St Paul
Meet the Apostle to the Gentiles. Once a persecutor of Christians, St Paul encountered the risen Christ on the road to Damascus and became the greatest missionary the Church has ever known. His letters form a substantial part of the New Testament.
Apostle tothe Gentiles
Born Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee and Roman citizen, St Paul first appears in Scripture holding the cloaks of those who stoned St Stephen. He zealously persecuted the young Church until the risen Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus, asking, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
Transformed by grace, Paul devoted his life to spreading the Gospel throughout the Roman world. His three missionary journeys took him from Antioch to Cyprus, Asia Minor, Greece, and eventually Rome. He founded churches in Corinth, Philippi, Thessalonica, and Ephesus, and his letters to these communities became Sacred Scripture.
Paul's theology of grace, justification, and the Body of Christ shaped Christian understanding for all time. His epistles to the Romans, Corinthians, and Galatians remain foundational texts for Catholic doctrine. Tradition holds that he was martyred in Rome under Nero, beheaded as a Roman citizen around 67 CE.
At a Glance
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
St Paul
Galatians 2:20
The Apostle's Legacy
St Paul's letters continue to teach, challenge, and inspire the Church. His theology of grace remains central to Catholic understanding of salvation and the Christian life.