Paul the Apostle is one of the most important figures in Christianity. He was an early Christian missionary who was responsible for spreading the gospel of Christ across much of the Mediterranean world by preaching about Jesus Christ and converting people to this new religion. He wrote many letters that are still influential today, including some to churches that he founded during his missionary journeys. Paul’s writings have been widely studied and analyzed by theologians over the past two thousand years, making him one of the most studied figures in all human history.
Paul was originally Jew, and a Roman citizen which gave him privileges in front of law and justice. Paul’s life before his conversion to Christianity is shrouded in mystery but it is known that he had been a zealous persecutor of Christians until his encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus.
His Arrest & Accusations
Paul the Apostle visited Jerusalem for what would be one of his last times as a free man before being imprisoned in the city of Caesarea. Many Jewish leaders saw him as a troublemaker and wanted to get him out of the way and to stop spreading the word of Jesus. Paul was falsely accused and arrested in Jerusalem and taken to Caesarea, where he was tried before Governor Felix. As a Roman citizen he was entitled to a fair trial. Both sides told their versions of what happened but, Felix could not come to a verdict until supposedly a Roman commander came to Jerusalem to decide who is telling the truth. Because of this Felix kept Paul imprisoned for 2 years. Some say that Felix kept him in prison in order to receive a bribe from him in exchange for his freedom.
After the 2 years imprisoned, a new governor replaced Felix, his name was Festus. The accusations were presented again but, this time Festus knew that there wasn’t sufficient evidence against Paul but, due to political pressure from his Jewish accusers he did not immediately declare him innocent. Eventually Paul tells Festus that he wants to present his case in front of the highest court in Rome since no one can give him a verdict. Festus agrees and he is sent to Rome under military guard. When he arrived in Rome it is presumed that he was executed for his beliefs and effectively became a martyr.
Numismatics Featuing Paul the Apostle
This coin collection contains two bronze prutah coins that were used in Judea from 52 to 62 CE. This set features a coin that was used during the administration of Governor Antonius Felix and another coin that was used during the administration of Governor Porcius Festus. These two Roman governors were mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles as the governors who imprisoned St. Paul and who sent St. Paul to Rome to be executed, respectively. There are two coin types that were circulated under Antonius Felix. One coin features Julia Agrippa, the wife of Emperor Claudius, within a wreath and Tiberius with titles. Another coin features Emperor Nero Claudius Caesar with two shields and two spears crossed and a six-branched palm tree. There is one coin type that was circulated under Porcius Festus. It featured Nero in a wreath and Caesar with palm fronds and the date. Paul the Apostle is also present on the revere side of the Greece, 500 Drachmai banknote from 1955.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_the_Apostle
Paul on Trial
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Paul-the-Apostle
