Paul was highly educated, and was admired for his genius and eloquence. He was chosen by his countrymen as a member of the Sanhedrim, and was a Rabbi of distinguished ability; yet his education had not been considered complete, until he had served an apprenticeship at some useful trade. He rejoiced that he was able to support himself by manual labor, and frequently declared that his own hands had ministered to his necessities. While in a city of strangers, he would not be chargeable to any one. When his means had been expended to advance the cause of Christ, he resorted to his trade in order to gain a livelihood.{LP 100.2}

Paulus var højt uddannet, og blev beundret for hans talent og veltalenhed. Han blev valgt af sine landsmænd som medlem af Sanhedrin, og var en Rabbi for fremragende dygtighed; alligevel blev hans uddannelse ikke betragtet som fuldstændig, før han havde haft en læretid til et nyttigt erhverv. Han glædede sig over at han var i stand til underholde sig selv ved manuelt arbejde, og erklærede ofte at hans egne hænder havde tjent til hans fornødenheder. Medens han var i en fremmed by, ville han ikke ligge nogen til byrde. Da hans midler var blevet brugt til at fremme Kristi sag, trak han sig tilbage til sit erhverv for at få en levefod.