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The apostle Paul was likely around 60 years old when he passed away. In the first century, he lived a relatively long life.
Paul was born in the city of Tarsus, probably in the early years of the 1st century AD, and he likely died in the mid to late 60s. This would have made him nearly 60 years old at the time of his death. Given the challenges he faced and the era he lived in, Paul would have been considered elderly when he died.
Initially, the Roman authorities viewed Christianity as a Jewish sect and generally allowed some religious freedom. However, by AD 64, Emperor Nero began harshly persecuting and executing Christians, accusing them of causing a destructive fire that ravaged Rome that year. Paul might have been among those wrongly arrested and put to death during that period. It is also conceivable that Paul was apprehended in the following years, being “bound like a criminal” «wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. », (2 Timothy 2:9), and sentenced to death for his courageous faith and unwavering dedication to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Tradition holds that Paul was beheaded in Rome, although the specifics of his trial and execution were not documented. From Scripture, we learn that Paul spent his final days enduring the harsh conditions of a Roman prison as he awaited his death. Aware that his end was near, Paul wrote to his dear disciple Timothy: “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not o
Not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
Following the account of the early church historian Eusebius, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs records that Paul was led by Nero’s soldiers “out of the city to the place of execution, where he, after his prayers made, gave his neck to the sword” (chapter 1, section X).
The Lord had revealed to Paul that he would spend his days suffering for the sake of Christ’s name «for I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. », (Acts 9:16). From then on, Paul lived ready to die: “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:20-21;see also Acts 21:13).
Based on the book of Acts and the epistles of Paul, we know that Paul was a most determined man, enduring brutal physical attacks, oppression, and mistreatment in his endeavor to make Christ known. At last, he finished his course. Paul died in old age, a martyr and a hero of faith to believers of every century to follow.
