# Paul of Tarsus — Quo Vadis character guide

> Paul of Tarsus in Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Paul, Paul the Apostle

**First appearance:** 0011-ix

## Snapshot

The Apostle who argues in Rome that if Caesar were Christian, life itself would be safer, and who bends Vinicius toward a faith he cannot yet understand.

## Who they are

Paul moves through Rome as a preacher whose words unsettle even Petronius, who repeats his argument that Christians are not enemies of life but of scoundrelism. He meets Vinicius in the middle of the patrician's pursuit of Lygia and offers a way of seeing love, death, and the soul that Roman pleasure cannot answer. His presence turns the novel's conflict from a hunt for a girl into a contest between two entire accounts of what a human being is for.

## In the story

### [Chapter VIII: Lygia's Flight and Ursus's Plan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/viii)

Acte references his letters regarding Christian teachings.

### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/xvi)

Mentioned as a great lawgiver of the Christians, imprisoned in Rome; Chilo considers seeking him out.

### [Chapter XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/xxviii)

Visited Vinicius after Lygia's flight and spoke of God opening his eyes to the light.

### [Chapter XXXIII: The Blessing of Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/xxxiii)

Adds that love is paramount, and agrees to go to Antium with Vinicius.

### [Chapter XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/xxxiv)

Mentioned as the teacher of the faith who will instruct Vinicius before his baptism.

### [Vinicius to Lygia: A Letter from Antium](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/xxxviii)

Vinicius dines with him and listens to his teachings, which bring him peace and understanding.

### [Chapter XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/xxxix)

Referenced as having convinced Vinicius of Christ's divinity and conversion, and as a future visitor to their colony.

### [Chapter XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/xl)

Paul is referenced by Vinicius regarding his teaching that God forewarns but does not permit belief in omens.

### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/xlii)

Mentioned in Vinicius's prayer as one who declared Christ's mercy.

### [The Forest of Crosses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/lvii)

Appears in the amphitheater to comfort the condemned, declaring a day of mercy and blessing them.

### [LXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/lxiii)

Paul is mentioned as having told Vinicius that he, too, must die as a martyr.

### [LXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/lxvi)

Mentioned as having sent back servants from Antium.

### [Quo Vadis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/lxix)

Receives Peter back in Rome with amazement.

### [The Martyrdom of Peter and Paul](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/lxx)

Led to execution at Aquae Salviae, meets Plautilla, reflects on his life of teaching love.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/characters/paul_of_tarsus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/characters