The Road to Damascus – The True Story of Paul’s Conversion, by Marko Marina, Ph.D., Date written: April 17th, 2024
In this article, we aim to explore the true story of Paul’s conversion. We will delve into the historical context of Paul’s life, the narrative of his transformation as presented in various sources, and the debates surrounding the differing accounts of this event. Our goal is to present a comprehensive and objective view that is accessible to all readers, regardless of their prior knowledge of the subject.
By examining the available evidence and scholarly interpretations, we hope to shed light on the significance of Paul’s conversion and its impact on the early Church and beyond. Through this exploration, we invite readers to gain a deeper understanding of one of Christianity’s most transformative moments.
What Was Paul Doing in “Arabia”? By Jerome Murphy-O’Connor
Where was Arabia? … The first-century Jewish historian Josephus provides a very precise answer: Arabia could be seen to the east from a tower in Jerusalem. More specifically, it was contiguous to Herodian territory running along the southern border of the Roman province of Syria. Petra was the royal seat of Arabia, hence the name “Arabia Petrea,” or “Arabia belonging to Petra.” This mountain-encircled city, however, was the capital and chief city of the Nabateans, hence another name, “Arabia of the Nabateans.” This and other geographical markers clearly indicate that when the first-century Jew Paul went into “Arabia” he meant Nabatean territory, modern Jordan.
On the Road and on the Sea with St. Paul, Traveling conditions in the first century by Jerome Murphy-O’Connor
The article presents many descriptions of travel in the first century along the routes Paul would have taken.
Galatia in Text, Geography, and Archaeology by Mark Wilson in BAR, Fall 2020, 46.4 (2020): 54, 56.
- The name Galatia comes from the 20,000 Gauls and their families who migrated from Thrace (a historical region west of modern Istanbul shared today by Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey) into Asia Minor in 278 B.C.E. The Galatians settled the cities of Pessinus, Ancyra, and Tavium in the region later known as Galatia (located in what is now north central Turkey). In 25 B.C.E., the region was bequeathed to Rome, which made it a Roman province. The emperor Augustus named Ancyra (modern Ankara) as its capital. The new province included not only geographic Galatia—“north Galatia”—but also other regions to its south.
- These inscriptions [see article-Two Latin inscriptions found in excavations at Perga…] inform us that the province of Galatia extended southward to the Mediterranean Sea and included Pamphylia in Paul’s day. At the end of the first journey, Paul and Barnabas returned to Perga, and they undoubtedly planted a church there (Acts 14:25). Following his return to Antioch on the Orontes, Paul wrote his letter to the Galatians. [See insert below about Antioch on the Orontes from GotQuestions.org]
- Because of this new understanding of Galatia’s boundaries during the time of Paul, it now becomes likely that Christians in Pamphylia were also part of his Galatian audience. In terms of geography, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe were actually “middle Galatian” churches; Perga and possibly Attalia become the true “south Galatian” churches.
Map of Galatia from the BAR Article
From https://www.gotquestions.org/Antioch-in-the-Bible.html
Antioch of Syria, also known as Antioch on the Orontes River, was the third-largest city in the Roman Empire. Only Rome in Italy and Alexandria in Egypt were larger. Syrian Antioch (current-day Antakya, Turkey) was situated on the Orontes River about 20 miles inland from the Mediterranean Sea and approximately 300 miles north of Jerusalem. From its founding in 300 BC by Seleucus I Nicator, Syrian Antioch was a busy seaport trade hub possessing a lively mix of people from different cultures and religions with high intellectual and political status.
Antioch of Syria played a significant role in the book of Acts and the earliest developments in the spread of Christianity. The city was home to many Diaspora Jews—those deported through captivity who had chosen to remain living outside Israel but maintained their Jewish faith. These Hebrews engaged in business and enjoyed full rights of citizenship in the free city of Syrian Antioch. Through them, many Gentiles in Antioch were drawn to Judaism and, eventually, Christianity. One such Gentile convert was Nicolas from Antioch. He was among the seven Greek-speaking (Hellenist) leaders chosen to serve as deacons in Jerusalem (Acts 6:1–7).
