Regarded by many as the founder of organized Christianity, Saint Paul the Apostle is a contradictory figure. Before his conversion to Christianity, Paul persecuted Christians, and it is believed he even enthusiastically attended Saint Stephen's stoning. After his conversion, he began his ministry, traveling the Roman Empire and writing famous letters that are some of the earliest Christian documents. But who was he really?

In this book, British radio presenter and journalist Edward Stourton recounts his own journey to real sites from St. Paul's life. He begins with Paul's birthplace of Tarsus and continues all the way to Paul's martyrdom in Rome more than sixty years later. With detailed research, Stourton contemplates the apostle's experiences, education, and background, as well as his relevance to contemporary political and social issues. Ultimately, he transforms St. Paul from an elusive New Testament figure into a flesh and blood man with a passion for his beliefs.