Saint Paul of Tarsus was born in Tarsus, in today’s southern Turkey, and was first called Saul. He became the apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13) and wrote many of the letters in the New Testament. The seven facts here are about his life, and what is left of his city comes after them.
- Apostle Paul was probably two to six years younger than Jesus Christ.
- St. Paul’s special position helped him to preach the Jews and Romans in the same time. Himself being a Roman and Jewish man in the same time made people to accept him as one of their own. He was able to get in areas with the gospel, which might have been impossible for other disciples.
- Today there is a street named ‘’Straight’’ in Damascus, Syria. This is the place where Paul was called by the Lord and turned into an apostle. Headquarters of the Church of Antioch is located on this street today. This event is mentioned in Holy Bible, Acts 9:4.
- Apostle Paul had several tragedies in his life. He was beaten, imprisoned, stoned, shipwrecked, and the worst of all he was betrayed by his fellow man. There were countless incidents where he was left without food, shelter or sleep.
- Apostle Paul knew how to work with his own hands. He learned how to build and sell tents from the time he was a child and into his Youth. He still went on building tents even after becoming a Christian.
- It is commonly believed that Roman Emperor Nero, the one who famously set the city Rome on fire, ordered beheading of the Apostle Paul.
- As it is mentioned in 2 Corinthians 10:10, he was physically weak or at least it was what he had thought about himself.
Saint Paul of Tarsus and Tarsus Today
Tarsus is a busy city in Mersin Province, and it still keeps a few places of Saint Paul: a well, a Roman road, Cleopatra’s Gate and a church with his name. The well and the road are in my post on the Roman road in Tarsus, and the gate comes up in my post on Cilicia Province of Roman Empire.
The church is a museum now, it opened to visitors in 2001. It was built in the 1800s for the Orthodox community, and frescoes of Jesus and the four evangelists cover ceiling of the main nave. Groups can ask to hold a service inside. By the way, we call him Aziz Pavlus in Turkey.
I put his other places in Turkey in my post 7 Unknown Facts About Apostle Paul.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Paul go back to Tarsus?
After a plot against his life in Jerusalem, the believers took him to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus (Acts 9:30). Years later Barnabas went to Tarsus to find him and brought him to Antioch (Acts 11:25).
Can you visit Saint Paul’s Church in Tarsus?
Yes, it works as a museum, so you can walk in and see the three naves. Opening hours can change, so check them before you go.
Hire Biblical Tour Guide in Turkey
Want to learn more about Apostle Paul and his travels in Turkey? Contact me to ask your questions and to hire a professional licensed Turkish tour guide in Turkey. See you soon, Hasan Gülday.
1 comment