What Happened to the Apostles After the Resurrection, Paul

Saint Paul the Apostle

Identity and Background

• Original name: Saul of Tarsus

• Born in Tarsus, a major city in Cilicia

• Jewish by birth, from the tribe of Benjamin

• Pharisee, trained under Gamaliel

• Roman citizen by birth

• Initially a fierce persecutor of the Church

“I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death.” (Acts 22:4, NIV) ¹
“As for zeal, persecuting the church.” (Philippians 3:6, NIV) ²

Conversion and Call

• Encountered the risen Christ on the road to Damascus

• Struck blind by the heavenly vision

• Personally called by Jesus as apostle to the Gentiles

• Baptized by Ananias

• Immediately began preaching Christ

“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4, NIV)³
“This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles.” (Acts 9:15, NIV)⁴

Paul After the Resurrection

• Did not follow Jesus during His earthly ministry

• Became an eyewitness of the risen Christ through direct revelation

• Recognized by the Church as a true apostle

• Apostleship affirmed by Peter, James, and John

“Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?” (1 Corinthians 9:1, NIV)⁵
“James, Cephas and John… gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship.” (Galatians 2:9, NIV)⁶

Missionary Journeys

• Conducted at least three major missionary journeys

• Traveled through Syria, Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece, and Judea

• Founded and strengthened many churches

• Preached in synagogues and public places

• Worked with companions such as Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, and Luke

“I have made it my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known.” (Romans 15:20, NIV)⁷

Sufferings and Persecutions

• Repeatedly imprisoned, beaten, flogged, and stoned

• Shipwrecked multiple times

• Faced constant danger from authorities, mobs, bandits, and false believers

• Endured hunger, cold, and severe hardship

“Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.” (2 Corinthians 11:24, NIV)⁸
“I have been constantly on the move… in danger from bandits.” (2 Corinthians 11:26, NIV)⁹

Imprisonment in Rome

• Arrested in Jerusalem

• Appealed to Caesar as a Roman citizen

• Transported to Rome under guard

• Lived under house arrest

• Continued preaching and teaching freely

“What has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.” (Philippians 1:12, NIV)¹⁰
“He proclaimed the kingdom of God… with all boldness and without hindrance.” (Acts 28:31, NIV)¹¹

Final Years and Martyrdom

• Early Church tradition indicates a brief release after first Roman imprisonment

• Rearrested during the persecution under Nero

• Executed in Rome around AD 64–67

• Martyred by beheading, the Roman method for citizens

• Died faithfully without denying Christ

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7, NIV)¹²

Writings (New Testament Epistles)

• Traditionally accepted author of:

  • Romans

  • 1 Corinthians

  • 2 Corinthians

  • Galatians

  • Ephesians

  • Philippians

  • Colossians

  • 1 Thessalonians

  • 2 Thessalonians

  • 1 Timothy

  • 2 Timothy

  • Titus

  • Philemon

• Letters written during missionary journeys and imprisonments

• Profoundly shaped Christian theology, ethics, and Church life

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching.” (2 Timothy 3:16, NIV)¹³

Witness of Early Church History

• Clement of Rome (c. AD 96) confirms Paul reached “the limits of the West” and suffered martyrdom.¹⁴

• Eusebius records Paul’s martyrdom in Rome.¹⁵

• Tertullian affirms his execution under Nero.¹⁶

• Universally recognized by the early Church as a martyr

“The greatest and most righteous pillars were persecuted and fought to the death.” (1 Clement 5)¹⁷

Apologetic Significance

• Radical transformation from persecutor to preacher

• No earthly benefit from conversion

• Accepted suffering, loss, and death for Christ

• Personally claimed a direct encounter with the risen Christ

• Died for what he proclaimed

• Hostile-witness testimony carries strong historical weight

“For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21, NIV)¹⁸

Endnotes

1. Acts 22:4, NIV

2. Philippians 3:6, NIV

3. Acts 9:4, NIV

4. Acts 9:15, NIV

5. 1 Corinthians 9:1, NIV

6. Galatians 2:9, NIV

7. Romans 15:20, NIV

8. 2 Corinthians 11:24, NIV

9. 2 Corinthians 11:26, NIV

10. Philippians 1:12, NIV

11. Acts 28:31, NIV

12. 2 Timothy 4:7, NIV

13. 2 Timothy 3:16, NIV

14. Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 5

15. Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 2.25

16. Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics 36

17. 1 Clement 5 (translation adapted)

18. Philippians 1:21, NIV

Additional scholarly reference:
Sean McDowell, The Fate of the Apostles (2015), Chapter 6, pp. 93–114 — concludes that Paul’s martyrdom is historically certain.