Saul was born in the city of Tarsus which was the capital of the Asia Minor province of Cilicia which was part of the Roman Empire. Since the empire was designated a “free city”, Saul was considered a free man and a Roman citizen upon his birth. Saul was born into an Israelite family of the tribe of Benjamin. On the eighth day of his birth he is circumcised according to the law of God. As Saul got older he studied under Gamaliel who was one of the well-known Jewish teachers at the time in Jerusalem. After a time Saul became a Pharisee, Pharisees were the people who were the strict religious followers who were very well educated on both traditional schooling and biblical backing. Saul had been taught to hold his convictions with complete regard to his beliefs. Saul is struck blind and led into Damascus by his traveling companions. Three days later Jesus inspires a disciple named Ananias to visit Saul and heal him of his blindness. After he is healed Saul is baptized and receives God's Holy Spirit. (Acts 9:4-18)
Paul (Saul) Begins Preaching the Gospel and has His Life Threatened
Saul (first referred to as Paul in Acts 13:9) stays in Damascus and powerfully preaches the gospel. Paul's incredible ability to prove Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) so angers Jews in the city that they conspire to kill him (Acts 9:20-23). After learning of the plot against his life, Paul flees the city at night by having Christians lower him down a gate wall using a basket! Once out of the city he travels to Arabia, where for three years he is personally taught by Jesus (Galatians 1:11-12, 15-18)....