I Appeal To Caesar!

Saul’s parents lived in Tarsus, but they also made annual trips to Jerusalem with their children to celebrate the Feast Days. When the time comes for Saul to depart Tarsus, he travels alone by boat to Caesarea (300 miles), and then by caravan to Jerusalem (75 miles). Saul has made this trip a number of times, so he is aware of all that must be done. Room and board are already arranged for Saul by Barnabas, a friend and distant relative of the family; an opportunity is also provided for Saul to supplement income by working part-time in one of the tent-making shops. All of this is a dream come true for Saul’s parents and for their son as well. Quickly excelling in his Jerusalem studies, Saul becomes one of the most promising young rabbis under the tutelage of Gamaliel, the master teacher of Jerusalem. His mental acuity and agility develop, and Saul is exposed to the best of hermeneutical skills in interpreting Scripture. Above all, Saul’s spiritual zeal and religious dedication intensify so that this most promising student becomes not only a Pharisee, a rabbi, and a shining example and communicator in the Jerusalem synagogues, but he also becomes the leading Torah expert, whose insights are sought out by the esteemed members of the Sanhedrin.

AD 30, Jesus is 30 and Saul 25

Possibly, Saul was born in the same year as Jesus of Nazareth or, at least sometime within the first decade of the common era. Saul was probably five years younger than Jesus.