Answers about Paul

When and why was Paul struck blind?

Within a few years of Jesus’ death and resurrection Paul (who was called Saul at the time) was struck blind when he was on his way to Damascus:
{3} Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. [...] {8} Saul rose from the ground, and [...]

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When did Silas travel with Paul?

On Paul’s first journey, he had travelled with Barnabas (Acts 13:1-3). But when Paul wanted to set out on his second journey, he had an argument with Barnabas about whether John Mark should also come (Acts 15:36-38). In the end, Barnabas went with John Mark to Cyprus (Acts 15:39) and Paul went with Silas through [...]

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Why did Paul change his name from Saul to Paul?

We aren’t told why Paul’s name changed from Saul to Paul (we aren’t actually even told that it was Paul who changed his own name, although it’s a fair guess that he did). The verse that mentions the change of name is Acts 13:9:
But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked [...]

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How long did Paul know the Philippians?

Paul first went to Philippi on his second journey in about AD 50 (Acts 16:12) and he baptised the first few believers there. It was on that first visit that he ended up in a Philippian jail with Silas after a severe beating. He was in Philippi again about five years later while on [...]

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What does Romans 15:21 relate to?

Romans 15:19-21 says:
{19} …from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; {20} and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, {21} but as it is written, “Those [...]

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What happen to Silas after he and Paul separated?

Almost everything we know about Silas comes in Acts 15-18. From these four chapters we learn

He was a leader in the Jerusalem church around AD 50 (Acts 15:22).
He was a prophet (Acts 15:32).
He was a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37).
He was sent to Antioch to encourage and strengthen the church, and to explain [...]

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What was Paul’s thorn in the flesh?

Paul mentions this in 2 Corinthians 12:
So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,  a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should [...]

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Did Paul write Romans?

The person who asked this question highlighted the contrast between Rom. 1:1 — which says the letter to the Romans is from Paul — and Rom. 16:22, which says:
I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.
In this situation, Tertius is working as Paul’s secretary, writing down the words that Paul dictates to [...]

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