Q’s from the Pews: Who is Saul / Paul? May 11, 2025
Historical and archeologic records have shown a large Jewish population living in the region of Cilicia (Turkey) in the 1st century AD. The capital of this region was Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul. According to Josephus, the Jewish historian, the area was colonized by Tarshish, the grandson of Noah’s son Japheth. It is fair to say that the Biblical roots of this region run deep! Modern Archeology discovered two ancient synagogues in the region in 2012, confirming an active Jewish presence.
The Romans conquered Cicilia in 332 BC, and many of the smaller groups of peoples like the Jewish population became slaves. This was common practice at the time. Slaves had some rights, and Roman citizenship could be earned by being freed from slavery. Roman citizenship could also be bought. Tarsus in the 1st Century AD was a free city. Anyone born of legal residents of a free Roman city like Tarsus would have birthright citizenship. When Paul is asked by the Roman Tribune, “Are you a Roman Citizen?” he answers “yes.” The Tribune is incredulous of his claim, responding to Paul: “I bought my citizenship for a large amount of money” (Acts 22: 27-28). Paul had a trade as a tentmaker (Acts 18:3), so was he a citizen by virtue of being a freed slave? Paul eliminates this possibility by his answer to the Tribune. “I was born a citizen” by virtue of being born to citizens in the free city of Tarsus (Acts 22:28).
Paul was a Hellenized (living in a Greek-speaking environment) Jew, living in the diaspora (Jewish communities living outside of the historical land of Israel (Judea).
Paul was his Greco-Roman name. However, he also had a Jewish name so he would be recognized as a Jew in Judea. Thus, his Hebrew name Saul, which means “to borrow,“ makes it possible that Paul borrowed a Hebrew name to study as a Pharisee under the Rabbi Gamliel. Send questions to: DRE@saintcolumbachurch.org. Please place Q’s Pews in the subject line. All questions are answered and kept confidential.