Brewer's: Paul

(St.). Patron saint of preachers and tentmakers. Originally called Saul. The name was changed in honour of Serigus Paulus, whom he converted.

His symbol are a sword and open book, the former the instrument of his martyrdom, and the latter indicative of the new law propagated by him as the apostle of the Gentiles. He is represented of short stature, with bald head and grey, bushy beard.

Born
at Giscalis, a town of Judaea, from which he removed, with his parents, to Tarsus, of Cilicia. Tribe, that of Benjamin.

Taught
by Gamaliel.

Beheaded
by a sword in the fourteenth year of Nero. On the same day as Peter was crucified. Buried in the Ostian Way.

(See Eusebius: Hicronymus.)

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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