The Apostle Paul was born in Tarsus to Jewish parents who held Roman Citizenship, and was named "Saul". He must have been a gifted student, as he was accepted and trained by the well-respected Rabbi Gameliel. We meet Paul in Acts as a strict Pharisee - a "Hebrew of Hebrews" (Phil. 3:5) - who was outstanding in his orthodox beliefs and hatred of Christians, as evidenced by his presence at the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7-8). Such an opponent of Christ did Christ choose to serve and glorify Him!
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Paul's conversion is one of the best-known and miraculous of conversions: on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, the Lord Jesus appeared to him on the road and said, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?". Following this, Paul was blinded and his companions led him to Damascus. There he fasted and prayed until the Lord sent Ananias, a believer, to 'place his hands on Paul' so that he might see again and receive the Holy Spirit. Immediately as he did so, something like scales fell from Paul's eyes and he could see again. After a few days he began to preach publicly that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. (Read more of his conversion in Acts 9:1-22, 22:4-16, 26:9-18; 1 Cor. 9:1, 15:7-8, Gal. 1:12-17.)
However, his teaching was not well received by all and due to some Jews in the city he had to flee by being let down the city wall in a basket. After staying for a time in Arabia (3 years according to Gal.1:17-18), he travelled to Jerusalem where he was befriended by Barnabas and introduced to Peter. However, he soon received more threats from the Jews and travelled to Tarsus, where he stayed for about ten years (probably in some kind of Christian ministry).
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After this ten year period, Barnabas summoned him to 'the work' and he visited Jerusalem again, taking a collection for the poor, and discussing the mission to the Gentiles with Peter. From here his missionary journeys begin.
The First Missionary Journey of Paul (either 46-49 or 47-50 AD, Acts 13-14) saw him travel to Cyprus, Perga, Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe with Barnabas and John-Mark, founding a number of churches. On his return, he had a violent disagreement with Peter concerning the extent to which the Gentiles had to accept Jewish customs when they became Christians. This was settled soon after at the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15).
The Second Missionary Journey of Paul (51-54 AD, Acts 15-18) was with Silas, through Phyrgia, Galatia, Mysia and Troas, where he received instruction from the Holy Spirit to go to Macedonia, so they immediately travelled to Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens and Corinth, then back through Ephesus to Jerusalem and eventually again to Antioch, with the more successful missionary work in Macedonia, Corinth and Ephesus.
The Third Missionary Journey of Paul (54-58 AD, Acts 18-21) was with Timothy. Leaving Antioch, they travelled all over Galatia and Phyrgia, and arrived in Ephesus where he stayed for about three years. From Ephesus, Paul may have made another trip to Corinth (as he mentions three trips to Corinth in 2 Cor. 12:14 & 13:1), but certainly travelled through Macedonia (probably Thessalonica, Philippi and Berea) and maybe Illyricum. From there he travelled to Greece (Athens and Corinth), then headed back to Jerusalem for the last time, through Troas, Miletus, Tyre and Caeserea.
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In Jerusalem, Paul was seized by Jews but kept in protective custody by order of the Roman Governor Felix. However, when Felix's successor Festus suggested that Paul be sent back for a hearing in Jerusalem, Paul used his right as a Roman citizen to appeal to the Roman Emperor. Consequently he was taken under Roman escort to Rome, surviving a shipwreck along the way at Malta.
After two years in Rome, the evidence indicates that Paul was probably released and spent further time in missionary work before being martyred on a second visit to Rome during Nero's persecution of Christians. Various authors put Paul's death anywhere between 64 and 68 AD. It is likely that, in contrast to many other Christians martyred at the time, Paul was spared a torturous death due to his Roman Citizenship, being decapitated instead.
Thirteen epistles of the New Testament bear Paul's name: Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon (the former nine being written to churches and the latter four being written to individuals). Some in the early Church also attributed Hebrews to Paul, though this appears very unlikely now.
It seems that acceptance and understanding of Paul's theology (or lack thereof) has impacted Church history greatly. While he was not widely understood or appreciated in the period after his death, it was Paul's teaching that greatly impacted Augustine (in the 4th Century), and Luther in the 16th. And now the message of Salvation by Grace through Faith (most clearly proclaimed by Paul, but also proclaimed by Jesus, the author of Hebrews, James, Peter, John and Jude2) is the most prominent teaching of Evangelical Christianity around the world.
As well as his defining doctrine of salvation by faith, Paul emphasised the need for unity in the Church, and struggled to keep the unity between the Jewish and the Gentile Christians he addressed in his letters.
1 "Acts of Paul and Thecla", Ante-Nicene Fathers VIII, p.1001 (jump back to text)
2 i.e., the entire NT speaks of Salvation by grace through faith, but Paul's writing seems to frame it the most clearly (although Hebrews is pretty clear too!): John 3:13-18; 14:6; Eph. 2:8-9; Heb. 10:11-18; Jas. 2:14; 5:20; 1 Pet. 2:24-25; 1 John 2:2; Jude 1:21-25. (jump back to text)