How Tall was Apostle Paul in the Bible?

Answer 1

No one really knows. However, some ancient documents record very brief scanty details of his appearance - as a short man with a bald head and slightly bowed legs. Such images include a diptych (2 paintings joined together) dating from the 4th century, a large medallion dating from an early Roman cemetery and a glass dish dating from the early 2nd century now in the British Museum. the 'Acta Pauli et Theelae' suggest a short man. Folklaw says that he was nicknamed 'the man of three cubits' a cubit being around 18-20 inches suggesting that Paul was under five feet tall. Other accounts suggest that Paul was broad shouldered, bald, aquiline nosed, eyebrows closely knit, with a thick, greying beard, a fair complexion and had an affable manner. These artefacts and accounts are not authoritative however, and can not be taken seriously or regarded with any certainty. One thing we do know is that Paul had some sort of affliction; he called it his 'thorn in the flesh'(2 Corinthians 12: 7-10). Many speculations have been made to what this could have been. Some have suggested that he had Arthritis - hence his bow legs. Others have sugested that he had a stammer; others that he had poor eyesight (caused by the Damascus road experience - and evident in his letters as he dictated them only writing the endings himself in some), some thought it meant an explosive temper, others that he had epilepsy. This latter affliction seems more likely as Paul refers to his fear of rejection (unfounded) by the Galatians (Galatians 4:14) as epilepsy in those days was thought of as demonic. Furthermore, some scholars think that he may well have exhibited a fit in Acts 22:11 when he speaks of 'falling into a trance'. Unless authoritative documents are unearthed, in the same way as the dead sea scrolls were, I guess we will never really know his actual appearance this side of glory.