When was Paul martyred and where?

Answer 1

Catholic tradition has held for nearly 2000 years that Paul was martyred during the reign of Roman Emperor Nero probably by beheading. As Paul was considered to be a Roman citizen he would have received a more 'humane' method of death than that used for non Romans.

During Paul's last days in prison in Rome he knew the end was near. In his second letter to Timothy he predicts the end is soon to come:

"6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 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 only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

Neither The Bible nor other sources say how or when Paul died, but
Ignatius of Antioch, probably around 110, writes that Paul was martyred in Rome.

Pope St. Clement I in chapter 5 of his letter to the Corinthians barely mentions in passing that both Saints Peter and Paul died and went on to their just reward. He gives no specifics. Of course, it can be argued that the intent of his epistle was to chastise certain members of the Church at Corinth and not to give a history of the early years of the Church.

In June of 2009 Pope Benedict XVI announced the excavation results concerning the tomb of Paul at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. The basilica was constructed over the tomb of Paul about the year 390. The sarcophagus was not opened but was examined by means of a probe, which revealed pieces of incense, purple and blue linen, and small bone fragments. The bone was radiocarbon dated to the 1st or 2nd century. According to the Vatican, these findings are consistent with the tradition that the tomb is Paul's. The sarcophagus was inscribed in Latin saying, "Paul apostle martyr".

Answer 2

A second-century tradition says that Peter and Paul were both martyred in Rome on the orders of Emperor Nero, somewhere around 64 CE. However, Clement of Rome, writing at the end of the first century (1 Clement), ought to have known if this had been the case but seems to have believed that Paul went to the 'west' (Spain) and lived out his remaining years there. It could be argued that Clement believed Paul was executed in Spain, but this requires interpreting Clement's letter from the perspective of hindsight tradition.

Answer 3

St. Paul was martyred sometime in the 60s in Rome. He was beheaded.