As the primary architect of early Christianity, Saint Paul exerted an influence on Western thought exceeding that of any other individual. What enabled him to do that? Both Jew and Roman citizen, he grew up in a region dominated by Greek culture and had a command of at least three languages. This novel builds on what is known of the first-century Roman Empire, the conflicting cultures, and the life and views of Paul himself. It then proceeds to create a plausible picture of the character of this man, of his inner struggles, and of the sorts of people with whom he interacted as he sought his path and went on to pursue it energetically until the end of his life.