Paul

Paul's Story

Follow his life from the stoning of Stephen to his last years in Rome. Read each event in Scripture, and see how it all fits together.

Tap any event to read it in Scripture, compare the accounts, and move through the story.

Acts tells Paul's story mostly in order, and Paul adds memories of his own in his letters, mostly in Galatians and 2 Corinthians. The Bible gives few dates, and his letters do not always say where they fit in Acts. Where the details differ, the event says so.

Part 1 of 9

Saul the Persecutor

Saul approves of Stephen's death and tries to destroy the church.

  1. A painting of young Saul guarding the cloaks at the stoning of Stephen
    1. Acts 7:57–8:2The Stoning of StephenJerusalem
  2. A painting of Saul leading believers away to prison in Jerusalem
    2. Acts 8:3 · 4 accountsSaul Persecutes the ChurchJerusalem

Part 2 of 9

Called by Jesus

Jesus stops Saul on the road to Damascus, and Saul begins to preach the faith he fought.

  1. A painting of Saul struck down by a light from heaven on the road to Damascus
    3. Acts 9:1–9 · 3 accountsThe Road to DamascusDamascus
  2. A painting of Ananias laying his hands on Saul in Damascus
    4. Acts 9:10–19 · 2 accountsAnanias Restores Saul's SightDamascus
  3. A painting of Saul lowered in a basket through the wall of Damascus
    5. Acts 9:19–25 · 2 accountsEscape in a BasketDamascus
  4. A painting of Barnabas bringing Saul to the apostles in Jerusalem
    6. Acts 9:26–30 · 2 accountsBarnabas Stands Up for SaulJerusalem
  5. A painting of Barnabas and Saul teaching the church at Antioch
    7. Acts 11:25–30 · 2 accountsTeaching at AntiochAntioch in Syria

Part 3 of 9

The First Journey

Barnabas and Saul are sent out from Antioch to Cyprus and to cities in what is now Turkey.

  1. A painting of the church at Antioch sending out Barnabas and Saul
    8. Acts 13:1–3Sent Out by the Holy SpiritAntioch in Syria
  2. A painting of Paul and the sorcerer Elymas before the governor of Cyprus
    9. Acts 13:4–12The Sorcerer on CyprusPaphos
  3. A painting of Paul preaching in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch
    10. Acts 13:13–52A Light for the GentilesAntioch in Pisidia
  4. A painting of Paul and Barnabas stopping the crowd at Lystra from offering sacrifices
    11. Acts 14:1–18Mistaken for Gods at LystraLystra
  5. A painting of the disciples around Paul outside Lystra after he was stoned
    12. Acts 14:19–28Stoned and Left for DeadLystra

Part 4 of 9

The Council in Jerusalem

The apostles and elders decide that Gentile believers need not be circumcised, and Paul and Barnabas part ways.

  1. A painting of the apostles and elders meeting in Jerusalem
    13. Acts 15:1–35The Council in JerusalemJerusalem
  2. A painting of Paul speaking to Peter at Antioch
    14. Galatians 2:11–14Paul Opposes Peter at AntiochAntioch in Syria
  3. A painting of Paul and Barnabas going separate ways from Antioch
    15. Acts 15:36–41Paul and Barnabas Part WaysAntioch in Syria

Part 5 of 9

The Second Journey

Paul and Silas carry the good news into Macedonia and Greece: Philippi, Thessalonica, Athens and Corinth.

  1. A painting of Timothy joining Paul and Silas at Lystra
    16. Acts 16:1–5Timothy Joins PaulLystra
  2. A painting of Paul's night vision of a man of Macedonia at Troas
    17. Acts 16:6–10The Call to MacedoniaTroas
  3. A painting of Paul speaking with Lydia and the women by the river at Philippi
    18. Acts 16:11–15Lydia BelievesPhilippi
  4. A painting of Paul commanding the spirit to leave the slave girl at Philippi
    19. Acts 16:16–24Beaten and Jailed at PhilippiPhilippi
  5. A painting of Paul and Silas in prison at Philippi as the earthquake strikes
    20. Acts 16:25–40The Earthquake and the JailerPhilippi
  6. A painting of Paul teaching the Bereans from the Scriptures
    21. Acts 17:1–15Thessalonica and Berea
  7. A painting of Paul speaking at the Areopagus in Athens
    22. Acts 17:16–34To an Unknown GodAthens
  8. A painting of Paul making tents with Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth
    23. Acts 18:1–17A Year and a Half in CorinthCorinth

Part 6 of 9

The Third Journey

Paul spends years in Ephesus, then says farewell and sets out for Jerusalem.

  1. A painting of Paul laying his hands on the disciples at Ephesus
    24. Acts 19:1–7The Holy Spirit Comes at EphesusEphesus
  2. A painting of the believers at Ephesus burning their books of magic
    25. Acts 19:8–20The Word Spreads in EphesusEphesus
  3. A painting of the crowd in the theater at Ephesus
    26. Acts 19:23–41“Great Is Artemis”Ephesus
  4. A painting of Paul embracing Eutychus after his fall at Troas
    27. Acts 20:7–12Eutychus Falls from the WindowTroas
  5. A painting of Paul's farewell to the Ephesian elders at Miletus
    28. Acts 20:17–38Farewell at MiletusMiletus
  6. A painting of the prophet Agabus binding himself with Paul's belt
    29. Acts 21:8–14Agabus Warns PaulCaesarea

Part 7 of 9

Arrested and on Trial

Paul is seized in the temple and speaks for his faith before crowds, councils, governors and a king.

  1. A painting of the crowd seizing Paul in the temple
    30. Acts 21:17–36Seized in the TempleThe temple in Jerusalem
  2. A painting of Paul speaking to the crowd from the barracks steps
    31. Acts 21:37–22:29Paul Speaks from the StepsJerusalem
  3. A painting of Paul before the council in Jerusalem
    32. Acts 22:30–23:11Before the CouncilJerusalem
  4. A painting of Paul's nephew warning him of the plot
    33. Acts 23:12–35A Plot and a NephewCaesarea
  5. A painting of Paul speaking to Governor Felix and Drusilla
    34. Acts 24:1–27Before Governor FelixCaesarea
  6. A painting of Paul appealing to Caesar before Governor Festus
    35. Acts 25:1–12“I Appeal to Caesar”Caesarea
  7. A painting of Paul speaking before King Agrippa and Bernice
    36. Acts 25:13–26:32Before King AgrippaCaesarea

Part 8 of 9

Voyage to Rome

A prisoner bound for Caesar, Paul survives a storm, a shipwreck and a snakebite.

  1. A painting of Paul encouraging everyone aboard the ship in the storm
    37. Acts 27:1–26The Storm at Sea
  2. A painting of the shipwreck, with everyone making for the shore
    38. Acts 27:27–44The Shipwreck
  3. A painting of Paul shaking the viper into the fire on Malta
    39. Acts 28:1–10The Viper on MaltaMalta
  4. A painting of believers from Rome meeting Paul on the road
    40. Acts 28:11–16Arrival in RomeRome

Part 9 of 9

In Rome

Paul preaches in Rome under guard, and in his last letter he writes that he has finished the race.

  1. A painting of Paul teaching visitors in his rented house in Rome
    41. Acts 28:17–31Preaching in RomeRome
  2. A painting of the aged Paul writing, with Luke beside him
    42. 2 Timothy 4:6–18“I Have Finished the Race”