Did St. Paul see Jesus in the Catholic Bible?

Answer 1

Yes, in a way. Paul (known as Saul, his Jewish name) was a persecutor of the new Christians as he was a law-keeper - a Pharisee - and an important one at that. Taught by no less than the great Gamaliel, Paul was a very learned and influential man - and put that learning and influence to use in condemning Christians and being complicit in their executions. We do not know whether or not Paul met Jesus during Jesus' three-year ministry but as the Pharisees feature a great deal in the gospels, and Paul was an important Pharisee, it is unthinkable that he should not have met him or been embroiled in arguments with him at some stage.

What we are certain of is that Paul was converted to Christianity in a powerful way. After the execution of Stephen, Paul was travelling to Damascus to arrest more Christians and round them up for execution. On the way he had a powerful vision of the risen Christ who spoke to him asking Paul why he was persecuting him. The experience had such a profound effect on Paul, even blinding him for a while, that he became converted himself to this new Christianity, changing his name from the old Jewish Saul to Paul - its Greek equivalent.

Paul then got to know the disciples - Peter and so on - although they were naturally very distrustful at first. Although Paul did not accompany Jesus in his 3-year mission, he would have known his teachings well, he learned much from the disciples, and his meeting of the Risen Christ on the Damascus Road ensured his authority as a follower of Jesus and leader of the early Church. Paul called himself the 'least of the Apostles' - as he always felt guilt as a one-time persecutor the church, but his changed life enabled Christianity to grow and flourish across Europe by the many churches he founded across the Roman Empire, and the letters he wrote to them of encouragement and teaching we still read afresh today as part of the New Testament.

Paul did not meet Jesus in the flesh, but at 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, he said that Jesus died and was buried, rose again according to the scriptures, then was seen by Cephas, then the twelve, then by more than 500, most of whom were still alive, then by James and all the apostles, and finally by himself. Here Paul implied that the appearances were all of the same nature, with no suggestion that any of the appearances to Cephas, the twelve, James or the apostles were somehow more real than the appearance he experienced. Nevertheless, it is clear from his account that this was only a spiritual experience, perhaps in a dream or vision.

Another reference:There is also an amazing passage in 2 Corinthians 12:1-9 in which Paul speaks of an "abundance of revelations" that were given to him while he was "caught up into Paradise." It was through these revelations (beginning with the vision on the road to Damascus) that Paul truly "knew" Jesus.

Answer 2

No, he did not see Jesus but did hear his voice, "Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?"

Answer 3

yes the Apostles knew Jesus.