(St) the apostle, was born at Tarshis in Cilicia, of Jewish parents. He was educated at Tarsus; which, as Strabo informs us, excelled Alexandria, Athens, and Rome itself, for polite learning. Thence he was sent to Jerusalem, to study the law under Gamaliel. Here he became a Pharisee, and engaged in a violent persecution; but was wonderfully converted in his way to Damascus. After which he preached the gospel in various parts, until he was at last sent to Rome, where he is said to have converted Poppea Sabina, Nero's concubine; for which Nero being enraged against him, commanded him to be beheaded.

first bishop of Narbonne, or Sergius Paulus the proconsul, converted and made bishop by St Paul, was descended form one of the best families of Rome. It is said the apostle called himself Paul from his name. The Spaniards will have him to be their apostle, which is not improbable; and it is said he died a martyr at Narbonne.

(Father), was born at Venice in 1552. He was educated by his uncle Ambrosio Morelli, and soon made great progress in learning. He was remarkable for two qualities, which seldom meet in the same person; a strong memory, and clear judgment. He took upon him the habit of the Servites in 1566. Upon entering into this order, he changed his name of Peter Sarpi for that of Paul. He was afterwards chaplain chaplain to the duke of Mantua, and reader of positive and casuistical divinity and canon law in that city. So he became a perfect master of the Hebrew language and of history; but shewed the utmost contempt for judicial astrology. When weary of a court life, he returned to his convent at Venice; and fo intently applied himself to study, that he injured his health by it. He was chosen provincial of his order for the province of Venice at 26 years of age; and discharged this post with such honour, that 1759 he was appointed, with two others, to draw up new regulations and statutes for his order. This he executed with great success; and when his office of provincial was expired, he retired for three years to the study of natural and experimental philosophy and anatomy, in which he is said to have made some useful discoveries. He was then chosen procurator-general of his order; and during his residence at Rome was greatly esteemed by pope Sixtus V. and contracted an intimate friendship with cardinal Bellarmine and other eminent persons. Some time after, he was accused of heresy; and brought into a series of troubles, which he supported with exemplary patience and magnanimity; till at length, growing extremely odious to the pope's party, he was assassinated, and left for dead, by five ruffians, who retired to the palace of the pope's nuncio in Venice, from whence they escaped to Ravenna or Ferrara. These circumstances discovered who were concerned in this attempt. He recovered, however, of his wounds; and retired to a place of security, where he wrote his history of the council of Trent, which he compiled principally for the sake of king James I. of England, with whom he corresponded. His name, ever since the interdict, was become famous all over Europe; and two kings made him very advantageous offers to reside in their dominions. He died as he had lived, with piety and resignation, in 1623. He was a good controversial writer, a judicious and elegant historian.

PAULIONISTS, in church-history, Christian heretics of the third century, disciples of Paul Samotraensis bishop of Antioch, who denied Christ's divinity; maintaining, that, when we call him the Son of God, we do not therefore mean that he is truly and really God; but only that he was so perfect a man, and so superior in virtue to all others, that he had this name given him by way of eminence.