeal, and persecuted the church of Christ; indeed, at the death of Stephen he kept the garments of those who killed him. Acts 7, verse 58.

But afterwards, having obtained letters from the priests at Jerusalem to the synagogues of Damascus, to bring as prisoners such men and women as confessed the name of Christ, the Lord, from heaven, stopped him in his course, calling, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? And he said, Who are You, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting: it is hard for you to kick against the goads. And he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what do You want me to do? And the Lord said to him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do" (Acts 9, verses 1 to 6).

The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. Then he arose from the earth, to which he had been thrown down by fear; and when he opened his eyes, he could not see, so that they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. Verses 7 and 8.

In the city of Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he is praying."

Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he has done to Your saints at Jerusalem."

Then the Lord said to him, "Go your way: for he is a chosen vessel to me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: for I will show him what great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

"And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him, said, Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me, that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales; and he received his sight at once, and arose, and was baptized" (Acts 9, verses 7 to 16). [n108-4]

Such was the conversion of Saul, who was afterwards called Paul, and was one of the chief apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: indeed, he labored more abundantly than they all. First Corinthians 15, verse 10.

Immediately after his conversion, he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He was the Son of God. Acts 9, verse 20.

Some time afterwards, the Holy Ghost said to the prophets and teachers at Antioch, after they had ministered to the Lord with fasting and prayer, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." And so they were sent out by the Holy Ghost. Acts 13, verses 2 and 3.

In the meantime, Paul, formerly called Saul, was endowed with special gifts of the Holy Ghost, so that he had the spirit of discernment, prophecy, tongues, and miracles. Acts 13, verses 9 and 10; First Timothy 4, verse 1; First Corinthians 14, verse 18; Acts 19, verse 11.

He also had special revelations, so that at a certain time he was caught up to the third heaven, indeed, into the heavenly paradise, where he heard unspeakable words, which no man can utter. Second Corinthians 12, verse 1.

He was, moreover, adorned with many Christian virtues, which he practiced with a good conscience; as well as with faithfulness in his ministry, fatherly care over all the churches, and sincere love for them, even to death, so that he said, "Being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted to you, not the Gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because you were dear to us" (First Thessalonians 2, verse 8).

He was free from covetousness, of a generous disposition, and would rather work with his own hands than be a burden to the church, lest it might prove a hindrance to the holy Gospel. Acts 20, verse 34.

He vigorously withstood, and overcame through the Word of God, the erring spirits, sorcerers, Epicurean philosophers, and false prophets.

He feared neither great nor small, noble nor common, Jew nor Greek; but taught the Word of God in sincerity.

What he suffered in seven great journeys by land and sea, during the space of thirty years, in which he traveled through Judea, Syria, Asia, Macedonia, Greece, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, indeed, almost through the whole world then known, is sufficiently evident from Holy Scripture as well as from history.

It is reckoned that until his first imprisonment at Rome he had traveled over three thousand German miles, by water and by land, only for the Gospel's sake; besides all the other hard journeys he undertook in order to strengthen, awaken, and comfort the newly planted churches; in which he met with much trouble, misery, and grief at the hands of the unbelievers. [n108-5] The words which the Lord had spoken at the time of his conversion were fulfilled in every part: "I will show him what great things he must suffer for my name's sake" (Acts 9, verse 16).

Shortly after he was baptized, and his zeal for the truth of Christ began to break out at Damascus, proving to the Jews that Christ had come, they took counsel to kill him; therefore he was let down by the wall in a basket, that he might escape their hands. Acts 9, verses 24 and 25.

Afterwards, when he came to Iconium with his companion Barnabas, the Jews stirred up the Gentiles against him and his friend, intending to stone them. Acts 14, verses 2 and 5.

But when they had fled to Lystra, and had made a cripple able to walk, certain Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and stirred up the people, so that they stoned Paul, whom they had first worshiped as a god, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead: however, as the disciples stood around him, he rose up again. Acts 14, verses 19 and 20.

Afterwards, traveling with Silas, and having at Philippi delivered a girl from a spirit of divination, he and Silas were accused on that account, beaten with rods, cast into prison, their feet made fast in the stocks, and were kept in close confinement. But in the night God sent an earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, the doors opened, and the bands (of the stocks) loosed of their own accord. By this means Paul and Silas were delivered, with the knowledge of the keeper, who accepted the faith, and was baptized. Acts 16, verses 22 to 36.

Afterwards, being at Thessalonica, and having preached the Word of God three Sabbaths, so that a great multitude of the devout Greeks believed, and of the chief women not a few; the Jews who did not believe were moved with envy; therefore they took to them certain lewd fellows — market loungers — and gathered a great company, and set the city in an uproar, and assaulted the house of one Jason, thinking that Paul and Silas were inside, and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers before the rulers of the city, crying, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here also; whom Jason has secretly received" (Acts 17, verses 1 to 7). From there, because of the persecution, the brothers sent both of them away by night to Berea. Verse 10.

After that, "when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, saying, This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law." And when Paul was now about to open his mouth to defend himself, Gallio said to the Jews, to show them the groundlessness of their accusations, "If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O you Jews, it would be reasonable that I should bear with you: but if it is a question of words and names, and of your law, see to it yourselves: for I will be no judge of such matters. And he drove them from the judgment seat." Acts 18, verses 12 to 16.

After this there came down from Judea a prophet named Agabus, who took Paul's girdle, and bound himself, saying, "This is what the Holy Ghost says: So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles." Thereupon the brothers begged Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. But he answered, "What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Acts 21, verses 10 to 13. Oh, the great resolution of the Apostle Paul!

After that, when he, standing on the stairs at Jerusalem, defended himself before those who had accused him, it happened that the Jews, having given him a hearing for a while, threw off their clothes, threw dust into the air, and cried, "Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live." Acts 22, verses 22 and 23.

In the meantime he was bound, in order to be scourged; which he would not have escaped, had he not declared that he was a Roman citizen. Verses 25 to 29.

"Paul, earnestly looking at the council, said, Men and brothers, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth" (Acts 23, verses 1 and 2).

"The night following, the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as you have testified of me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also at Rome" (verse 11).

And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves neither to eat nor to drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty who had made this conspiracy. Verse 12.

But Paul was warned of this ambush by his sister's son, and when the young man made it known to the chief captain of the Romans, measures were taken to escape it; therefore he was brought in the third hour of the night to Caesarea, to Felix the governor. Verses 16 to 33. And Felix kept him in Herod's judgment hall, till his accusers should come. Verse 35.

After five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders, and with the orator Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. And when Paul was called forth, Tertullus, after having greeted Felix with many flattering words, began to accuse him, saying, "We have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: who also has gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands," and so on. "And the Jews also agreed, saying that these things were so." Acts 24, verses 1 to 9.

But that this was not so (although they sought to bring about his death by these accusations) is evident from the preceding facts mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, and from the following defense of Paul, verses 10 to 21.

"But after two years Portius Festus came into Felix's place: and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound" (verse 27).

Now when Festus had come into the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews went to him, and asked as a favor that he would send for Paul to Jerusalem, lying in wait along the way to kill him. Festus replied to the Jews that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that those who were to accuse him might come there. Acts 25, verses 4 and 5.

And when they had come, they brought forward many and grievous complaints, which they could not prove, and which Paul briefly and conclusively refuted, declaring that he had offended neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar. But being deceitfully asked by Festus whether he was willing to go up to Jerusalem, to be judged there (where his mortal enemies were), he fearlessly replied, "I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. But if I am an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die." Acts 25, verses 9 to 11.

After this, Paul was examined by King Agrippa, in the presence of Festus. His defense caused Festus, who was a friend of the Jews, to exclaim

Paul, you are out of your mind. Agrippa, however, declared that he was almost persuaded to become a Christian. He also gave as his opinion that there was nothing worthy of death in him; therefore he said to Festus, This man might have been set free, if he had not appealed to Caesar. Acts 26, verses 1 to 32.

In the meantime it was determined that he should sail to Italy, to be examined before Caesar. To this end he and certain other prisoners were delivered to Julius, a centurion of the imperial band. Having embarked in a ship of Adramyttium, they sailed along Cyprus, Cilicia, Pamphylia, and other countries, to Myra in Lycia, where they were transferred into a ship of Alexandria bound for Italy. In this ship they sailed against Cnidus, as far as under Crete, over against the city of Salmone; from there to a place which is called the Fair Havens, near Lasea. Acts 27, verses 1 to 8.

At this place Paul foretold to them that they would not complete this voyage without great damage, danger of shipwreck, and peril of life; but the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship more than the things which were spoken by Paul. Verses 10 and 11.

Departing from there, they hoped to winter at Phenice, a haven of Crete; but they touched at Asson, and sailed close by Crete. Verses 12 and 13.

Then the ship was caught by a northeast wind, which had sprung up, and carried her, against their purpose, through the billows, so that they had to let her drive before it; however, they came to the island of Clauda, yet with fear, lest they should fall into the quicksands. Verses 16 and 17. For many days and nights they saw neither sun nor stars through the mighty tempest, so that all hope that they should be saved was taken away. Verse 20.

Meanwhile God sent His angel on a certain night to Paul, saying, "Fear not: you must be brought before Caesar: and, behold, God has given you all those who sail with you." Verses 23 and 24.

Thereupon Paul urged them to take food, for the preservation of their lives, for, because of their deadly fear, they had not eaten anything for fourteen days; and breaking the bread, to eat, he gave thanks to God in the presence of them all. Verses 33 to 36.

And when it was day, they did not know the land, but they discovered a creek; which, however, they could not enter, but ran aground, before the island of Melita (now called Malta); where the forepart of the ship stuck fast, but the hinder part was broken in pieces by the waves. Verses 39 to 41. Here the soldiers held a council and decided to kill the prisoners, including Paul, lest any of them should swim out and escape. The centurion, however, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land, which was done; and the rest floated, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship, so that all, namely, one hundred and seventy souls, escaped to land. Verses 42 to 44. So was fulfilled what Paul had foretold to them, namely, that they should suffer shipwreck, and yet escape with their lives.

Here Paul was first declared a murderer, but afterwards a god, by the inhabitants of the island; and this because they saw a viper fasten itself on his hand, which he shook off into the fire, without suffering any harm. Acts 21, verses 3 to 6. [n108-6]

After three months they sailed for Italy in a ship which had wintered in the island: yet they arrived first at Syracuse, in Sicily, and then at Puteoli, on the Italian border, where Paul found brothers, with whom he stayed seven days; others came to meet him as far as Appii Forum, and the Three Taverns. Going on, he came to Rome, where the centurion delivered him to the chief captain, to be brought before Caesar. In the meantime he was kept by a soldier, and bound with a chain. Verses 11 to 16, and 20.

We have related all these things in such detail (and this, according to Holy Scripture) in order that it may be seen how much this pious man suffered in his travels by sea and by land, for the sake of the holy Gospel. Of all this he gives a brief account in his second epistle to the Corinthian church, writing this: "From the Jews five times I received forty stripes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils from my own countrymen, in perils from the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils among false brothers; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in cold and nakedness" (Second Corinthians 11, verses 24 to 27).

Indeed, it appears from the first epistle to the Corinthians that he was thrown before the wild beasts in a theater at Ephesus, to be torn to pieces, or at least to fight for his life with them; from which God at that time delivered him. Concerning this the intelligent may judge; he writes, "If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me, if the dead do not rise?" (First Corinthians 15, verse 32).

As regards his imprisonment at Rome, most of the ancient writers are of the opinion that, although nearly all his friends forsook him at the time when he was to make his defense, he, being brought before Caesar, defended himself so ably against the accusation of the Jews that he was set free for this time. But how true this is, we leave to its own merits, and to the all-knowing God. This much, however, is certain, that while in prison at Rome he wrote to his spiritual son Timothy, that he was now ready to be offered as a drink offering, and that the time of his departure was at hand; but that he took comfort in the thought that he had fought a good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith, and that there was laid up for him a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, should give him on that day. Second Timothy 4, verses 6 to 8.

According to ancient records he was then beheaded at the command of Nero, outside of Rome, on the road that leads to Ostia, called Via Ostiensis, where the Romans used to have their place of execution, in the last year of Nero, or about the year 69. Joh. Gys. in the History of the Martyrs, from Joseph Scaliger, about Paul. Egesipp. Hist. Destruc. Jerusal., book 3, chapter 2. Konst tooneel van veertig heerlijke afbeeldingen Christi en sijner Apostelen, printed in the year 1609; about the life of Paul. [n108-7] Itinerarium Sacrae Scripturae per H. Bunting, translated into Dutch by Matthias Hazard; printed in the year 1624, in the Travels of Paul, page 162, column 1.