The Steadfast Spirit of Apostle Paul

The Apostle Paul stands out as one of the most influential figures in the New Testament. His writings are rich with spiritual wisdom, practical instruction, and deep theological insight—offering timeless lessons that continue to shape and inspire the Christian walk. Before diving deeper into understanding his characters and what we can learn from his life, it’s helpful to understand a few key facts about his background.

Paul, originally known as Saul, was transformed by the grace of God. Born into Hebrew culture, he was a Jew by birth and a Pharisee by conviction. He studied the Mosaic Law under Gamaliel, one of the most respected Jewish teachers of the time. As Saul, he earned a strong reputation as a devout student and teacher of the Law. His zeal for Jewish tradition fuelled his fierce opposition to the early Church—he persecuted Christians with determination, seeking to imprison and destroy them.

Yet Paul was also uniquely equipped to engage the Gentile world. Born in the Roman city of Tarsus, he was a Roman citizen and deeply familiar with Greek and Roman culture. Though thoroughly Jewish, Paul’s exposure to both worlds gave him a rare ability to communicate the gospel across cultural lines.

As Paul prepared to depart from the church in Ephesus on his journey to Jerusalem and eventually to Rome, he wrote heartfelt letters to encourage and strengthen them. From his life and words, we can learn 10 powerful traits worth emulating in our own walk with Christ.

We look to meditate the word from Acts 20 to look at these 10 Characters of Paul we should aspire to have.

Learning from Pauls Characters

1. Great Humility - [Acts 20:19 NIV] 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.

   1. Paul didn’t just display humility—he served with great humility. What does that look like?

   2. To understand this, Paul gives further insight in his letter to the Philippians: [Philippians 2:3-4 NIV] 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the oth        

   3. What defines “Great” Humility?

      1. Recognizing our true position before God – acknowledging that He is everything, and we are simply His servants.

      2. Letting go of the need for recognition, power, or control.

      3. Remaining teachable – open to correction, willing to repent and grow.

      4. Serving others sacrificially, even when it costs us something.

      5. Refusing to boast in achievements, but always pointing back to God’s grace and giving Him the glory.

2. With tears - [Acts 20:19, 31 NIV] 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. ... 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

   1. Tears are a deep expression of our heart and often flow from a genuine spiritual relationship with God.

   2. We shed tears in moments of both joy and sorrow—but in the Spirit, tears also flow from a burdened heart, especially when we intercede before the Father.

   3. Paul speaks of serving with tears—through trials, and day and night—revealing the deep burden he carried to share Christ with everyone.

   4. Do you carry that burden for the people God has called you to serve? Do you weep for them?

   5. Paul’s tears reflected the very heart and compassion of Jesus—the same heart that mourned over Nineveh. [Jonah 4:11 NIV] 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left--and also many animals?"

   6. For many of us, our emotions are often centred around our own lives—we rarely weep over the things that matter to God.

   7. But when your heart begins to break for what breaks His, God will move powerfully through you, just as He did through Paul.

3. Trials & Perseverance-  [Acts 20:19 NIV] 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.

   1. The trials Paul faced weren’t just external—they came from within, from the minds and schemes of those opposing him.

   2. The Amplified Bible puts it this way: [Acts 20:19 AMP] “Trials which came on me because of the plots of the Jews [against me].”

   3. Paul’s trials and persecutions came in many forms—religious opposition, public rejection, emotional burdens, and daily hardships. Yet Paul never murmured or lamented over these hardships.

   4. He understood that just as we receive grace from the Lord, we are also called to share in trials and persecution for His name. [Philippians 1:29 NIV] 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,

4. Transparency - [Acts 20:20, 27 NIV] 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. ... 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.

   1. Transparency in both spiritual ministry and personal conduct helps guard against hypocrisy—and that’s exactly what Paul modelled.

   2. He repeatedly uses the phrase “I have not” to emphasize his integrity and openness. He repeats in Acts 20

   3. Verse 20: “I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you.”

   4. Verse 20 (b): He ministered “from house to house.”

   5. Verse 27: “I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.”

   6. Let this phrase “I have not” become a principle in our lives as well

   7. In the Tamil version, Paul says: “பிரயோஜனமானவைகளில் ஒன்றையும் நான் ஒழியப்பண்ணவில்லை”—reminding us to hold nothing back when serving others for God’s sake.

5. Gospel, He taught - [Acts 20:21 NIV] 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

   1. Paul’s gospel message was centred around three key elements:

   2. Repentance toward God – A call to turn from sin and pursue purity before God.

   3. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ – Trusting fully in the saving work of Christ.

   4. Being a Witness – Living out his calling by boldly testifying to both Jews and Gentiles.

   5. Acts 20:21 KJV] - 21. Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

6. Walking with Holy Spirit / Lead by Holy Spirit [Acts 20:22-23 NIV] 22 "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.

   1. From Paul’s second and third missionary journeys, we gain deep insight into his life and mission.

   2. He didn’t follow the crowd or seek approval from people—he followed the leading of the Holy Spirit with unwavering obedience.

7. Integrity & Hard work - [Acts 20:33-35 NIV] 33 I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'

   1. True integrity flows from a heart of contentment. Paul beautifully explains this in [Philippians 4:11-13 NIV] 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

   2. Contentment guards the heart from covetousness. Paul could boldly say, “I have not coveted anyone’s silver, gold, or clothing” (Acts 20:33), because his satisfaction was rooted in God, not material things.

   3. Paul demonstrated a strong work (Ministry) ethic, not relying on others, but trusting God to give him the strength to work hard. “These hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions” (Acts 20:34).

   4. He lived to give, not to receive. His life reflected the words of Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), consistently helping the weak through his labour and generosity.

8. Priority to Ministry over Life - [Acts 20:24 NIV] 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace.

   1. Paul didn’t see his own life as the highest priority. As he said, “I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me.”

   2. His mission was clear: to “testify to the good news of God’s grace.”

   3. Likewise, each of us has been entrusted with a unique calling. The question is—are we being faithful to the specific task God has given us?

9. Innocent of Blood - [Acts 20:26-27 NIV] 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.

   1. It is vital to speak everything God has entrusted to us, without holding back. If we withhold His message, we become accountable for those who are lost—we carry the weight of innocent blood.

   2. Many times some of these may be uncomfortable truths, look back the prophets they said what God told them to tell, not to what favours people.

   3. The Tamil version expresses this truth even more powerfully:

   4. "தேவனுடைய ஆலோசனையில் ஒன்றையும் நான் மறைத்துவைக்காமல், எல்லாவற்றையும் உங்களுக்கு அறிவித்தபடியினாலே, எல்லாருடைய இரத்தப்பழிக்கும் நீங்கி நான் சுத்தமாயிருக்கிறேனென்பதற்கு உங்களை இன்றையதினம் சாட்சிகளாக வைக்கிறேன்.”

   5. The NLT puts it this way:

   6. “I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault.” – Acts 20:26

   7. This “innocence from blood” refers to the accountability we bear before God—when we fail to speak the truth, we may have to answer for it on the day of judgment.

10. Dependence on God’s grace –

    1. Paul’s counsel to the elders flowed from his own life of practice and dependence - [Acts 20:32 NIV] 32 "Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

    2. Paul’s strength came not from himself, but from total reliance on God’s grace.

    3. Grace means receiving what we do not deserve—God’s unmerited favor. Paul lived in that truth.

    4. Even in his weakest moments, he leaned on the Lord, declaring: [2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV] 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

    5. His advice to the elders was shaped by what he personally experienced: God’s grace is enough to strengthen, sustain, and empower us for the journey.

Conclusion

If we truly desire to grow spiritually, we cannot remain content with where we are. Spiritual growth requires intentional self-assessment and a willingness to be shaped by God’s hand. These 10 character traits we see in Paul are not just admirable—they are essential for anyone who wants to be used by God.

We may not reflect all of them right now—but that’s exactly where we begin:

Humbly asking God to cultivate these qualities in us.

Pray that He would make you a vessel like Paul—faithful, bold, humble, Spirit-led, and full of grace.

As we pursue these traits, we won’t just grow personally—we will become a blessing to others and bring glory to the One who called us.