The Apostle Paul was born in Tarsus, a Roman city and, even though Paul was a Jew and a Pharisee by religion, he was also a Roman citizen.
Paul was born roughly about the same time as Jesus.
Paul studied to be a Pharisee under the tutelage of the famous scholar Gamaliel and soon became what he later called, “a Pharisee of the Pharisees.”
Soon after Jesus’ “appearances” following His resurrection from the dead, a disciple of Jesus named Stephen, was martyred, and those responsible laid their coats by the feet of Paul (at that time called Saul) who was responsible for Stephen’s death.
Paul persecuted Christians and, once, when on his way to Damascus to apprehend them, Paul met the resurrected Jesus who appeared in a blinding light.
Paul was now a changed person and soon began preaching the good news about Jesus and salvation through His name.
About 3 years after his conversion Paul spent some time with two of Jesus’ chief apostles, James and John, in Jerusalem.
From there the Apostles sent him back to Tarsus since he was a bit too fiery for them.
Later Barnabas found him and brought him to Antioch in Syria where he taught the new group of gentile believers there for about 2 years.
From there (Acts 13) Paul with Barnabas sailed to Asia to pioneer new missionary work, and after some time returned to Antioch which was their “sending” church group.
Paul proceeded to make a second trip, followed by a third missionary journey to places such as Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, and Colossae, where he had established churches.
Later—after 14 years being away from Jerusalem (Acts 15) Paul returned to meet the main leaders, including Peter and James.
It was there that Paul explained how the Gentiles had accepted Christ and were saved and worshipped in their respective towns.
Later still Paul was imprisoned in Ephesus for preaching the good news about Jesus. Then, after release, Paul was later imprisoned in Caesarea and, finally, he had to appeal to Caesar in Rome because of the Jewish hatred against Jesus. After about 2 years imprisoned in Caesarea he sailed to Rome and was imprisoned there for a few years—all for the sake of preaching the good news about Jesus.
Paul was released for a short spell before going back to a Roman prison once more, from which he wrote the letters to the Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians plus First and Second Timothy and other letters as well. It was in his second letter to Timothy that Paul alluded to his aging, saying “I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course and will soon go to meet Jesus in heaven.” Which is exactly what happened when Paul was in his mid-sixties.
This is but a cursory insight to the colourful life of the great Apostle to the Gentiles—Paul.
Please watch this video in full for a fuller account of this great life well lived

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