The Holy Apostle Paul, before his apostleship called Saul, came from a noble Jewish family. He thoroughly studied the law of his fathers, became a great adherent of it and joined the Pharisees - strict zealots of everything domestic, outwardly pious.
At that time, in Jerusalem and in surrounding cities and countries, the holy apostles preached the gospel of Christ. But Saul, like almost all the Pharisees, hated the apostles and did not even want to listen to them, and he blasphemed the Lord Jesus Christ. He approved the murder of the holy Apostle Stephen, his relative, and then took part in the great persecution of the church in Jerusalem, seizing the faithful and sending them to prison. Finally, he went to Damascus, so that there, having found believers in Christ, he could bind them and bring them to Jerusalem.
When he approached Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly shone around him; he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him: “Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting Me? He said, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said: “I am Jesus, whom you persecute; It’s hard for you to go against the grain.” He said in awe and horror: “Lord! What will you have me do?” And the Lord said to him: “Get up and go into the city, and it will be told to you what you need to do.” Saul got up from the ground and with his eyes open saw no one; and they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus; and for three days he did not see, and did not eat, or drink, but only prayed.
In Damascus at that time there was the holy Apostle Ananias, to whom the Lord, appearing in a vision, commanded to baptize Saul. Ananias went and entered the house, and laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul! The Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the path you walked, sent me so that you could receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And suddenly he saw clearly; and, getting up, was baptized, and was filled with the Holy Spirit, consecrating him to the apostolic ministry, and was renamed from Saul to Paul, and immediately began to preach in the synagogues about Jesus, that He is the Son of God.
Paul was Christ's greatest apostle and teacher of the Church. Fourteen of his epistles, filled with the Holy Spirit and included in the New Testament, have survived. In one of them, the holy apostle writes about himself: “Servants of Christ? In madness I say: I am more. I was much more in labor, immensely wounded, more in prison, and many times at the point of death... Three times I was beaten with sticks, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the depths of the sea; I have been on travels many times, in dangers on rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from fellow tribesmen, in dangers from pagans, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the desert, in dangers at sea, in dangers between false brothers, in labor and in exhaustion, often in vigil, in hunger and thirst, often in fasting, in cold and nakedness. In addition to extraneous adventures, I have a daily gathering of people, caring for all the churches.”
The Lord, comforting His apostle and strengthening him for exploits, showed him heavenly bliss, which man had never seen, and he heard there ineffable verbs that cannot be retold by man.
Having traveled through many countries, illuminating many peoples with the light of faith and foreseeing his painful death, the Apostle Paul wrote to his disciple, the holy Apostle Timothy: “I am already becoming a victim, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have completed my path, I have kept the faith; and now there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me.”
The Roman Emperor Nero, who killed the holy Apostle Peter, also killed the Apostle Paul, ordering his head to be cut off with a sword.
Thus died the chosen vessel of the grace of Christ, the teacher of the nations, the world preacher, the witness of heavenly heights and heavenly beauty, the surprise of the angels, the great ascetic and sufferer, the holy Supreme Apostle Paul and appeared to the Lord God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, to whom we send glory, honor and worship. Amen.
The life, exploits and suffering of the Holy Supreme Apostle Paul
The Holy Apostle Paul, before his apostleship called Saul, was a Jew by origin, from the tribe of Benjamin; He was born in Tarsus of Cilicia, from noble parents who formerly lived in Rome, then moved to Tarsus of Cilicia, with the honorary title of Roman citizens, therefore Paul was called a Roman citizen. He was a relative of the holy protomartyr Stephen and (probably together with him) was sent by his parents to Jerusalem to study the Law of Moses; there he was among the disciples of the famous teacher Gamaliel in Jerusalem. His fellow student and friend was Barnabas, who later became an Apostle of Christ. Saul thoroughly studied the law of his fathers, became a great adherent of it and joined the party of the Pharisees (strict zealots of everything domestic and outwardly pious).
At that time, in Jerusalem and in surrounding cities and countries, the holy Apostles spread the gospel of Christ; Moreover, they often had long disputes with the Pharisees and Sadducees (who rejected tradition and did not believe in the immortality of the soul) and with all the scribes and teachers of the law, who constantly hated and persecuted the preachers of Christ. Saul also hated the holy Apostles, and did not even want to listen to that sermon about Christ, mocked Barnabas (who had already become an apostle of Christ), and blasphemed the Lord Christ. And when the holy First Martyr Stephen was stoned by the Jews, Saul not only did not regret the blood of his own, innocently shed, but also approved of the murder and guarded the clothes of the Jews who struck Stephen. After that, having asked for authority from the bishops and elders of the Jews, he tormented the church (the assembly of the faithful) with even greater fury, entering houses and seizing men and women, sending them to prison.
Not satisfied with the persecution of the faithful in Jerusalem and continuing to breathe threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, he went to Damascus, with letters from the high priest to the synagogues, so that there he would bring whomever he found from among the believers in Christ, both men and women, to Jerusalem. This happened during the reign of Tiberius.
When Saul was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven shone around him (so suddenly, strongly and dazzlingly that he fell to the ground), and at the same instant he heard a voice saying to him: “Saul, Saul! Why are you chasing me?” Full of amazement, he asked: “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting; it is difficult for you to go against the prick.” Saul asked in awe and horror, “Lord, what do you have me do?” And the Lord said: “Get up and go into the city; and it will be told to you what you must do” (Acts 9:4-6).
The soldiers who walked with Saul were also terrified and, struck by the extraordinary light, stood in a daze: they heard a voice speaking to Saul, but saw no one.
At the command of the Lord, Saul rose from the ground and with his eyes open he saw no one: his physical eyes were blinded, but his spiritual eyes began to see.
Saul's guides and assistants led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus; There he stayed for three days, seeing nothing, and in a feeling of repentance, he did not eat or drink, and only incessantly prayed that the Lord would reveal His will to him.
In Damascus there was the holy Apostle Ananias, to whom the Lord, appearing in a vision, commanded to find Saul, who lived in the house of a certain man named Judas, and to enlighten his bodily eyes with a touch, and his spiritual ones with holy baptism.
The apostle answered: “Lord! I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to Thy saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the high priests to bind all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him: “Go, for he is My chosen vessel, to proclaim My name before the nations and kings and the children of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”
Saint Ananias, setting out at the command of the Lord and finding Saul, laid his hands on him: and immediately, as if scales fell from his eyes, suddenly he received his sight and, getting up, received baptism and was filled with the Holy Spirit, consecrating him to the apostolic ministry, and was renamed from Saul into Paul, and immediately began preaching in the synagogues about Jesus that He is the Son of God.
And everyone who heard was surprised (at this change in the thoughts of the persecutor of the Church of Christ) and said:
“Isn’t this the same one who persecuted in Jerusalem those who call on this name?” and did he come here for this purpose, to bind them and lead them to the high priests? (Acts 9:21)
And Saul became more and more strengthened in faith and confused the Jews living in Damascus, proving to them that this is Christ (i.e., the promised Messiah). The Jews finally became angry with him, agreed to kill him, and kept watch at the city gates day and night so that he would not escape from them. The disciples of Christ, who were in Damascus with Ananias, learned about the meeting of the Jews who decided to kill Paul, took him and at night lowered him in a basket from the window of a house adjacent to the city wall. He, having left Damascus, did not immediately go to Jerusalem, but first went to Arabia, as he himself writes about this in the Epistle to the Galatians: “I did not then consult with flesh and blood, and did not go up to Jerusalem to those who preceded me Apostles, but went to Arabia, and again returned to Damascus. Then, after three years, I went to Jerusalem to see Peter” (Gal. 1:16-18).
Later, at the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Barnabas came here and took Paul with him to Syrian Antioch, knowing about his appointment to be the Apostle of the Gentiles; preaching here for a whole year in synagogues, they converted many to Christ and called them Christians. After a year had passed, both holy Apostles, Barnabas and Paul, returned to Jerusalem and told the holy Apostles what the grace of God had accomplished in Antioch, and greatly rejoiced the Church of Christ in Jerusalem. At the same time, they brought abundant alms from willing donors to Antioch, in favor of the poor and wretched brethren living in Judea, since at that time, during the reign of Claudius, there was a great famine, predicted, by a special revelation of the Holy Spirit, by Saint Agave, one of the 70 Apostles.
Having left Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul again came to Antioch. When they had spent some time here in fasting and prayer, in serving the Divine Liturgy and in preaching the Word of God, it pleased the Holy Spirit to send them to the pagans to preach. The Holy Spirit said to the elders in the Antioch assembly: “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2). Then the presbyter, having fasted and prayed and laid his hands on them, sent them away.
At the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Paul came to Seleucia and from there sailed to the island of Cyprus (the homeland of the Apostle Barnabas). Here, having been in Salamis, they preached the Word of God in the synagogues of the Jews and went through the entire island even to Paphos, where they found a certain Elimus (magician) false prophet of the Jews, named Barijesus, who was with the local proconsul Sergius Paulus, a wise man and, apparently, had influence on him. The proconsul, calling Barnabas and Saul, wished to hear the Word of God from them and listened to their sermons. And Elymas the sorcerer, resisting them, tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Saint Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit and fixing his gaze on the sorcerer, said: “O, full of all deceit and all villainy, son of the devil, enemy of all righteousness! will you stop turning aside from the straight paths of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you: you will be blind and will not see the sun until the time comes. And suddenly darkness and darkness fell upon him, and he turned hither and thither, looking for a guide” (Acts 13:10-11).
And suddenly darkness and darkness fell upon the sorcerer, and he, turning here and there, looked for a counselor.
Then the proconsul, seeing what had happened, fully believed, marveling at the teaching of the Lord. Many people believed with him, and the congregation of the faithful increased.
Sailing from Paphos, Paul and those who were with him arrived at Perga, which is in Pamphylia, from Perga to Antioch in Pisidia. Here they preached about Christ, and when they had already led many to faith, the envious Jews incited the leading people in the city who were committed to paganism and, with their help, expelled the Apostles of the saints from the city and its environs.
The apostles, having shaken off the dust from their feet here, went to Iconium and, staying there for quite some time, boldly preached and led a great multitude of Jews and pagans to faith, not only by preaching, but also by signs and wonders that were performed by their hands; There they also converted the holy virgin Thekla and brought her to Christ. And the unbelieving Jews incited the pagans and their leaders to resist the Apostles and stone them. Having learned about this, the Apostles withdrew to the Lycaonian cities - Lystra and Derbe - and their surroundings.
Then, having passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia, and having preached the word of the Lord in Perga, they went down to Attalia, and from there they sailed to Antioch in Syria, from where they were originally sent by the Holy Spirit to preach the word of the Lord to the pagans. And having arrived in Antioch, they gathered the faithful and told everyone what God had done with them, and how many pagan people had been brought to Christ.
After some time, a dispute arose between the believing Jews and Hellenists in Antioch regarding circumcision: some said that it was impossible to be saved without circumcision, others considered circumcision a difficult matter for themselves. Therefore, it turned out to be necessary for the Apostle Paul and Barnabas to go to Jerusalem to the elder Apostles and elders - to ask their opinions regarding circumcision and at the same time inform them that God had opened the door of faith to the pagans; With this latest news they greatly rejoiced all the brethren of Jerusalem.
In Jerusalem, at a council meeting, the holy Apostles and elders completely abolished Old Testament circumcision, as unnecessary under the new grace, and only commanded to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from fornication, and not to offend one’s neighbor in any way, and with this decision they were released from Jerusalem to Antioch Paul and Barnabas, and with them Judas and Silas.
Having arrived in Antioch, the Apostles stayed there for quite some time and again went to the pagans, separated from each other: Judas returned to Jerusalem; Barnabas, taking with him Mark, his relative, headed to Cyprus; and Paul, having chosen Silas, went to Syria and Cilicia, and passing through the cities there, he established the faithful. Having come to Derbe and Lystra, he circumcised Timothy, his disciple, in Lystra, just to quench the murmur of the Judaizing Christians and took him with him. From there he went to Phrygia and the Galatian country, then he came to Mysia and thought about going to Bithynia, but this did not please the Holy Spirit. For when Paul was with his companions in Troas, he had the following vision at night: a man who looked like a Macedonian stood before him and begged him, saying: “Come to Macedonia and help us” (Acts 16:9). From this vision, Paul realized that the Lord was calling him to preach in Macedonia. And sailing from Troas, he arrived on the island of Samothrace, the next day to Naples, from there to Philippi, the nearest city of Macedonia, which was a former colony of the Romans. In Philippi, he first of all taught the faith of Christ and baptized the woman Lydia, who sold scarlet (crimson or red fabrics and clothes); she begged him to live with her disciples in her house.
One day, when Paul was walking with his disciples to the congregation for prayer, he was met by some servant girl possessed by an unclean spirit of divination, who with her divinations brought great income to her masters. Walking behind Paul and his companions, she shouted, saying: “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who show us the way of salvation” (Acts 16:17).
She repeated this for many days.
Paul, indignant, turned to her and, rebuking the spirit in the name of Jesus Christ, drove him out of her.
Then her masters, seeing that the hope of their income was lost, seized Paul and Silas and led them to the leaders of the city, saying: “These people, being Jews, are disturbing our city and preaching customs that we Romans ought neither to accept nor fulfill" (Acts 16:20-21).
The commanders, tearing off the clothes of the Apostles, ordered them to be beaten with sticks, and after giving them many blows, they were thrown into prison. Here, about midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying, the prison shook, all its doors were opened, and the bonds were loosened. Seeing this, the prison guard believed in Christ, brought the Apostles to his house, there he washed their wounds, immediately was baptized himself with his entire household and offered them a meal. And the Apostles returned to prison again.
The next day, the city leaders came to their senses that they had cruelly punished innocent people, and sent ministers to prison with orders to release the Apostles to freedom - let them go wherever they want.
But Paul said to them: “We, Roman citizens, were publicly beaten without trial and thrown into prison, and now we are being secretly released? no, let them come and lead us out themselves” (Acts 16:37).
And the messengers, returning, retold the words of Paul to the commanders; the commanders were afraid that the prisoners whom they had beaten turned out to be Roman citizens; and having come to them, they begged them to leave the prison and the city. Having left the prison, they first came to the house of Lydia, with whom they had previously lived, and brought joy to the faithful gathered there. Having said goodbye to them, we went to Amphipolis and Apollonia and from there to Thessaloniki.
In Thessaloniki, when they had already gained many with the gospel, the envious Jews, having gathered several worthless people, rushed to the house of Jason, where the Apostles of Christ were staying. And not finding the Apostles there, they seized Jason and some brothers and dragged them to the leaders of the city, slandering them as opponents of Caesar, who recognize another king - namely Jesus. And Jason was barely freed from this misfortune.
And the holy Apostles, having managed to hide from these hostile people, left Thessaloniki at night and came to Beria; but even there the evil envy of the Jews gave Saint Paul no rest; When the Thessalonica Jews learned that Paul had preached the Word of God in Beria, they came there too, stirring up and disturbing the people and inciting them against Paul. The holy Apostle was forced to leave there too, not out of personal fear of death, but at the insistence of the brethren, that he might save his life for the sake of the salvation of many, and the brethren let him go to the sea. The Apostle left his companions Silas and Timothy in Beria to confirm the converts in the faith, since he knew that the Jews were only looking for his head. He himself boarded the ship and sailed to Athens.
Having heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of the listeners scoffed, while others wanted to hear about it even more. And Paul left their meeting not condemned, as innocent of anything: and the Word of God preached to him was not without benefit for winning souls: for some men, having joined him, believed in Christ; among them was Dionysius the Areopagite and a certain noble woman named Damar, and many others were baptized.
Leaving Athens, Paul came to Corinth and lived there with a certain Jew named Aquila; Silas and Timothy came here from Macedonia to him and preached together about Christ. Aquila and his wife Priscilla were tent makers by trade; Paul was familiar with this craft, and he worked with them, and with his labor he acquired food for himself and his companions, as he himself says in his letter to the Thessalonians: “They ate no one’s bread for nothing, but labored and labored night and day, so as not to burden any of you” (2 Thess. 3:8). And again: “These hands have ministered to my needs and the needs of those who were with me” (Acts 20:34).
And on every Sabbath he convinced the Jews in the synagogues, proving that Jesus is the Christ. But since they stubbornly resisted and slandered him, he shook off his clothes and said to them: “Your blood is on your heads; I am clean; From now on I go to the Gentiles” (Acts 18:6).
And when he decided to leave Corinth, the Lord appeared to him in a vision at night and said: “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will harm you, because I have many people in this city.” "(Acts 18:9-10).
And Paul remained in Corinth for a year and six months, teaching the Word of God to the Jews and Greeks, and many believed and were baptized, and the ruler of the synagogue himself, Crispus, believed in the Lord with all his household and was baptized. And some of the Jews who did not believe attacked Paul in a whole crowd and brought him before the court before the proconsul Gallio (who was the brother of the philosopher Seneca), but he refused to judge Paul, saying: “If there was any offense or evil intent on his part , then I would have reason to listen to you and judge him; but in your dispute about doctrine and about your law, I don’t want to be a judge.”
And he drove them away from the judgment seat. After this, Saint Paul, having remained there for quite some days, said goodbye to the brethren and sailed to Syria with those who were with him. Aquila and Priscilla followed him, and on the way they all stopped at Ephesus. There, preaching the word of the Lord, the holy Apostle Paul performed many miracles, and not only were his hands miraculous, healing every ailment with one touch, but also his handkerchiefs and headbands, soaked in the sweat of his body, had the same miraculous power: for, being placed on the sick, they immediately healed them and drove out unclean spirits from people. Seeing this, some of the wandering Jewish exorcists dared to call on the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying: “We conjure you by Jesus, whom Paul preaches.” But the evil spirit answered them: “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?”
And again Paul went up into the upper room; They brought the young man alive and were greatly consoled. Paul talked for a long time, even until dawn, and after saying goodbye to the believers, he left from there.
Having arrived in Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus to call the elders of the church to him, for he himself did not want to go there, so as not to delay his journey, since he was in a hurry to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
And when the elders of Ephesus gathered to the Apostle, he spoke an instructive word to them and among other things said: “Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the Church of the Lord and God, which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts .20:28). And he predicted to them that after his departure fierce wolves would come among them, not sparing the flock. He told them about the upcoming journey: “And now, at the pull of the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will meet me there; only the Holy Spirit testifies in all cities, saying that bonds and sorrows await me. But I do not consider anything and do not value my life, so long as I finish my race and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus with joy” (Acts 20:22-24). Then he said: “And now, behold, I know that all of you will see my face no more” (Acts 20:25). Then they cried a lot. Falling on Paul's neck, they kissed him, especially grieving at the word he had spoken that they would no longer see his face. And they escorted him to the ship. He, having given everyone a final kiss, set off on his way.
And having passed through many cities and countries, both off the sea coast and on the islands, and having visited and established the faithful everywhere, he landed in Ptolemais; from there he came to Caesarea Stratonova, and settled in the house of the holy Apostle Philip, one of the seven deacons.
One day a prophet named Agabus came here to Saint Paul, and taking Paul’s belt, tied his hands and feet, and said: “Thus says the Holy Spirit: The man whose belt is this will be bound by the Jews in Jerusalem and delivered into the hands of the Gentiles” (Acts .21:11).
When the brethren heard this, they began to ask Paul with tears not to go to Jerusalem; but Paul answered and said to them, “What are you doing? Why are you crying and breaking my heart? I not only want to be a prisoner, but I am ready to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13).
And the brothers fell silent, saying: “The will of the Lord be done!”
After this, the holy Apostle Paul went to Jerusalem with his disciples (among whom was Trophimus the Ephesian, who converted from the pagans to Christ) and was cordially received by the holy Apostle James, the brother of the Lord, and the entire assembly of the faithful.
At this time, the Jews came from Asia to Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost, who were constantly enemies of Paul and everywhere incited rebellion against him. Seeing Paul in the city and Trophimus the Ephesian with him, they complained against Paul to the Jewish chief priests and scribes and elders, that he was destroying the law of Moses, did not order circumcision, preached the crucified Jesus everywhere, and they incited each other against Paul in order to arrest him. And when they saw Saint Paul on a feast day in the Temple of Solomon, they suddenly came up with a slander against him, outraged the whole people and rushed to lay hands on him, shouting: “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who everywhere teaches against the people, the law and this place (the temple), and finally brought the pagans into the temple and desecrated this holy place” (they thought that Paul and Trophimus brought into the temple).
At these shouts, the whole city began to move, and there was a crowd of people; The rebels, seizing Paul, dragged him out of the temple, and hastily closed the doors: they wanted to kill Paul, but not in the temple, so as not to desecrate the holy place.
At this time, news reached the commander of the regiment that all of Jerusalem was indignant. He immediately gathered soldiers and centurions and hurried to the temple; The rebels, seeing the captain and the soldiers, stopped beating Paul. Then the captain took him and ordered him to be bound with two iron chains; then he began to interrogate who he was and what he had done?
The people shouted to the captain to put Paul to death. But due to the noise and heterogeneous talk among the people, the commander was in no way able to find out what exactly Pavel was guilty of, and ordered him to be taken to the fortress. The multitude followed the captain and the soldiers, shouting that Paul be killed. When they reached the highest porch leading to the fortress, Paul asked the captain to allow him to say a few words to the people; he allowed. And Paul, stopping on the steps, turned to the people and spoke loudly in Hebrew, saying: “Men, brethren and fathers! Hear now my justification before you” (Acts 22:1).
And he began to tell them about his former zeal for the law of Moses, and how on the way to Damascus he was shone with heavenly light, and how he saw the Lord sending him to the pagans.
But the people, no longer wanting to listen to him, began to shout, turning to the commander of a thousand: “Destroy such a one from the earth! For he should not live!”
Shouting in this way, they threw their clothes and threw dust into the air, carried away by rage, and insisted on killing Paul. The commander of the thousand ordered him to be brought into the fortress and ordered to scourge him in order to extort from him: for what guilt were the people so angry with him? But when they tied Paul to the stake with straps, he said to the centurion standing with him:
- “Are you allowed to scourge a Roman citizen, and even without trial?” (Acts 22:25)
Hearing this, the centurion came up and reported to the captain, saying:
- Look what you want to do! This man is a Roman citizen.
Then the captain approached Paul and asked:
- Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?
He said:
- Yes.
The commander of a thousand said embarrassedly:
– I acquired this citizenship for a lot of money.
And he immediately freed him from his shackles.
The next day the captain ordered the high priests and the entire Sanhedrin to come and placed Saint Paul before them.
Paul, looking towards the Sanhedrin, said:
- Men, brothers! I have lived with all my good conscience before God until this day (Acts 23:1).
The high priest Ananias, at these words, ordered those standing before him to strike Paul on the mouth...
Then Paul said to him:
- God will beat you, you whitewashed wall! You sit to judge according to the law, and, contrary to the law, you order me to be beaten (Acts 23:3).
Noticing that in the assembly one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul cried out, saying:
- Men, brothers! I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; I am being judged for hoping for the resurrection of the dead (Acts 23:6).
When he said this, there was a quarrel between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided: for the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees admit both. There was a great cry. The Pharisees said:
“We don’t find anything bad in this man.”
The Sadducees argued the opposite, and the great strife continued.
The commander, fearing that the assembly would tear Paul to pieces, ordered the soldiers to take him from among them and take him to the fortress.
The next night the Lord appeared to Saint Paul and said:
- Be brave, Pavel; for as you testified of Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome (Acts 23:11).
As daylight came, some of the embittered Jews held a council and swore not to eat or drink until they killed Paul. And it turned out that there were more than forty souls who cast such a spell. Having learned about this, the commander sent Paul, with a large detachment of armed soldiers, to Caesarea, to the governor Philip.
Having heard about this, the high priest Ananias with the oldest members of the Sanhedrin went themselves to Caesarea and slandered the governor against Paul, blasphemed him before the governor and strongly sought his death, but they did not succeed in anything, for no guilt was found in him worthy of death. However, the governor, wanting to please the Jews, left Paul in bonds.
Two years have passed. Porcius Festus replaced Philip as ruler. The bishops asked him to send Paul to Jerusalem. And they started this with evil intent: on the road they hoped to kill the Apostle of Christ. And when Festus asked Paul if he wanted to go to Jerusalem for judgment, Paul answered: “I stand before the court of Caesar, where I should be judged. I did not offend the Jews in any way, as you well know. For if I am wrong and have done something worthy of death, then I do not refuse to die; and if there is nothing of what they accuse me of, then no one can hand me over to them. I demand the judgment of Caesar” (Acts 25:10-11).
Then Festus, having talked with the advisers, answered Paul:
- You demanded the judgment of Caesar, and you will go to Caesar.
Their navigation was very unsafe due to contrary winds; when they sailed to the island of Crete and entered a place called “good landings,” Saint Paul, foreseeing the future, advised them to spend the winter there with the ship; but the centurion trusted the helmsman and the captain of the ship more than the words of Paul. When they sailed into the middle of the sea, a stormy wind rose against them, there was great excitement and such fog fell that for 14 whole days they did not see either the sun during the day or the stars at night, and did not even know what place they were in, because they were carried waves, and in despair they had not eaten all these days and were already expecting death. There were 276 people on the ship. Paul stood in their midst and consoled them, saying:
- “Men! you had to listen to me and not leave Crete, which would have avoided these difficulties and harm. Now I urge you to take heart, because not a single soul of you will perish, but only the ship. For the Angel of God, Whom I belong and Whom I serve, appeared to me that night and said: “Do not be afraid, Paul! you must appear before Caesar, and behold, God has given you all those who sail with you.” Therefore, men, be of good cheer, for I trust God that it will happen as I have been told” (Acts 27:21-25).
And Paul persuaded everyone to take food, saying:
– “This will serve to preserve your life; for none of you will lose a hair from his head” (Acts 27:36).
Having said this and taking the bread, he thanked God in front of everyone and, breaking it, began to eat. Then everyone took heart and also took food.
When day came, they saw land, but did not recognize which side it was, and they directed the ship towards the shore. Approaching it, the ship hit a spit and ran aground; the bow got stuck and remained motionless, and the stern was broken by the force of the waves. The soldiers conferred among themselves to kill all the prisoners so that someone would not swim out and run away; but the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from this intention and ordered those who knew how to swim to be the first to rush and go ashore; and looking at them, others began to swim, some on boards, others on whatever was available from the ship's things, and all came to land healthy and were saved from the sea.
Then they learned that this island was called Melitus. Its inhabitants, foreigners, showed them considerable kindness, for, due to the former rain and cold, they lit a fire to warm up those who were wet at sea.
Meanwhile, Paul gathered a lot of brushwood and put it on the fire; At this time, the viper, coming out of the heat, hung on his hand. When the foreigners saw the snake hanging on his hand, they said to each other:
“That’s right, this man is a murderer when, having escaped from the sea, God’s judgment does not allow him to live.”
But Paul, having shaken the snake into the fire, suffered no harm. They expected that he would have inflammation, or that he would suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing that no trouble had happened to him, they changed their minds and said that he was God.
The ruler of that island, named Publius, took those rescued from the sea into his home and treated them in a friendly manner for three days. At this time his father was lying, suffering from a fever and pain in his stomach. Paul went in to him, prayed to the Lord, and laying his hands on the sick man, healed him. After this event, other sick people on the island came to the holy Apostle and were healed.
Three months later, all those who had escaped from the sea with the Apostle sailed from here, on another ship, and sailed to Syracuse, from there to Rigia, then to Puteoli and finally reached Rome. And when the brethren who were in Rome learned about Paul’s arrival, they went out to meet him even as far as Appian Square and three hotels. When Paul saw them, he was comforted in spirit and gave thanks to God.
In Rome, the centurion who accompanied the prisoners from Jerusalem handed them over to the military commander, and allowed Paul to live separately with the soldier guarding him.
And Paul lived in Rome for two whole years, and received everyone who came to him, preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching about our Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness without restraint.
When he was in Spain, one noble and rich woman, having heard about the apostle’s preaching about Christ, wished to see the Apostle Paul himself and persuaded her husband Probus to beg the holy Apostle to come to their house so that they could cordially entertain him. And when Saint Paul entered their house, she looked at his face and saw the words written in gold on his forehead: “Paul is Christ’s Apostle.” And seeing this “which no one else could see), she fell at the feet of the Apostle with joy and fear, confessing Christ the true God and asking for holy baptism. And she was the first to be baptized (her name was Xanthippe), then her husband Probus, and their whole house, and the ruler of the city Philotheus, and many others were baptized there.
Having passed through all these countries in the West, illuminating them with the light of the holy faith, and seeing his approaching painful death, the holy Apostle again returned to Rome, from where he wrote to his disciple Saint Timothy, saying: “For I am already becoming a victim, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; But now there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day” (2 Tim. 9:6-8).
Church historiographers have different reports about the time of the suffering of the Holy Apostle Paul. Nicephorus Callistus, in the 2nd book of his history, in chapter 36, writes that Saint Paul suffered in the same year and on the same day as the Holy Apostle Peter, for the sorcerer Simon, whom he helped Peter defeat. Others say that a whole year after the death of Peter, Paul suffered on the same 29th day of the month of June, on which Saint Peter was crucified the year before.
The reason for Paul's death is that he exhorted girls and women to a chaste, pure life through the preaching of Christ. However, there is no great disagreement in this news: for in the life of Saint Peter (according to Simeon Metaphrastes) it is said that Saint Peter did not suffer immediately after the death of Simon the Magus, but after several years, because of two concubines beloved by Nero, whom the Apostle Peter converted to Christ taught me to live chastely.
And since Saint Paul lived in Rome and the surrounding countries at the same time as Peter, it could easily have been both, i.e. that Saint Paul helped Saint Peter and Simon the Magus during his first stay in Rome, and having come to Rome for the second time, again with Saint Peter he unanimously served the salvation of people, instructing men and women in a chaste, pure life.
And thus the holy Apostles aroused the rage of the wicked and depraved king Nero, who, having condemned them both to death, executed Peter, as a foreigner, by crucifixion, and Paul, as a Roman citizen (who could not be put to a dishonorable death), by beheading, if not in the same year, then on the same day.
When Pavlov's honest head was cut off, blood and milk flowed from the wound. The faithful, having taken his holy body, laid it in the same place with Saint Peter.
Thus died the chosen vessel of Christ, the teacher of the nations, the world preacher, the witness of heavenly heights and heavenly goodness, the object of wonder of angels and men, the great ascetic and sufferer, who endured the wounds of his Lord on his body, the holy Supreme Apostle Paul, and again, in addition to the body , ascended to the third heaven and appeared before the Trinity Light, together with his friend and collaborator, the holy Supreme Apostle Peter, having passed from the militant church to the triumphant church, with joyful thanksgiving, the voice and exclamation of those celebrating, and now they glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the one God in the Trinity, to whom honor, glory, worship and thanksgiving are sent from us sinners, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Lives of Saints Demetrius of Rostov
Life of St. Apostle Paul
The Apostle Paul supposedly lived in 5/15 - 64/68.
Paul was not one of Jesus' 12 direct disciples and spent the first part of his life involved in the persecution of Christians. Paul's experience with the risen Jesus Christ led to his conversion and became the basis for his apostolic mission. Paul created numerous Christian communities in Asia Minor and the Balkan Peninsula. Paul's letters to communities and individuals form a significant part of the New Testament and are among the major texts of Christian theology.
Paul was born in the main city of Cilicia, Tarsus, from noble parents and enjoyed the rights of a Roman citizen. At first he bore the Hebrew name Saul, which meant “begged for, begged for,” and only after turning to Christ he began to be called Paul.
By origin he belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, and by upbringing and religion he belonged to the Pharisee sect. Raised in Jerusalem by the famous teacher Gamaliel, Saul became a zealot for the national law. At that time, in Jerusalem and in the surrounding cities, the holy apostles spread the gospel of Christ, and they often had long disputes with the Pharisees.
Saul zealously persecuted Christians, participated in the stoning of the holy protomartyr Stephen (despite family ties), and led the persecution of the apostles and their followers. He obtained authority from the Jewish high priests to go to Damascus, where there were many Christians, and bring them in chains to Jerusalem for torture.
“When Saul was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven shone around him (so suddenly, strongly and dazzlingly that he fell to the ground), and at the same instant he heard a voice saying to him: “Saul, Saul! why are you persecuting me?” " Full of amazement, he asked: “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting; it is difficult for you to go against the pricks.”5 Saul asked in awe and horror, “Lord, what do you have me do?” And the Lord said: “Get up and go into the city, and it will be told to you what you must do”” (Acts 9:4-6).
Saul became a new man, receiving from the mouth of the Lord the appointment and title of apostle. Soon he was baptized, became Paul, and immediately began preaching in the synagogues about Jesus. And everyone who heard was surprised (at this change in the thoughts of the “persecutor of the Church of Christ”) and said: “Isn’t this the same one who persecuted in Jerusalem those who call on this name?” and did he come here for this purpose, to bind them and lead them to the high priests? (Acts 9:21)
Having received instructions from the Lord about the gospel, the Apostle Paul began to preach the faith of Christ among the Jews and especially among the pagans, traveling from country to country and sending out his letters (14 letters of the Apostle Paul), which he wrote on the way and which are still there, according to St. John Chrysostom, “protect the Universal Church like a wall built of adamant.”
Enlightening the nations with the teachings of Christ, the Apostle Paul undertook long journeys. In addition to his repeated stays in Palestine, he visited Phoenicia, Syria, Cappadocia, Galatia, Lycaonia, Pamphylia, Caria, Lycia, Phrygia, Mysia, Lydia, Macedonia, Italy, the islands of Cyprus, Lesbos, Samothrace, Samos, preaching about Christ. Patmos, Rhodes, Melite, Sicily and other lands.
The power of his preaching was so great that the Jews could not oppose anything to the power of Paul’s teaching (Acts 9:22); the pagans themselves asked him to preach the word of God and the whole city gathered to listen to him (Acts 13:42-44). The gospel of the Apostle Paul quickly spread everywhere and disarmed everyone (Acts 13:49; 14:1; 17:4, 12; 18:8). His sermons reached the hearts of not only ordinary people, but also learned and noble people (Acts 13:12; 17:34; 18:8). The power of the word of the Apostle Paul was accompanied by miracles: his word healed the sick (Acts 14:10; 16:18), struck a magician blind (Acts 13:11), raised the dead (Acts 20:9-12); even the things of the holy apostle were miraculous - by touching them miraculous healings were performed, and evil spirits left the possessed (Acts 19:12). For his good deeds and fiery preaching, the Lord awarded His faithful disciple “the rapture to the third heaven.” According to the holy Apostle Paul’s own admission, he “was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is impossible for a man to utter” (2 Cor. 12:2-4).
For spreading the faith of Christ, the Apostle Paul suffered a lot and was beheaded in Rome under Nero in 64 (according to another version - in 67-68).
The veneration of the holy apostles Peter and Paul began immediately after their execution. The place of their burial was sacred to the early Christians. In the 4th century, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine the Great erected churches in honor of the holy supreme apostles in Rome and Constantinople.
In the Russian Church, the veneration of the apostles Peter and Paul began after the Baptism of Rus'. According to church tradition, the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir brought from Korsun an icon of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, which was subsequently presented as a gift to the Novgorod St. Sophia Cathedral. In the Kiev St. Sophia Cathedral, wall paintings depicting the apostles Peter and Paul date back to the 11th-12th centuries. The first monastery in honor of the holy apostles Peter and Paul was erected in Novgorod on Sinichaya Mountain in 1185. Around the same time, the construction of the Petrovsky Monastery in Rostovo began. The Peter and Paul Monastery existed in the 13th century in Bryansk.
Saint Paul, who originally bore the Hebrew name Saul, belonged to the tribe of Benjamin and was born in the Cilician city of Tarsus (in Asia Minor), which was then famous for its Greek academy and the education of its inhabitants. As a native of this city, descended from Jews, who came out of slavery to Roman citizens, Paul had the rights of a Roman citizen. In Tarsus, Paul received his first education and probably became acquainted with pagan culture there, for traces of acquaintance with pagan writers are clearly visible in his speeches and letters.
Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Listy, Moscow.He received his subsequent education in Jerusalem, at the then famous rabbinical academy from the famous teacher Gamaliel, who was considered an expert in the Law and, despite belonging to the Pharisees, was a free-thinker and lover of Greek wisdom. Here, according to the custom of the Jews, young Saul learned the art of making tents, which later helped him earn money to live by his own labor.
Joseph-Volotsky Monastery in Teryaevo, Moscow region. Young Saul, apparently, was preparing for the position of rabbi (religious mentor), and therefore, immediately after completing his upbringing and education, he showed himself to be a strong zealot for the Pharisaic traditions and persecutors of the faith of Christ. Perhaps by appointment of the Sanhedrin, he witnessed the death of the first martyr Stephen, and then received the power to officially persecute Christians even outside Palestine in Damascus.
Andrey Rublev. Apostle Paul (from the Zvenigorod rank). Beginning of the 15th century.
The Lord, who saw in him “a chosen vessel for Himself,” miraculously called him to apostolic service on the way to Damascus. While traveling, Saul was struck by a bright light that caused him to fall blind to the ground. A voice came from the light: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” To Saul’s question: “Who are you?” - The Lord answered: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” The Lord commanded Saul to go to Damascus, where he would be told what to do next. Saul's companions heard the voice of Christ, but did not see the light. Brought by the hand to Damascus, the blind Saul was taught faith and on the third day baptized by Ananias. At the moment of immersion in the water, Saul received his sight. From that time on, he became a zealous preacher of the previously persecuted teaching. He went to Arabia for a while, and then returned to Damascus again to preach about Christ.
Apostle Paul. Icon of the Vysotsky rank. End of the 14th century Icon from the Serpukhov Vysotsky Monastery.
The rage of the Jews, outraged by his conversion to Christ, forced him to flee to Jerusalem, where he joined the community of believers and met the apostles. Due to an attempt by the Hellenists to kill him, he went to his hometown of Tarsus. From here, around the year 43, he was called by Barnabas to Antioch to preach, and then traveled with him to Jerusalem, where he brought help to those in need.
Icon of the Holy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul. Church of Peter and Paul in Prokhorovka.
Soon after returning from Jerusalem - at the command of the Holy Spirit - Saul, together with Barnabas, set off on his first apostolic journey, which lasted from 45 to 51 years. The apostles traversed the entire island of Cyprus, and from that time on, Saul, who converted the proconsul Sergius Paulus to the faith, was already called Paul. During this time of the missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas, Christian communities were founded in the cities of Asia Minor: Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. In the year 51, Saint Paul took part in the Apostolic Council in Jerusalem, where he ardently rebelled against the need for pagans who became Christians to observe the rites of the Mosaic Law.
"Apostle Paul". Refectory of the Peter and Paul Church of the Great Peterhof Palace.
Returning to Antioch, the Apostle Paul, accompanied by Silas, undertook his second apostolic journey. He first visited the churches he had previously founded in Asia Minor, and then moved to Macedonia, where he founded communities in Philippi, Thessaloniki and Beria. In Lystra, Saint Paul acquired his favorite disciple Timothy, and from Troas he continued his journey with the Evangelist Luke, who joined them. From Macedonia, Saint Paul moved to Greece, where he preached in Athens and Corinth, staying in the latter for a year and a half. From here he sent two messages to Thessalonians. The second journey lasted from 51 to 54. Then Saint Paul went to Jerusalem, visiting Ephesus and Caesarea along the way, and from Jerusalem he arrived in Antioch.
Apostle Paul. Icon from the Deesis rank. Workshop of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery in Klimentovskaya Sloboda. First half of the 17th century.
After a short stay in Antioch, the Apostle Paul undertook his third apostolic journey (56-58), visiting first, according to his custom, the previously founded churches of Asia Minor, and then stopped in Ephesus, where for two years he preached daily at the school of Tyrannus. From here he wrote his letter to the Galatians (regarding the strengthening of the Judaizing party there) and his first letter to the Corinthians (regarding the unrest that arose there and in response to the Corinthians' letter to him). The popular uprising raised by the silversmith Demetrius against Paul forced the apostle to leave Ephesus, and he went to Macedonia and then to Jerusalem.
In Jerusalem, due to a popular revolt against him, the Apostle Paul was taken into custody by the Roman authorities and found himself in captivity, first under the proconsul Felix, and then under the proconsul Festus, who replaced him. This happened in 59, and two years later the Apostle Paul, as a Roman citizen, at his request, was sent to Rome to be judged by Caesar. Having been shipwrecked near Fr. Malta, the apostle only reached Rome in the summer of 62, where he enjoyed great leniency from the Roman authorities and preached freely. From Rome, the Apostle Paul wrote his epistles to the Philippians (with gratitude for the monetary allowance sent to him with Epaphroditus), to the Colossians, to the Ephesians and to Philemon, a resident of Colossae (regarding the slave Onesimus who fled from him). All three of these messages were written in 63 and sent with Tychicus. A letter to the Palestinian Jews was soon written from Rome.
The further fate of the Apostle Paul is not exactly known. Some believe that he remained in Rome and, by order of Nero, was martyred in 64. But there is reason to believe that after two years of imprisonment and defending his case before the Senate and the Emperor, the Apostle Paul was released and again traveled to the East. Indications of this can be found in his “pastoral letters” - to Timothy and Titus. Having spent a long time on the island of Crete, he left his disciple Titus there to ordain elders in all cities, which testifies to his ordination of Titus as bishop of the Cretan Church. Later in his letter to Titus, the Apostle Paul instructs him on how to carry out the duties of a bishop. From the same message it is clear that he intended to spend that winter in Nikopol, near his native Tarsus.
In the spring of 65, he visited the rest of the churches of Asia Minor and left the sick Trophimus in Miletus, because of whom there was an indignation against the apostle in Jerusalem, which led to his first imprisonment. It is unknown whether the Apostle Paul passed through Ephesus, since he said that the elders of Ephesus would no longer see his face, but he apparently at that time ordained Timothy as a bishop for Ephesus. Then the apostle passed through Troas and reached Macedonia. There he heard about the rise of false teachings in Ephesus and wrote his first letter to Timothy. After spending some time in Corinth and meeting the Apostle Peter on the way, Paul continued with him through Dalmatia and Italy, reached Rome, where he left the Apostle Peter, and in 66 he himself went further to the west, probably reaching Spain.
After returning to Rome, he was again imprisoned, where he remained until his death. There is a legend that after returning to Rome, he even preached at the court of Emperor Nero and converted his beloved concubine to faith in Christ. For this he was put on trial, and although by the grace of God he was delivered, in his own words, from the jaws of lions, that is, from being eaten by animals in the circus, he was nevertheless imprisoned.
After a nine-month imprisonment, he was beheaded with the sword, as a Roman citizen, near Rome in 67 after R. X., in the 12th year of the reign of Nero.
The Apostle Paul wrote 14 epistles, representing a systematization of Christian teaching. These messages, thanks to his wide education and insight, are distinguished by great originality.
The Apostle Paul, like the Apostle Peter, worked hard in spreading the faith of Christ and is rightly revered along with him as a “pillar” of the Church of Christ and the supreme apostle. They both died as martyrs in Rome under Emperor Nero, and their memory is celebrated on the same day.
Apostles Peter and Paul. Gallery of icons of Shchigra.
Saint Paul, who originally bore the Hebrew name Saul, belonged to the tribe of Benjamin and was born in the Cilician city of Tarsus (in Asia Minor), which was then famous for its Greek academy and the education of its inhabitants. As a native of this city, descended from Jews, who came out of slavery to Roman citizens, Paul had the rights of a Roman citizen. In Tarsus, Paul received his first education and probably became acquainted with pagan culture there, for traces of acquaintance with pagan writers are clearly visible in his speeches and letters.
Icon of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Listy, Moscow.
He received his subsequent education in Jerusalem, at the then famous rabbinical academy from the famous teacher Gamaliel, who was considered an expert in the Law and, despite belonging to the Pharisees, was a free-thinker and lover of Greek wisdom. Here, according to the custom of the Jews, young Saul learned the art of making tents, which later helped him earn money to live by his own labor.
Temple icon of St. App. Peter and Paul. Joseph-Volotsky Monastery in Teryaevo, Moscow region.
Young Saul, apparently, was preparing for the position of rabbi (religious mentor), and therefore, immediately after completing his upbringing and education, he showed himself to be a strong zealot for the Pharisaic traditions and persecutors of the faith of Christ. Perhaps by appointment of the Sanhedrin, he witnessed the death of the first martyr Stephen, and then received the power to officially persecute Christians even outside Palestine in Damascus.
Andrey Rublev. Apostle Paul (from the Zvenigorod rank). Beginning of the 15th century.
The Lord, who saw in him “a chosen vessel for Himself,” miraculously called him to apostolic service on the way to Damascus. While traveling, Saul was struck by a bright light that caused him to fall blind to the ground. A voice came from the light: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” To Saul’s question: “Who are you?” - The Lord answered: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” The Lord commanded Saul to go to Damascus, where he would be told what to do next. Saul's companions heard the voice of Christ, but did not see the light. Brought by the hand to Damascus, the blind Saul was taught faith and on the third day baptized by Ananias. At the moment of immersion in the water, Saul received his sight. From that time on, he became a zealous preacher of the previously persecuted teaching. He went to Arabia for a while, and then returned to Damascus again to preach about Christ.
Apostle Paul. Icon of the Vysotsky rank. End of the 14th century Icon from the Serpukhov Vysotsky Monastery.
The rage of the Jews, outraged by his conversion to Christ, forced him to flee to Jerusalem, where he joined the community of believers and met the apostles. Due to an attempt by the Hellenists to kill him, he went to his hometown of Tarsus. From here, around the year 43, he was called by Barnabas to Antioch to preach, and then traveled with him to Jerusalem, where he brought help to those in need.
Icon of the Holy Chief Apostles RџРµС‚СЂР° and Paul. Church of Peter and Paul in Prokhorovka.
Soon after returning from Jerusalem - at the command of the Holy Spirit - Saul, together with Barnabas, set off on his first apostolic journey, which lasted from 45 to 51 years. The apostles traversed the entire island of Cyprus, and from that time on, Saul, who converted the proconsul Sergius Paulus to the faith, was already called Paul. During this time of the missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas, Christian communities were founded in the cities of Asia Minor: Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. In the year 51, Saint Paul took part in the Apostolic Council in Jerusalem, where he ardently rebelled against the need for pagans who became Christians to observe the rites of the Mosaic Law.
"Apostle Paul". Refectory of the Peter and Paul Church of the Great Peterhof Palace.
Returning to Antioch, the Apostle Paul, accompanied by Silas, undertook his second apostolic journey. He first visited the churches he had previously founded in Asia Minor, and then moved to Macedonia, where he founded communities in Philippi, Thessaloniki and Beria. In Lystra, Saint Paul acquired his beloved disciple Timothy, and from Troas he continued his journey with the Evangelist Luke, who joined them. From Macedonia, Saint Paul moved to Greece, where he preached in Athens and Corinth, staying in the latter for a year and a half. From here he sent two messages to Thessalonians. The second journey lasted from 51 to 54. Then Saint Paul went to Jerusalem, visiting Ephesus and Caesarea along the way, and from Jerusalem he arrived at Antioch.
Apostle Paul. Icon from the Deesis rank. Workshop of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery in Klimentovskaya Sloboda. First half of the 17th century.
After a short stay in Antioch, the Apostle Paul undertook his third apostolic journey (56-58), visiting first, according to his custom, the previously founded churches of Asia Minor, and then stopped in Ephesus, where for two years he preached daily at the school of Tyrannus. From here he wrote his letter to the Galatians (regarding the strengthening of the Judaizing party there) and his first letter to the Corinthians (regarding the unrest that arose there and in response to the Corinthians' letter to him). The popular uprising raised by the silversmith Demetrius against Paul forced the apostle to leave Ephesus, and he went to Macedonia and then to Jerusalem.
In Jerusalem, due to a popular revolt against him, the Apostle Paul was taken into custody by the Roman authorities and found himself in captivity, first under the proconsul Felix, and then under the proconsul Festus, who replaced him. This happened in 59, and two years later the Apostle Paul, as a Roman citizen, at his request, was sent to Rome to be judged by Caesar. Having been shipwrecked near Fr. Malta, the apostle only reached Rome in the summer of 62, where he enjoyed great leniency from the Roman authorities and preached freely. From Rome, the Apostle Paul wrote his epistles to the Philippians (with gratitude for the monetary allowance sent to him with Epaphroditus), to the Colossians, to the Ephesians and to Philemon, a resident of Colossae (regarding the slave Onesimus who fled from him). All three of these messages were written in 63 and sent with Tychicus. A letter to the Palestinian Jews was soon written from Rome.
The further fate of the Apostle Paul is not exactly known. Some believe that he remained in Rome and, by order of Nero, was martyred in 64. But there is reason to believe that after two years of imprisonment and defending his case before the Senate and the Emperor, the Apostle Paul was released and again traveled to the East. Indications of this can be found in his “pastoral letters” - to Timothy and Titus. Having spent a long time on the island of Crete, he left his disciple Titus there to ordain elders in all cities, which testifies to his ordination of Titus as bishop of the Cretan Church. Later in his letter to Titus, the Apostle Paul instructs him on how to carry out the duties of a bishop. From the same message it is clear that he intended to spend that winter in Nikopol, near his native Tarsus.
In the spring of 65, he visited the rest of the churches of Asia Minor and left the sick Trophimus in Miletus, because of whom there was an indignation against the apostle in Jerusalem, which led to his first imprisonment. It is unknown whether the Apostle Paul passed through Ephesus, since he said that the elders of Ephesus would no longer see his face, but he apparently at that time ordained Timothy as a bishop for Ephesus. Then the apostle passed through Troas and reached Macedonia. There he heard about the rise of false teachings in Ephesus and wrote his first letter to Timothy. After spending some time in Corinth and meeting the Apostle Peter on the way, Paul continued with him through Dalmatia and Italy, reached Rome, where he left the Apostle Peter, and in 66 he himself went further to the west, probably reaching Spain.
After returning to Rome, he was again imprisoned, where he remained until his death. There is a legend that after returning to Rome, he even preached at the court of Emperor Nero and converted his beloved concubine to faith in Christ. For this he was put on trial, and although by the grace of God he was delivered, in his own words, from the jaws of lions, that is, from being eaten by animals in the circus, he was nevertheless imprisoned.
After a nine-month imprisonment, he was beheaded with the sword, as a Roman citizen, near Rome in 67 after R. X., in the 12th year of the reign of Nero.
The Apostle Paul wrote 14 epistles, representing a systematization of Christian teaching. These messages, thanks to his wide education and insight, are distinguished by great originality.
The Apostle Paul, like the Apostle Peter, worked hard in spreading the faith of Christ and is rightly revered along with him as a “pillar” of the Church of Christ and the supreme apostle. They both died as martyrs in Rome under Emperor Nero, and their memory is celebrated on the same day.
