The Apostle Paul:
A Portrait
from Scripture

As Saul of Tarsus:

1. Keeping the coats of those stoning Stephen, at Acts 7:58
2. Consenting to Stephen’s killing, at Acts 8:1
3. Making a havoc of the church, at Acts 8:3
4. Breathing out threats and slaughter toward the believers, at Acts 9:1
5. Addressed directly by Jesus Christ, in Acts 9:4
6. Blinded by Christ’s splendor, in Acts 9:8
7. Beneficiary of an angelic visit to Ananias, in Acts 9:11
8. Healed by Jesus Christ, through Ananias, in Acts 9:17
9. Staying with disciples in Damascus, in Acts 9:19
10. Preaching powerfully in Damascus, so as to offend his opponents, in Acts 9:22
11. Escaping narrowly those intent on killing him in Damascus, in Acts 9:24
12. Trying to join the disciples in Jerusalem, only to be met with suspicion, in Acts 9:26
13. Sought out in Tarsus, his home city, by Barnabas, in Acts 11:25
14. Bearer, with Barnabas, of an offering to the disciples in Jerusalem, in Acts 11:30
15. Returning with Barnabas and Mark after delivering the offering, in Acts 12:25
16. Among the prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch, in Acts 13:1
17. Specifically called with Barnabas by the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit’s work, in Acts 13:2
18. Called for by name by Sergius Paulus, Roman deputy on Paphos, in Acts 13:7
19. Confronting Elymas the magician in Paphos, the first place where he is called “Paul”, in Acts 13:9
20. Cites himself as Saul while recounting his conversion before the mob in Jerusalem, in Acts 22:7
21. Cites Ananias speaking to him as Saul in the moment of his healing, while speaking to the mob in Jerusalem, in Acts 22:13
22. Cites himself as Saul while recounting his conversion before Agrippa, in Caesarea, in Acts 26:14

As Paul the Apostle

23. Loosing his ship from anchor at Paphos in Acts 13:13
24. Standing up, beckoning with his hand, and speaking about Jesus in the synagogue at Perga, in Acts 13:16
25. Followed with Barnabas by many seekers, following his speech in Perga, in Acts 13:43
26. Contradicted and blasphemed by Jews in Perga, in Acts 13:45
27. Boldly answering his accusers, with Barnabas in Perga, in Acts 13:46
28. Expelled from Perga with Barnabas in Acts 13:50
29. Is heard intently by a man crippled from birth, in Lystra, in Acts 14:9
30. Heals the crippled man in Lystra, in Acts 14:9
31. Is praised by the awestruck people of Lystra, in Acts 14:11
32. Is thought to be the god Hermes by the people of Lystra, in Acts 14:12
33. Tears his clothes, rushes among the people with Barnabas, and begs them not to offer sacrifices to him, in Acts 14:14
34. Is stoned and left for dead by his opponents in Lystra, in Acts 14:19
35. Disputes, with Barnabas, advocates of circumcision in Antioch, and is sent by the church, with Barnabas, to settle the question with the elders in Jerusalem, in Acts 15:2
36. Describes to the church in Jerusalem the miracles God had done on the first missionary journey, in Acts 15:12
37. Is sent with others back to Antioch from Jerusalem, carrying the council’s decision, in Acts 15:22
38. Is cited along with Barnabas as “beloved”, by James, in Jerusalem, in Acts 15:25
39. Continues teaching and preaching with Barnabas in Antioch, in Acts 15:35
40. Suggests to Barnabas a return to the churches established in the previous journey, in Acts 15:36
41. Does not think it good to take Mark with them on the journey and has a falling out with Barnabas, in Acts 15:38
42. Chooses Silas to accompany him on the journey, in Acts 15:40
43. Circumcises Timothy in Derbe, so he could accompany the evangelists, in Acts 16:3
44. Sees a vision of a Macedonian man asking for help, in Troas, in Acts 16:9
45. Is cited as a preacher of the gospel, having converted Lydia, in Thyatira, in Acts 16:14
46. Is followed by a slave woman with a spirit of divination, in Philippi, in Acts 16:17
47. Casts the demon out of the woman, after being grieved by her words, in Philippi, in Acts 16:18
48. Is caught, arrested, and beaten at the instigation of the slave woman’s owners, in Philippi, in Acts 16:19
49. Sings praises at midnight with Silas in a Philippian jail, in Acts 16:25
50. Cries out in a loud voice to a Philippian jailor after an earthquake, in Acts 16:28
51. The Philippian jailor falls down before him and Silas, in Acts 16:29
52. The Philippian authorities attempt to discretely release him from jail, in Acts 16:36
53. Demands that the Philippian authorities come release him in person, in Acts 16:37
54. Teaches for three consecutive Sabbaths in the synagogue at Thessalonica, in Acts 17:2
55. Fellowships with the Thessalonian believers, in Acts 17:4
56. Is spirited away secretly by night from Thessalonica to Berea, where he at once teaches in the synagogue, in Acts 17:10.
57. Is persecuted in Berea by the Jews of Thessalonica, in Acts 17:13
58. Is sent away by ship from Berea to save his life, in Acts 17:14
59. Is brought to Athens alone, in Acts 17:15
60. Is stirred by Athenian idolatry and begins to preach there, in Acts 17:16
61. Addresses the Athenian assembly on Mars Hill, in Acts 17:22
62. Leaves the Mars Hill assembly having convinced only a handful, in Acts 17:33
63. Leaves Athens and comes to Corinth, in Acts 18:1
64. Is joined by Silas and Timothy in Corinth, and dedicates himself to preaching, in Acts 18:5
65. The Lord speaks to him by night in a vision, encouraging him, in Acts 18:9
66. Is persecuted by the Jews of Corinth, and brought before governor Gallio, in Acts 18:12
67. His defense is cut short by Gallio in Corinth, in Acts 18:14
68. Sails from Corinth to Syria, in Acts 18:18
69. Passes through the “upper coasts” and comes to Ephesus, in Acts 19:1
70. Teaches Ephesian believers about John the Baptist, in Acts 19:4
71. Lays hands on Ephesian believers, and they receive the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name, in Acts 19:6
72. His name is misused by hapless Jewish exorcists, in Ephesus, in Acts 19:13
73. A demon beating up hapless Jewish exorcists mentions him by name, in Ephesus, in Acts 19:15
74. Decides in Spirit to go to Jerusalem and then Rome, while in Ephesus, in Acts 19:21
75. Is denounced by Ephesian silversmiths in Acts 19:26
76. Is prevented by Ephesian believers from addressing protesting Ephesians, in Acts 19:30
77. Calls the believers together after the Ephesian riot and leaves for Macedonia, in Acts 20:1
78. Preaches until midnight in Troas, in Acts 20:7
79. His long sermon puts Eutychus to sleep, who falls to his apparent death from a third-floor window, in Troas, in Acts 20:9
80. Raises Eutychus, in Troas, in Acts 20:10
81. Meets his traveling companions in Assos, in Acts 20:13
82. Determines to sail by Ephesus in order to arrive at Jerusalem by Pentecost, in Miletus, in Acts 20:16
83. Is warned by believers through Spirit not to go to Jerusalem, in Tyre, in Acts 21:4
84. Is warned by Agabus not to go up to Jerusalem, in Caesarea, in Acts 21:11
85. Answers those warning him, in Caesarea, in Acts 21:13
86. Goes to visit James, in Jerusalem, in Acts 21:18
87. Takes men into the Temple to purify them, under instruction from the Jerusalem disciples, in Acts 21:26
88. Is falsely accused by Jews from Asia of having brought Gentiles into the Temple, in Acts 21:29
89. Is seized by the crowd in Acts 21:30
90. Is rescued from the mob by Roman soldiers, in Jerusalem, in Acts 21:32
91. Asks to speak to the Roman commander as he is led into the fortress, in Jerusalem, in Acts 21:37
92. Identifies himself to the Roman commander and asks to speak to the crowd, in Jerusalem, in Acts 21:39
93. Standing on the stairs to the fortress in Jerusalem, he addresses the mob that tried to kill him, in Acts 21:40
94. Questions on the grounds of being a Roman citizen the legality of his impending beating, in Acts 22:25
95. Asserts having been born a Roman citizen in Acts 22:28
96. Is brought by the Romans to appear before the Sanhedrin in Acts 22:30
97. Addresses the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, in Acts 23:1
98. Rebukes Ananias for having ordered him to be struck, in Jerusalem, in Acts 23:3
99. Acknowledges not knowing that Ananias was high priest, and as such was above rebuke, in Acts 23:5
100. Perceives the Sanhedrin divided between Sadducees and Pharisees, and appeals to the Pharisees on the basis of belief in the Resurrection in Acts 23:6
101. Is rescued again by Romans from the violent discussion in the Sanhedrin, in Jerusalem, in Acts 23:10
102. The Lord stands by him to tell him he must bear witness in Rome, in Jerusalem, in Acts 23:11
103. Some Jews vow not to eat or drink until they killed Paul, in Jerusalem, in Acts 23:12
104. These Jews disclose this vow to the High Priest, plan to kill Paul under false pretense, in Acts 23:14
105. Paul’s sister hears of the plot and warns him, in Acts 23:16
106. Calls a centurion and sends his nephew to the commander to advise him of the plot, in Acts 23:17
107. Paul’s nephew advises the commander of the plot, in Acts 23:18
108. Paul’s nephew tells the commander the details of the plot, in Acts 23:20
109. The Roman commander arranges to send Paul safely to the governor in Caesarea, in Acts 23:24
110. The soldiers take Paul safely to Antipatris, on their way to Caesarea, in Acts 23:31
111. Is presented before Governor Felix in Caesarea, in Acts 23:33
112. Is accused by Tertullus before Felix in Caesarea, in Acts 24:1
113. Answers his accusers before Felix in Caesarea, in Acts 24:10
114. Is guarded with certain liberty by a centurion on orders of Felix in Caesarea, in Acts 24:23
115. Is sent for by Felix and Drusilla to hear the gospel, in Caesarea, in Acts 24:24
116. Is kept imprisoned by Felix in hopes of being bribed, in Caesarea, in Acts 24:26
117. Is left imprisoned for two years by Felix to appease the Jews, in Caesarea, in Acts 24:27
118. The Jewish high priests ask new governor Festus to bring Paul to Jerusalem, plotting secretly to kill him in route, in Jerusalem, in Acts 25:2
119. Governor Festus refuses to send Paul to Jerusalem, in Jerusalem, in Acts 25:4
120. Festus commands Paul to be brought before him, in Caesarea, in Acts 25:6
121. Jews from Jerusalem make accusations against Paul that they cannot prove, in Caesarea, in Acts 25:7
122. Festus, currying favor with Jewish leaders, asks Paul if he will go up to Jerusalem for trial, in Caesarea, in Acts 25:9
123. Paul appeals to Caesar, in Caesarea, in Acts 25:10.
124. Festus discusses Paul’s assertion of Jesus’ resurrection with Agrippa and Bernice, in Caesarea, in Acts 25:19
125. Festus tells Agrippa of Paul’s appeal to Caesar, in Caesarea, in Acts 25:21
126. Is brought before Agrippa, Bernice, and Festus, in Caesarea, in Acts 25:23
127. Is given permission by Agrippa to speak for himself, and addresses the gathered court, in Caesarea, in Acts 26:1
128. Is accused of being insane by Festus, in Caesarea, in Acts 26:24
129. Is admonished by Agrippa for trying to persuade him to become a Christian, in Acts 26:28
130. Expresses his desire before Agrippa that all might become Christians, in Caesarea, in Acts 26:29
131. Is delivered along with other prisoners to the centurion Julius for transport by ship to Rome, in Acts 27:1
132. Is treated courteously by Julius and allowed to visit friends, in Sidon, in Acts 27:3
133. Admonishes the ship’s captain and Julius not to sail from Laesa due to danger, in Acts 27:9
134. Is disbelieved by the captain and Julius in Laesa, in Acts 27:11
135. Stands up to speak to captain and crew in the midst of the storm, at sea, in Acts 27:21
136. Tells captain and crew of an angelic visit and promise the night before, at sea, in Acts 27:24
137. Warns the centurion and soldiers that none will survive if they let the sailors leave the ship by themselves, off Malta, in Acts 27:31
138. Urges all onboard to eat after fourteen days of fasting, off Malta, in Acts 27:33
139. Is saved by Julius from soldiers wanting to kill all prisoners, off Malta, in Acts 27:43
140. Is bitten by a snake, in Malta, in Acts 28:3
141. Heals the father of Malta’s governor Publius, in Malta, in Acts 28:8
142. Gives thanks for the brothers who meet him, at Three Taverns, in Acts 28:15
143. Is allowed to live by himself, guarded by a soldier, in Rome, in Acts 28:16
144. Calls Rome’s Jewish leaders together, in Acts 28:17
145. Rebukes the unbelief of Rome’s Jews, in Acts 28:25
146. Lives two years in his own rented room, preaching freely, in Rome, and Acts 28:30
147. Writes to the Romans, in Romans 1:1
148. Writes to the Corinthians, in 1 Corinthians 1:1
149. Cites negatively a faction adhering to his name in Corinth, in 1 Corinthians 1:12
150. Reminds the Corinthians that he was not crucified for them, in 1 Corinthians 1:13
151. Again cites negatively a faction adhering to his name in Corinth, in 1 Corinthians 3:4
152. Discusses who he is as a minister of God in 1 Corinthians 3:5
153. Cites himself again as belonging to the Corinthians with all the ministers, in 1 Corinthians 3:22
154. Salutes the Corinthians in his own hand, in 1 Corinthians 16:22
155. Writes to the Corinthians again, in 2 Corinthians 1:1
156. Beseeches the Corinthians to be at peace, in 2 Corinthians 10:1
157. Writes to the Galatians, in Galatians 1:1
158. Tells the Galatians that if they are circumcised, Christ profits them nothing, in Galatians 5:2
159. Writes to the Ephesians, in Ephesians 1:1
160. Addressing the Ephesians, refers to himself as “the prisoner of Jesus Christ”, in Ephesians 3:1
161. Writes to the Philippians, in Philippians 1:1
162. Writes to the Colossians, in Colossians 1:1
163. Cites himself as having been made a minister of the Gospel, in Colossians 1:23
164. Salutes the Colossians in his own hand, in Colossians 4:18
165. Writes to the Thessalonians, in 1 Thessalonians 1:1
166. Expresses his desire to visit Thessalonica again, though hindered by Satan, in 1 Thessalonians 2:18
167. Writes to the Thessalonians, in 2 Thessalonians 1:1
168. Salutes the Thessalonians in his own hand, in 2 Thessalonians 3:17
169. Writes Timothy, in 1 Timothy 1:1
170. Writes Timothy, in 2 Timothy 1:1
171. Writes Titus, in Titus 1:1
172. Writes Philemon, in Philemon 1:1
173. Beseeches Philemon for love’s sake, in Philemon 1:9
174. Writes Philemon by his own hand, in Philemon 1:19
175. Is cited by Peter as a writer of profound letters, in 2 Peter 3:15

Other biographical material

176. Tells the Corinthians he plans to stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, due to the door the Lord had opened there, in 1 Corinthians 16:8
177. Refers to himself as a writer of letters, though weak in bodily presence and contemptible in speech, in 2 Corinthians 10:11
178. Cites himself as a Hebrew, in 2 Corinthians 11:22
179. Cites himself as a minister of Christ, in 2 Corinthians 11:23
180. Cites being whipped five times by the Jews, in 2 Corinthians 11:24
181. Cites being beaten three times by rods, stoned once, shipwrecked three times, and spent a night and a day in the open sea, in 2 Corinthians 11:25
182. Cites narrowly escaping King Aretas in Damascus, in 2 Corinthians 11:32
183. Cites being let down over the wall in Damascus in a basket, in 2 Corinthians 11:33
184. Claims to have been taken up to the third heaven and heard untellable mysteries, in 2 Corinthians 12:2-3
185. Acknowledges a “thorn in the flesh” that he prayed God three times to remove, which God did not remove, in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
186. Warns the Corinthians ahead of his third visit to the city, in 2 Corinthians 13:1
187. Tells of persecuting the church, in Galatians 1:13
188. Tells of rising in the Jewish hierarchy beyond those of his own age, in Galatians 1:14
189. Tells of going to Arabia, then returning to Damascus, after his conversion, in Galatians 1:16
190. Tells of going up to Jerusalem after three years to see Peter and James, in Galatians 1:18-19
191. Tells of doing ministry in Syria and Cilicia, in Galatians 1:21
192. Tells of going up to Jerusalem after fourteen years to see James, Peter, and John, in Galatians 2:1
193. Tells of opposing Peter to his face in Antioch over the question of fellowship with the uncircumcised, in Galatians 2:9
194. Refers to himself as “an ambassador in chains” in writing to the Ephesians, in Ephesians 6:20
195. Reminds the Philippians that no others supported him when he left Macedonia except them, in Philippians 4:15
196. Thanks the Philippians for the gifts they sent him twice in Thessalonica, in Philippians 4:16
197. Refers to himself as “an ambassador in chains” in writing to the Colossians, in Colossians 4:3
198. Reminds the Thessalonians that he worked to support himself, in 2 Thessalonians 3:7-8
199. Urged Timothy to stay in Ephesus, while he went to Macodonia, in 1 Timothy 2
200. Remembers Timothy’s grandmother, Lois, and mother, Eunice, in 2 Timothy 1:5
201. Tells Timothy that Asia has turned away from him, especially Phygellus and Hermogenes, in 2 Timothy 1:15
202. Cites Onesiphorus for having sought him out in Rome, in 2 Timothy 1: 16-17
203. Cites Onesiphorus for having ministered to him in Ephesus, in 2 Timothy 1:18
204. Urges Timothy to come to him quickly, in 2 Timothy 4:9
205. Says that Demas has abandoned him, in 2 Timothy 4:10
206. Says that Luke remains with him, and urges Timothy to bring Mark, in 2 Timothy 4:11
207. Tells Timothy he has sent Tychicus to Ephesus, in 2 Timothy 4:12
208. Asks Timothy to bring the cloak he left in Troas with Carpus, and his books and parchments, in 2 Timothy 4:13
209. Warns Timothy about Alexander the coppersmith, in 2 Timothy 4:14
210. Tells of having left Erastus in Corinth, and Trophimus sick in Miletum, in 2 Timothy 4:20
211. Reminds Titus of why he left him in Crete, in Titus 1:5
212. Tells Titus to come to him diligently, as he has determined to winter in Nicopolos, in Titus 3:12
213. Instructs Titus to bring Zenas and Apollos on their journey, in Titus 3:13
214. Acknowledges being imprisoned with Epaphras, in Philemon 1:24
215. Conveys the salutations of Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, to Philemon, in Philemon 1:24