4 - Paul, the man of virtue

Summary

The Greco-Roman world was, to a great extent, conscious of and indeed built upon a hierarchical system of social status where each person had a place. Furthermore, men of wealth, education, and good pedigree were those who held power. Given this fact, it is no wonder that Luke seemed intent on emphasizing his hero's social credentials. According to his portrayal in Acts, Paul was a man of wealth, good birth, and education who was proud of his standing in his city of Tarsus, relied upon the advantages of an inherited Roman citizenship, and was also a strict Pharisee. It is evident that each of these attributes possessed correspondingly high prestige or status. However, Luke's description of Paul as a Greek citizen of Tarsus, a strict Pharisee, and a Roman citizen raises many problems. It appears that in these last chapters of Acts, Luke was not simply recording historical facts but was intentionally portraying Paul as a man of high social status.

However, Luke was not satisfied to testify to Paul's social credentials alone. He also set Paul forth as an individual who exhibited, particularly after his conversion, the various cardinal virtues of ϕρόνησις, σωϕροσύνη, ἀνδρεία, and δικαιοσύνη. It was recognized by the various philosophical traditions which interested those of power and wealth of the day, that the advantages of good pedigree, wealth, and education were no guarantees of virtuous action.