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==Apostle Paul's Life==

Paul was born in Tarsus, a city in the province of Cilicus (in present-day eastern Turkey) to Hebrew parents.
He was born a Roman citizen.  He was a strict pharisee. He had at least one sister who had one son who lived in Jerusalem.  Paul was probably born about 1 A.D. 

Paul was early trained in the scriptures and in Hebrew tradition.  He was taught the art of tent making.  At 13 or 15 years of age, he went to Jerusalem to study at the school of [[Gamaliel]].  At the end of three years he returned to Tarsus and acted as Rabbi (Acts 18:3, 22:3).

Paul returned to Jerusalem and witnessed Stephen’s death.  He then became the arch persecutor of the infant Church.  On his way to Damascus he was converted, then he was led by the hand to Damascus where Ananias prayed for him.  He was sanctified and his sight returned (Acts 9:23).

Paul preached at Damascus without success (Acts 9:20).  He then went to Arabia three years (Gal. 1:17).  He then returned to Damascus (Gal. 1:17).  He then visited Jerusalem and he returned eventually to Tarsus (Acts 22:17-18).

After a time [[Barnabas]] went to Tarsus, looked up Paul and brought him back to Antioch in Syria (Acts 11:25-26).  They worked together for a short time (Acts 11:26).
*First missionary tour (Acts 13:2-14:26).
*Second missionary tour (Acts 15:40-18:22).
*Third missionary tour (Acts 18:23-21:8).

Paul visited Jerusalem (Acts 21:17).  There he was apprehended, which required his defending himself (Acts 21:7-22:21).  He was taken to Caesarea (Acts 23:23-33).  He defended himself before Felix (Acts 24:10-21).  He was two years in imprisonment there (Acts 24:27).  Paul finally appealed to Caesar (Acts 25:10).

Paul journeyed to Rome (Acts 27).  He was shipwrecked and landed on Melita (Acts 28:1-10).

Paul preached in Rome (Acts 28:30-31).  Apparently he was released after two years.  He was free for about one to three years, after which he was again arrested.  He was then slain by a sword thrust (II Tim. 4:6-8).

Paul spoke Aramaic, Greek and Hebrew in his home as a boy.  He used the Greek Septuagint in study.  He could also read Latin.

He entered  [[homeschool]] at age four and studied Hebrew law at age ten.  He studied the Michna (the sayings of the wise with regard to the Law).  At age thirteen or fifteen he went to Jerusalem to learn from the chief instructor, Gamaliel.

After three years he probably returned to Tarsus. In 37 A.D., or when he was thirty-six years of age, Stephen was stoned.