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Paul

Paul, also known as Saul, the apostle to the Gentiles and author of many New Testament epistles.

The name Paul means “small; little”

MaleApostleNew Testament eraNew Testament15 books1,253 verses

Summary

An apostle living at the time of the New Testament, first mentioned at Acts 7:58; referred to as Paul (Παῦλος) or Saul (Σαούλ, Σαῦλος).

Profile

Paul was first an enemy who attacked the early Christians, but he later became one of Jesus Christ's most important followers. He became one of the greatest early Christian missionaries and spent his life telling Gentiles (non-Jewish people) about Jesus. Paul influenced Christianity more than anyone else except Jesus. We learn about Paul from two main sources in the New Testament: the book of Acts, where Luke writes about how Paul became a Christian and what he did afterward, and the thirteen letters in the New Testament that are attributed to Paul.

Paul was born in the city of Tarsus to Jewish parents. His parents were Roman citizens, which allowed Paul to become a Roman citizen as well. He grew up in a traditional Jewish home. He worked as a tentmaker (or leatherworker). He studied in Jerusalem under a famous Jewish rabbi named Gamaliel and became a Pharisee. (The Pharisees were a Jewish religious group that carefully followed Jewish laws and oral traditions.) When Paul was a young man, he violently attacked and hurt Christians (Acts 22:3–5).

But then something happened that completely changed his life. The risen Jesus appeared to Paul (Acts 9:3–6; 22:6–10). After this experience, Paul became a follower of Jesus. He spent the rest of his life traveling around the Mediterranean Sea, telling people that Jesus is the Savior and Lord (see Galatians 1:11–16). God specially chose Paul to teach Gentiles about Jesus. Because of Paul's hard work and dedication, many new churches started in different cities during the first century AD. Most of the letters Paul wrote in the New Testament were written to these churches.

Paul believed Jesus was the Jewish Messiah (the special leader God had promised to send to save his people). This made Paul different from other Jews of his time. His vision of Jesus helped him understand that through the death and resurrection of Jesus believers can be made right with God and have their lives changed. Paul no longeBefore, Paul thought people had to carefully follow all of the laws of Moses to please God. But now he understood that being right with God was a gift that came through trusting in Jesus, who died to free people from sin (Romans 4:1–8). He was sure this gift was for everyone, both Jewish people and non-Jewish people.

Paul wrote thirteen letters in the New Testament that discuss many different topics. Some letters explain what Christians believe about salvation and about Jesus Christ (Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians). Other letters help solve problems in local churches (1 Corinthians). Some teach about how Christians should live together as a community (Ephesians, Colossians). In some letters, Paul explains why he has the authority to teach as an apostle (2 Corinthians, Galatians).

Paul also wrote letters to encourage Christians who were suffering because of their faith (Philippians, 1 Thessalonians). When people were teaching wrong things about Jesus, Paul wrote letters to correct these false teachings (Galatians, Colossians, 2 Thessalonians). He wrote some letters to individual people, giving them advice about their life and work for God (1–2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon).

Together, these thirteen letters teach us much about how the first Christians lived and what problems they faced. The letters also show us how Paul understood the Christian faith as being centered on God's gift of grace through Jesus.

Paul's letters focus strongly on Jesus Christ because Paul was completely devoted to him. Paul believed two main things:

  1. People can only be saved by trusting in Jesus as their Savior(Galatians 2:16).

  2. Believers should give every part of their life to serving Jesus as their Lord (Romans 14:7–9; 2 Corinthians 5:15).

Among New Testament writers, Paul explains salvation most clearly (Romans 1–8). He provides a detailed view of the Christian life and community. His letters also emphasize the Holy Spirit's power in the lives of believers (Romans 8:9–13; Galatians 5:16–25; compare Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27). He encourages believers to keep growing to become more like Jesus (Romans 8:30; Ephesians 4:13, 15; 5:1–2).

Believers should live a life of love (1 Corinthians 13:1–13; Ephesians 5:2). They should fully submit to Jesus. More than any other New Testament writer, Paul shows us how and why Christians must base their lives on the gift of grace that comes from Jesus (Romans 12:1–2). For Paul, a believer's entire life (and the whole universe) centers on Jesus alone. Everything finds its true meaning only in relation to Jesus (Colossians 1:15–20; 2:6–3:4).

Luke's account of Paul's missionary life covers about thirty years. It starts with Paul's preaching in Damascus soon after he became a follower of Jesus (around AD 32 to 35). It ends with his imprisonment in Rome in AD 60 to 62. However, the Pastoral Letters (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus) seem to be written later. Reliable traditions suggest Paul was released from prison around AD 62 and continued his missionary work. He was later arrested again. Paul had suffered many hardships throughout his life while sharing the good news about Jesus. Finally, he was killed during a time when the Roman emperor Nero was attacking and killing Christians (around AD 64 to 67).

Paul wanted to be like Jesus in every way (even in suffering and death). Paul died knowing that just as Jesus rose from death, he too would one day be raised to new life (Philippians 3:10–11).

Passages for Further Study

Acts 7:58–8:3; 9:1–31; 11:25–30; 12:25–28:31; Romans 1:1–16:27; 1 Corinthians 1:1–16:24; 2 Corinthians 1:1–13:14; Galatians 1:1–6:18; Ephesians 1:1–6:24; Philippians 1:1–4:23; Colossians 1:1–4:18; 1 Thessalonians 1:1–5:28; 2 Thessalonians 1:1–3:18; 1 Timothy 1:1–6:21; 2 Timothy 1:1–4:22; Titus 1:1–3:15; Philemon 1:1–25; 2 Peter 3:15–16

Events

Dates are approximate

Glossary entries

Paul the Apostle Saul

Alternative names

Mentions

First 200 of 1,253

Includes 1,071 verses that refer to Paul without naming them, as “he”, “she”, or the subject of a verb.

  1. Acts 7:58Σαῦλος · Saul
    They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
  2. Acts 8:1Σαῦλος · Saul
    And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
  3. Acts 8:3Σαῦλος · Saul
    But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
  4. Acts 9:1Σαῦλος · Saul
    Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest
  5. Acts 9:2Referred to, not named
    …and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
  6. Acts 9:3Referred to, not named
    As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
  7. Acts 9:4Σαούλ · Saul
    He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
  8. Acts 9:5Referred to, not named
    “Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.
  9. Acts 9:6Referred to, not named
    “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
  10. Acts 9:7Referred to, not named
    The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice but did not see anyone.
  11. Acts 9:8Σαῦλος · Saul
    Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see a thing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
  12. Acts 9:9Referred to, not named
    For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything.
  13. Acts 9:11Σαῦλος · Saul
    “Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
  14. Acts 9:17Σαούλ · Saul
    So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
  15. Acts 9:18Referred to, not named
    At that instant, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized,
  16. Acts 9:19Σαῦλος · Saul
    …and after taking some food, he regained his strength. And he spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
  17. Acts 9:20Referred to, not named
    Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”
  18. Acts 9:21Referred to, not named
    All who heard him were astounded and asked, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”
  19. Acts 9:22Σαῦλος · Saul
    But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
  20. Acts 9:23Referred to, not named
    After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him,
  21. Acts 9:24Σαῦλος · Saul
    …but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him.
  22. Acts 9:25Referred to, not named
    One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall.
  23. Acts 9:26Σαῦλος · Saul
    When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
  24. Acts 9:27Referred to, not named
    Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.
  25. Acts 9:28Referred to, not named
    So Saul stayed with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
  26. Acts 9:29Referred to, not named
    He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him.
  27. Acts 9:30Referred to, not named
    When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
  28. Acts 11:25Σαῦλος · Saul
    Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
  29. Acts 11:26Referred to, not named
    …and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
  30. Acts 11:30Σαῦλος · Saul
    This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.
  31. Acts 12:25Σαῦλος · Saul
    When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, bringing with them John, also called Mark.
  32. Acts 13:1Σαῦλος · Saul
    Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.
  33. Acts 13:2Σαῦλος · Saul
    While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
  34. Acts 13:7Σαῦλος · Saul
    …an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, a man of intelligence, summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.
  35. Acts 13:9Παῦλος · Paul; Σαῦλος · Saul
    Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas
  36. Acts 13:10Referred to, not named
    …and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord?
  37. Acts 13:13Παῦλος · Paul
    After setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions came to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.
  38. Acts 13:14Referred to, not named
    And from Perga, they traveled inland to Pisidian Antioch, where they entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and sat down.
  39. Acts 13:15Referred to, not named
    After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.”
  40. Acts 13:16Παῦλος · Paul
    Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me!
  41. Acts 13:17Referred to, not named
    The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers. He made them into a great people during their stay in Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out of that land.
  42. Acts 13:26Referred to, not named
    Brothers, children of Abraham, and you Gentiles who fear God, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.
  43. Acts 13:32Referred to, not named
    And now we proclaim to you the good news: What God promised our fathers
  44. Acts 13:33Referred to, not named
    He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.’
  45. Acts 13:42Referred to, not named
    As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people urged them to continue this message on the next Sabbath.
  46. Acts 13:43Παῦλος · Paul
    After the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
  47. Acts 13:45Παῦλος · Paul
    But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.
  48. Acts 13:46Παῦλος · Paul
    Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
  49. Acts 13:47Referred to, not named
    For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
  50. Acts 13:50Παῦλος · Paul
    The Jews, however, incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district.
  51. Acts 13:51Referred to, not named
    So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.
  52. Acts 14:1Referred to, not named
    At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue, where they spoke so well that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.
  53. Acts 14:3Referred to, not named
    So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.
  54. Acts 14:9Παῦλος · Paul
    This man was listening to the words of Paul, who looked intently at him and saw that he had faith to be healed.
  55. Acts 14:10Referred to, not named
    In a loud voice Paul called out, “Stand up on your feet!” And the man jumped up and began to walk.
  56. Acts 14:11Παῦλος · Paul
    When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: “The gods have come down to us in human form!”
  57. Acts 14:12Παῦλος · Paul
    Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
  58. Acts 14:14Παῦλος · Paul
    But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting,
  59. Acts 14:15Referred to, not named
    “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.
  60. Acts 14:19Παῦλος · Paul
    Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, presuming he was dead.
  61. Acts 14:20Referred to, not named
    But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. And the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
  62. Acts 15:2Παῦλος · Paul
    And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
  63. Acts 15:3Referred to, not named
    Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.
  64. Acts 15:4Referred to, not named
    On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.
  65. Acts 15:12Παῦλος · Paul
    The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
  66. Acts 15:22Παῦλος · Paul
    Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,
  67. Acts 15:23Referred to, not named
    …and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
  68. Acts 15:25Παῦλος · Paul
    So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
  69. Acts 15:30Referred to, not named
    So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter.
  70. Acts 15:35Παῦλος · Paul
    But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.
  71. Acts 15:36Παῦλος · Paul
    Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”
  72. Acts 15:38Παῦλος · Paul
    But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.
  73. Acts 15:39Referred to, not named
    Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
  74. Acts 15:40Παῦλος · Paul
    …but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
  75. Acts 15:41Referred to, not named
    And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
  76. Acts 16:1Referred to, not named
    Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father.
  77. Acts 16:3Παῦλος · Paul
    Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, so he took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
  78. Acts 16:4Referred to, not named
    As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions handed down by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.
  79. Acts 16:6Referred to, not named
    After the Holy Spirit had prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia.
  80. Acts 16:7Referred to, not named
    And when they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them.
  81. Acts 16:8Referred to, not named
    So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
  82. Acts 16:9Παῦλος · Paul
    During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
  83. Acts 16:10Referred to, not named
    As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
  84. Acts 16:11Referred to, not named
    We sailed from Troas straight to Samothrace, and the following day on to Neapolis.
  85. Acts 16:12Referred to, not named
    From there we went to the Roman colony of Philippi, the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
  86. Acts 16:13Referred to, not named
    On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river, where it was customary to find a place of prayer. After sitting down, we spoke to the women who had gathered there.
  87. Acts 16:14Παῦλος · Paul
    Among those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.
  88. Acts 16:15Referred to, not named
    And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
  89. Acts 16:16Referred to, not named
    One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling.
  90. Acts 16:17Παῦλος · Paul
    This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!”
  91. Acts 16:18Παῦλος · Paul
    She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.
  92. Acts 16:19Παῦλος · Paul
    When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace.
  93. Acts 16:20Referred to, not named
    They brought them to the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil
  94. Acts 16:22Referred to, not named
    The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods.
  95. Acts 16:23Referred to, not named
    And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely.
  96. Acts 16:24Referred to, not named
    On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
  97. Acts 16:25Παῦλος · Paul
    About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
  98. Acts 16:26Referred to, not named
    Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.
  99. Acts 16:28Παῦλος · Paul
    But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!”
  100. Acts 16:29Παῦλος · Paul
    Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
  101. Acts 16:30Referred to, not named
    Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
  102. Acts 16:31Referred to, not named
    They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”
  103. Acts 16:32Referred to, not named
    Then Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.
  104. Acts 16:33Referred to, not named
    At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds. And without delay, he and all his household were baptized.
  105. Acts 16:34Referred to, not named
    Then he brought them into his home and set a meal before them. So he and all his household rejoiced that they had come to believe in God.
  106. Acts 16:35Referred to, not named
    When daylight came, the magistrates sent their officers with the order: “Release those men.”
  107. Acts 16:36Παῦλος · Paul
    The jailer informed Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders to release you. Now you may go on your way in peace.”
  108. Acts 16:37Παῦλος · Paul
    But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!”
  109. Acts 16:38Referred to, not named
    So the officers relayed this message to the magistrates, who were alarmed to hear that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.
  110. Acts 16:39Referred to, not named
    They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city.
  111. Acts 16:40Referred to, not named
    After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house to see the brothers and encourage them. Then they left the city.
  112. Acts 17:1Referred to, not named
    When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
  113. Acts 17:2Παῦλος · Paul
    As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
  114. Acts 17:3Referred to, not named
    …explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he declared.
  115. Acts 17:4Παῦλος · Paul
    Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few leading women.
  116. Acts 17:5Referred to, not named
    The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people.
  117. Acts 17:6Referred to, not named
    But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here,
  118. Acts 17:10Παῦλος · Paul
    As soon as night had fallen, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
  119. Acts 17:13Παῦλος · Paul
    But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that Paul was also proclaiming the word of God in Berea, they went there themselves to incite and agitate the crowds.
  120. Acts 17:14Παῦλος · Paul
    The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.
  121. Acts 17:15Παῦλος · Paul
    Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.
  122. Acts 17:16Παῦλος · Paul
    While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols.
  123. Acts 17:17Referred to, not named
    So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace with those he met each day.
  124. Acts 17:18Referred to, not named
    Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.
  125. Acts 17:19Referred to, not named
    So they took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, where they asked him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
  126. Acts 17:20Referred to, not named
    For you are bringing some strange notions to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”
  127. Acts 17:22Παῦλος · Paul
    Then Paul stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious.
  128. Acts 17:23Referred to, not named
    For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you.
  129. Acts 17:27Referred to, not named
    God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.
  130. Acts 17:28Referred to, not named
    ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’
  131. Acts 17:29Referred to, not named
    Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.
  132. Acts 17:32Referred to, not named
    When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to mock him, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this topic.”
  133. Acts 17:33Παῦλος · Paul
    At that, Paul left the Areopagus.
  134. Acts 17:34Referred to, not named
    But some joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others who were with them.
  135. Acts 18:1Παῦλος · Paul
    After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
  136. Acts 18:2Referred to, not named
    There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit them,
  137. Acts 18:3Referred to, not named
    …and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.
  138. Acts 18:4Referred to, not named
    Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks alike.
  139. Acts 18:5Παῦλος · Paul
    And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
  140. Acts 18:6Referred to, not named
    But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
  141. Acts 18:7Referred to, not named
    So Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titus Justus, a worshiper of God.
  142. Acts 18:9Παῦλος · Paul
    One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent.
  143. Acts 18:10Referred to, not named
    For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city.”
  144. Acts 18:11Referred to, not named
    So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching the word of God among the Corinthians.
  145. Acts 18:12Παῦλος · Paul
    While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews coordinated an attack on Paul and brought him before the judgment seat.
  146. Acts 18:13Referred to, not named
    “This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law,” they said.
  147. Acts 18:14Παῦλος · Paul
    But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint.
  148. Acts 18:18Παῦλος · Paul
    Paul remained in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his head shaved in Cenchrea to keep a vow he had made, and then he sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.
  149. Acts 18:19Referred to, not named
    When they reached Ephesus, Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews.
  150. Acts 18:20Referred to, not named
    When they asked him to stay for a while longer, he declined.
  151. Acts 18:21Referred to, not named
    But as he left, he said, “I will come back to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus.
  152. Acts 18:22Referred to, not named
    When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem. Then he went down to Antioch.
  153. Acts 18:23Referred to, not named
    After Paul had spent some time in Antioch, he traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
  154. Acts 19:1Παῦλος · Paul
    While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the interior and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples
  155. Acts 19:2Referred to, not named
    …and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” “No,” they answered, “we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
  156. Acts 19:3Referred to, not named
    “Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked. “The baptism of John,” they replied.
  157. Acts 19:4Παῦλος · Paul
    Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
  158. Acts 19:6Παῦλος · Paul
    And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
  159. Acts 19:8Referred to, not named
    Then Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.
  160. Acts 19:9Referred to, not named
    But when some of them stubbornly refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way, Paul took his disciples and left the synagogue to conduct daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
  161. Acts 19:11Παῦλος · Paul
    God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul,
  162. Acts 19:12Referred to, not named
    …so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.
  163. Acts 19:13Παῦλος · Paul
    Now there were some itinerant Jewish exorcists who tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits. They would say, “I command you by Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.”
  164. Acts 19:15Παῦλος · Paul
    But one day the evil spirit responded, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”
  165. Acts 19:21Παῦλος · Paul
    After these things had happened, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as well.”
  166. Acts 19:22Referred to, not named
    He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed for a time in the province of Asia.
  167. Acts 19:26Παῦλος · Paul
    And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, this Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all.
  168. Acts 19:29Παῦλος · Paul
    Soon the whole city was in disarray. They rushed together into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.
  169. Acts 19:30Παῦλος · Paul
    Paul wanted to go before the assembly, but the disciples would not allow him.
  170. Acts 19:31Referred to, not named
    Even some of Paul’s friends who were officials of the province of Asia sent word to him, begging him not to venture into the theatre.
  171. Acts 20:1Παῦλος · Paul
    When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples. And after encouraging them, he said goodbye to them and left for Macedonia.
  172. Acts 20:2Referred to, not named
    After traveling through that area and speaking many words of encouragement, he arrived in Greece,
  173. Acts 20:3Referred to, not named
    …where he stayed three months. And when the Jews formed a plot against him as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.
  174. Acts 20:4Referred to, not named
    Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.
  175. Acts 20:5Referred to, not named
    These men went on ahead and waited for us in Troas.
  176. Acts 20:6Referred to, not named
    And after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi, and five days later we rejoined them in Troas, where we stayed seven days.
  177. Acts 20:7Παῦλος · Paul
    On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight.
  178. Acts 20:8Referred to, not named
    Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.
  179. Acts 20:9Παῦλος · Paul
    And a certain young man named Eutychus, seated in the window, was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell from the third story and was picked up dead.
  180. Acts 20:10Παῦλος · Paul
    But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, and embraced him. “Do not be alarmed!” he said. “He is still alive!”
  181. Acts 20:11Referred to, not named
    Then Paul went back upstairs, broke bread, and ate. And after speaking until daybreak, he departed.
  182. Acts 20:13Παῦλος · Paul
    We went on ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, where we were to take Paul aboard. He had arranged this because he was going there on foot.
  183. Acts 20:14Referred to, not named
    And when he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene.
  184. Acts 20:16Παῦλος · Paul
    Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
  185. Acts 20:17Referred to, not named
    From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.
  186. Acts 20:18Referred to, not named
    When they came to him, he said, “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia.
  187. Acts 20:19Referred to, not named
    I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, especially in the trials that came upon me through the plots of the Jews.
  188. Acts 20:20Referred to, not named
    I did not shrink back from declaring anything that was helpful to you as I taught you publicly and from house to house,
  189. Acts 20:21Referred to, not named
    …testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
  190. Acts 20:22Referred to, not named
    And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
  191. Acts 20:23Referred to, not named
    I only know that in town after town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions await me.
  192. Acts 20:24Referred to, not named
    But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
  193. Acts 20:25Referred to, not named
    Now I know that none of you among whom I have preached the kingdom will see my face again.
  194. Acts 20:26Referred to, not named
    Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
  195. Acts 20:27Referred to, not named
    For I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole will of God.
  196. Acts 20:29Referred to, not named
    I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
  197. Acts 20:31Referred to, not named
    Therefore be alert and remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
  198. Acts 20:32Referred to, not named
    And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.
  199. Acts 20:33Referred to, not named
    I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
  200. Acts 20:34Referred to, not named
    You yourselves know that these hands of mine have ministered to my own needs and those of my companions.