Paul’s Early Life I

Subject: Christian Religious Studies (CRS)
Class: Primary 6
Topic: Paul’s Early Life I
Bible References: Acts 22:3; Philippians 3:5; Acts 5:34; Acts 9:1–2
Duration: 40 minutes

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

State where Saul (Paul) was born.
Explain Saul’s Jewish heritage and tribe.
Describe Saul’s Roman citizenship.
Explain his education under Gamaliel.
Identify Saul’s Pharisee background.
Explain how Saul’s knowledge of Jewish law influenced his early life.
Describe the influence of both Jewish and Greek cultures on his upbringing.
Explain Saul’s early zeal for Jewish traditions.

Previous Knowledge

Pupils have learned about the early Christians and the spread of the gospel after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.

Introduction

Before becoming the great apostle Paul, Paul was known as Saul. He was a well-educated Jew who strongly followed the traditions and laws of his people. Although he later became a devoted follower and preacher of Jesus Christ, his early life was shaped by his Jewish family, education, culture and religious training.

Saul’s Birth in Tarsus

Saul was born in Tarsus, a city in the region of Cilicia. Tarsus was an important city where different cultures and peoples lived.

In Acts 22:3, Paul described himself as a Jew born in Tarsus of Cilicia and said that he was brought up in Jerusalem.

His birth in Tarsus exposed him to a society where both Jewish and Greek influences were present. This cultural background later helped him communicate with different groups of people during his missionary work.

Saul’s Jewish Heritage

Saul came from a strong Jewish family. He was proud of his Jewish background and carefully followed Jewish religious traditions.

According to Philippians 3:5, Paul described himself as:

A Hebrew of Hebrews
Circumcised on the eighth day
From the tribe of Benjamin
A member of the people of Israel

The tribe of Benjamin was one of the tribes of Israel. Saul therefore had a strong connection with the Jewish people and their history.

Saul’s Roman Citizenship

Saul was also a Roman citizen. This was an important privilege because Roman citizenship gave certain legal protections and rights.

In Acts, Paul later used his Roman citizenship when dealing with Roman authorities. His citizenship allowed him to receive legal protection and helped him travel throughout the Roman Empire.

Therefore, Saul’s background was unusual because he had both Jewish religious heritage and Roman citizenship.

Saul’s Education Under Gamaliel

Saul received an excellent religious education. He was educated in Jerusalem and trained under Gamaliel, a respected Jewish teacher of the law.

Paul said in Acts 22:3 that he was brought up in Jerusalem and taught according to the strict manner of the law of his ancestors.

His education gave him a deep understanding of:

The Jewish Law
The Old Testament Scriptures
Jewish traditions
Religious practices
The teachings of the Pharisees

This knowledge later became useful when Paul explained the Christian faith from the Scriptures.

Saul’s Pharisee Background

Saul belonged to the Pharisees, a Jewish religious group known for its strict observance of the Law of Moses and Jewish traditions.

Saul took his Pharisee beliefs very seriously. He believed that he was serving God by defending Jewish religious practices.

Before his conversion, he strongly opposed the followers of Jesus because he believed that Christianity was a threat to Jewish traditions.

Saul’s Knowledge of Jewish Law

Saul was highly knowledgeable about Jewish law. He had been carefully trained to understand and observe the laws and traditions of his people.

His knowledge made him a very committed religious person. However, before his encounter with Christ, he used this knowledge to oppose Christians.

After his conversion, God used the same knowledge in a different way. Paul was able to explain how Jesus Christ fulfilled God’s promises in the Scriptures.

Growing Up in Jewish and Greek Cultures

Because Saul was born in Tarsus, he was exposed to both Jewish and Greek cultures.

His Jewish background taught him:

The Jewish Scriptures
The Law of Moses
Jewish traditions
The worship of God
The history of Israel

His surroundings in Tarsus also exposed him to the Greek language and culture.

This combination became very useful later in Paul’s ministry because he was able to communicate with both Jews and Gentiles.

Saul’s Early Zeal for Jewish Traditions

Saul was extremely passionate about protecting Jewish traditions. He believed that the followers of Jesus were going against the religion and traditions of his people.

Because of this zeal, Saul persecuted Christians before his conversion. He approved of the persecution of Christians and sought permission to arrest believers.

His actions showed that he was deeply committed to what he believed was right. However, his understanding changed completely when he encountered Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus.

Key Lesson

Saul’s early life prepared him in many ways for his future ministry. His Jewish heritage, Roman citizenship, education, knowledge of Scripture, and exposure to different cultures later helped him become an effective missionary to Jews and Gentiles.

Most importantly, Saul’s life teaches us that God can transform a person’s life and use his or her background, education and abilities for His purpose.

Moral Lessons

Education can be used positively when it is directed toward God’s purpose.
We should be careful not to judge others based only on our own understanding.
A person’s past does not determine his or her future.
God can transform people who sincerely turn to Him.
Our abilities and experiences can be used to serve God.
We should be willing to correct our mistakes when we discover the truth.
Zeal should be guided by truth and wisdom.

Paul's Conversion I

This lesson includes:

Lesson Content

Related Lessons

Paul's Early Life I

Paul's Early Life II

Paul's Conversion II