How did the Apostle Paul obtain his Roman citizenship?

Question

I want to know your ideas, based on your research.... from my own research, it seems that he was born a Roman citizen, due to his parents both being citizens themselves.

Answer 1

I read this:
"Paul described himself as an Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin, circumcised on the eighth day, a Pharisee (Rom 11:1; Phil 3:5), and of the "Jews' religion . . . more exceedingly zealous of the traditions" (Gal 1:14 KJV). He was born as Saul in Tarsus of Cilicia and received a Jewish education. Acts records that Paul was a Roman citizen—a privilege he used a number of times in his defence, appealing convictions in Judea to Rome (Acts 22:25 and 27–29).+The common assumption is that Paul was never married. According to Acts 22:3, Paul studied in Jerusalem under the Rabbi Gamaliel, well known in Paul's time. Thomas Robinson depicts Paul as coming to study in Jerusalem under Gamaliel, when Shammai became Nasi of the Sanhedrin, and during the rise to supremacy of the house of Shammai from 20. However, some scholars, such as Helmut Koester, have expressed doubts that Paul either was in Jerusalem at this time or studied under this famous rabbi. Paul supported himself during his travels and while preaching—a fact he alludes to a number of times (e.g., 1 Cor 9:13–15); according to Acts 18:3, he worked as a tentmaker. According to Romans 16:2, he had a patroness (Koine Greek προστάτις prostatis) named Phoebe."

Nobody say how Paul obtain Roman citizenship. All variant are open.
Maybe we can study the secret archive of Vatican........

Answer 2

An Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin and an apostle of Jesus Christ. (Eph 1:1; Php 3:5) Though perhaps having both the Hebrew name Saul and the Roman name Paul from childhood (Ac 9:17; 2Pe 3:15), this apostle may have chosen to go by his Roman name in view of his commission to declare the good news to the non-Jews.—Ac 9:15; Ga 2:7, 8.

Paul was born in Tarsus, a prominent city of Cilicia. (Ac 21:39; 22:3) His parents were Hebrews and evidently adhered to the Pharisaic branch of Judaism. (Ac 23:6; Php 3:5) He was a Roman citizen from birth (Ac 22:28), his father having perhaps been granted citizenship for services rendered. Paul probably learned the trade of tentmaker from his father. (Ac 18:3) But, at Jerusalem, he received instruction from the learned Pharisee Gamaliel, suggesting that Paul was from a prominent family. (Ac 22:3; 5:34) Languagewise, Paul was versed at least in Greek and Hebrew. (Ac 21:37-40) At the time that Paul traveled as a missionary, he was unmarried. (1Co 7:8) During this general period, if not already earlier, he had a sister and a nephew who resided in Jerusalem.—Ac 23:16-22.

Answer 3

Acts 22:28 Paul states that he was Free Born which in my judgment means "am Roman born i.e of a father who had obtained citizenship.

Answer 4

Well, not much to go on. Paul was a Jew born in Tarsus, born as a Roman citizen. Obviously his parents had to either buy their citizenship or be born into it themselves.

Answer 5

Paul was born a jew, not a Roman.

Paul first applied for Roman Citizenship when he was 20 years old. He was living with his Roman girlfriend and was able to apply under the provision for unmarried spouses. He was granted leave to be Roman for a trial 12 month period.

However, after splitting up with the girlfriend during the 12 months, after she ran off with a travelling gourd salesman, he had to reapply through a business sponsorship.

He got a job working for a chain of Roman pizza restaurants named Dominoes, and they sponsored his application. In accordance with the citizenship rules, he had to work for Dominoes delivering pizzas by donkey for 4 years to finally get his certificate from Rome.

Answer 6

All of the Jews in Isreal were Roman citizens due to conquest. Paul was a Pharisee (which was part of the Jewish religious sect in Israel) When Jesus was being tried the people claimed their rights under Roman and Jewish law. As Rome conquered nations they integrated the populations making them all part of Rome therefore all of Israel were Roman citizens.

Answer 7

Likely, Paul's parents lived in Rome and he was born there. Calling himself an Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin only means that he was a descendent of Israel (remember, Israel was the new name that God gave to Jacob), specifically from Israel's son, Benjamin.

I'm a descendent of of a Lithuanian rabbi... but I was born in America. My grandfather (Dad's dad) immigrated to the U.S. in the 1920's... and he became a legal citizen of the U.S.

Answer 8

You're probably right...I'm more interested in the lesser-known apostle, Larry the Intoxicated. He could never remember a damn thing Jesus said 'cause he was always on the sauce...so they kind of threw him out of the group...plus, he would have been number 13, which was just plain bad juju...

Answer 9

Romans are Latinos

Latino Culture come from the Romano-Latino-Germanic Culture.

Answer 10

Yes he was. Actually he was a centurion named Saul... when a miracle happened and he converted to Christianity and was baptised Paul.