Expert: Francesco Marchesani - 10/1/2010

Question
Specifically, how did St. Paul, the apostle become a Roman citizen?

Answer
Hello,
St. Paul was a Roman citizen by birth.
It is not known how Paul's family acquired the Roman citizenship, some hypothesis are as follows:

- his ancestors, as hebrew citizens of Tarsus, were granted it by Julius Caesar  after his campaign against Pharnax in 47 BC

- his ancestors, as citizens of Tarsus, were granted it by Marc Antony  after the battle of Philippi in 42 BC

- his father or grandfather were granted it by having distinguished themselves in helping Roman forces in the area, by Caesar, Pompey or Marc Antony

- his ancestors,were taken to Tarsus as war prisoners, made slaves of a Roman citizen, and later fred; upon receiving his freedom from a Roman citizen, a slave acquired Roman citizenship automatically.