Acts of Apostles in the Early Church 

 Paul (introduced in Acts as Saul) was raised by devout Jewish parents in the port city of Tarsus on the coast of Asia Minor. His father was a Roman citizen; how he acquired this honor we're not told.

Paul was proud of his heritage as a Jew and his status as a Roman. He described himself as a Hebrew of the Hebrews, trained at the feet of Gamaliel.

No person, apart from Jesus himself, shaped the history of the Christian church like the apostle Paul -- even before he became a believer in the Christ.

His persecution of Christians after Stephen's death spurred followers to take the gospel to the known world. However, Paul's personal encounter with Jesus changed his life forever.

Lessons from Paul's life

Forgiveness and eternal life are gifts from God's grace received by faith

Obedience results from a personal relationship with Christ

Real freedom in life comes when don't have to prove our freedom to others

God will use our experiences so we may serve him  

Strengths

Transformed by God from a persecutor of Christians to a preacher for Christ

Preached for Christ throughout the Roman Empire on three missionary journeys

Wrote letters to various churches, which began part of the New Testament

Faced issues and dealt with them

Obeyed as God directed and was sensitive to His leading

Weaknesses

Witnessed and approved of Stephen's stoning

Persecuted many Christians 

"The name of Saint Paul the Apostle is familiar to all Christians, to most Jews and Muslems; he is quoted, argued about, attacked and defended. Yet even those who read his words and adventures with unfailing regularity have scant idea of what he was like . . . . "

A Life of Paul, by John Pollock.

Timeline of events in Paul's life

(All dates are approximate)

Birth of Saul - 6 B.C to 10 B.C.

Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection - 30 A.D.

Pentecost - 30 A.D.

Conversion of Saul - 33 to 35 A.D. (Acts 9:1-19)

Arabian trip - 35 to 38 A.D. (Acts 9:23 during "many days")

Two-week visit to Jerusalem - 38 A.D. (Acts 9:26-29)

Ministry in Syria and Cilicia - 38 to 43 A.D. (Acts 9:30)

Arrival in Syrian Antioch - 43 A.D. (Acts 11:25-26)

Herod Agrippa I dies - 44 A.D. (Acts 12:19-23)

Trips to and from Jerusalem - 43/44 A.D. (Acts 12:19-23)

Jerusalem Council - 49 A.D (Acts 15)

First missionary journey - 49 to 50 A.D. (Acts 13:2-14:28)

Writing of Thessalonians from Corinth - 51 A.D.

Second missionary journey - 50 to 52 A.D.

Appearance before Gallio - 51/52 A.D. (Acts 18:12-17)

Writing of 2 Thessalonians from Corinth - 52 A.D.

Writing of Galatians - 51/52 A.D.

Return to Jerusalem and Syrian Antioch - 52 A.D. (Acts 18:22)

Third missionary trip - 53 to 57 A.D. (Acts 18:23-21:17)

At Ephesus - 53 to 55 A.D. (Acts 19:1-20:1)

Writing of 1 Corinthians from Ephesus - 55 A.D.

Writing of 2 Corinthians from Macedonia - 55 A.D.

Writing of Romans from Cenchrea or Corinth - 57 A.D.

Arrest in Jerusalem - 57 A.D. (Acts 21:27-22:30)

Caesarean imprisonment - 57 to 59 A.D. (Acts 23:23-26:32)

Shipwreck voyage to Rome - 59 A.D. (Acts 27:1-28:16)

First Roman imprisonment - 59/61-62 A.D. (Acts 28:16-31)

Writing of Ephesians from Rome - 60 A.D.

Writing of Colossians from Rome - 60 A.D.

Writing of Philemon from Rome - 60 A.D.

Writing of Philippians from Rome - 61 A.D.

Release from Roman imprisonment - 62 A.D.

Fourth missionary journey, including ministry on Crete - 62-67 A.D.

Writing of 1 Timothy and Titus from Philippi -63-65 A.D.

Second Roman imprisonment - 67/68 A.D.

Writing of 2 Timothy from Mamertine dungeon - 67/68 A.D.

Trial and execution - 67/68 A.D.