Frankly, no man today can be certain of Paul’s appearance. The drawings and paintings in our publications are artistic representations, not images based on proven archaeological facts.

However, there are some indications of Paul’s appearance. For example, Zion’s Watch Tower of March 1, 1902, mentioned one, saying: “As to Paul’s personal appearance: . . . In the ‘Acts of Paul and Thecla,’ . . . written about A. D. 150, there is a description of Paul which is probably the best, and a true tradition. In this he is described as ‘small in size, bald-headed, bandy-legged, well built, with eyebrows meeting; rather long nosed.’”

The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (1997 edition) says about that ancient writing: “It is not impossible that the ‘Acts’ contain some elements of historical truth.” The Acts of Paul and Thecla was highly regarded in early centuries, as confirmed by the fact that 80 Greek manuscripts of it exist, as well as versions in other languages. Thus, our artistic presentations are in line with some ancient indications of what the apostle looked like.

Bear in mind, though, that other things are more significant than Paul’s appearance. Even while Paul was carrying on his ministry, some fleshly critics charged that “his presence in person [was] weak and his speech contemptible.” (2 Cor. 10:10) But we should not forget that he became a Christian by a miraculous display from Jesus. We can also think about what Paul accomplished as “a chosen vessel to [Christ] to bear [Jesus’] name to the nations.” (Acts 9:3-5, 15; 22:6-8) And consider how much benefit we can draw from the Bible books that Jehovah inspired Paul to write.

Paul did not boast over his accomplishments before becoming a Christian; nor did he describe his physical appearance. (Acts 26:4, 5; Phil. 3:4-6) He admitted: “I am the least of the apostles, and I am not worthy of being called an apostle.” (1 Cor. 15:9) He later wrote: “To me, a man less than the least of all holy ones, this undeserved kindness was given, so that I should declare to the nations the good news about the unfathomable riches of the Christ.” (Eph. 3:8) That message is certainly more significant than any concern about what Paul may have looked like.

Vbene ẹmwata, ọmwa rhọkpa i rrọọ vbe ẹdẹnẹrẹ nọ gele rẹn vbene Pọl ghaa ye hẹ. Avbe efoto ọghe ukọ e Pọl ni rre ebe ọghomwa keghi re ne a ya maa emwa emwi, ẹi re obọ avbe umẹwaẹn ni gualọ otọ emwi dinmwi ma na miẹn efoto vberriọ.

Vbọrhirhighayehẹ, ọ mwẹ ebe eso nẹdẹ ni guan kaẹn vbene Pọl gele ye hẹ. Vbe igiemwi, Zion’s Watch Tower nọ ladian vbe March 1, 1902 keghi guan kaẹn ebe ọkpa nọ gie vbene Pọl ye hẹ. ‘Acts of Paul and Thecla’ ẹre a tie ebe na. A ghi biẹ Jesu nẹ, odẹ ukpo 150 ẹre ọ gberra, a ke gbẹn ebe na. Vbe nọ dekaan vbene Pọl gele ye hẹ, ebe na keghi gie ẹre zẹ vbene ọ guaero ighẹ okha ne emwa nibun yayi ke otọ gha dee. Ọna rhiema wẹẹ, ughaghe vbene ebe na ya gie Pọl, erriọ gele ye. Ọ wẹẹ kọ e Pọl ma tan gbe, ọ gbe akpan, ọ gada owẹ, ọ ye tititi, ọ mwẹ eto ifuanro nọbun kevbe ihue nọ taẹn.

The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church na dọlọ gbẹn vbe 1997 ghi guan kaẹn ne ebe ‘Acts of Paul and Thecla’ ọ keghi kha wẹẹ: “Ẹmwata rre emwi ne ebe na khare.” A ghi gbẹn ebe na nẹ, te emwa nibun wa ye gha loo ẹre vbe ukpo iyisẹn eso ghi gberra nẹ. Osẹ nọ rhie ọna ma ọre wẹẹ, vbe urhuẹvbo e Grik, ọ sẹ ebe 80 ne a gbennẹ ọnrẹn yi, te a vbe zedu ẹre ghe urhuẹvbo nibun ọvbehe. Ọna rhiema wẹẹ, efoto eso ne a ya obọ vinnọ ni rre ebe ima keghi guaero vbene ebe nẹdẹ eso ya gie Pọl.

Vbọrhirhighayehẹ, ọ khẹke ne ima gha mwẹ ọnrẹn vbe orhiọn wẹẹ, ọ mwẹ emwi eso ni ru ekpataki sẹ vbene Pọl ghaa ye hẹ vbe egbe. Vbe Pọl kporhu iyẹn nọ maan, emwa eso ni gbodan ghee ẹre keghi kha wẹẹ, “ọ gha gu ọmwa mudia, ọ ghi ye vburriẹ, ẹmwẹ ọnrẹn i vbe gbe emwi.” (2 Kọr 10:10) Vbọrhirhighayehẹ, ọ khẹke ne ima gha yerre odẹ ọghe ọyunnuan ne Pọl ya do gha re Ovbiotu e Kristi kevbe emwi ne ọ fiangbua zẹvbe ọmwa ne Jesu zẹe ‘ne ọ ya eni ẹnrẹn khian ne a rẹnrẹn’ vbe agbẹnvbo nibun. (Iwinna 9:3-5, 15; 22:6-8) Emwi ọvbehe nọ khẹke ne ima vbe gha rhie aro tua, ọre afiangbe ne ima miẹn vbe avbe ebe ne Jehova loo e Pọl ya gbẹnnẹ.

E Pọl ma gha tọn egbe mu rhunmwuda emwi nọ fiangbua vbe odẹ ọghe ikpakpa ọ ke do gha re Ovbiotu e Kristi, ọ ma vbe guan kaẹn vbene ukhuegbe irẹn ye hẹ. (Iwinna 26:4, 5; Fil 3:4-6) Ọ keghi kha wẹẹ: “Mẹ ẹre ọ ghi re ne ọ kanmwa sẹ vbe uwu avbe ukọ hia, sẹrriọ wẹẹ, ọ ma te khẹke ne a gha tie mwẹ ukọ.” (1 Kọr 15:9) E Pọl ye vbe kha wẹẹ: “Mẹ kanmwa sẹ ne ọ ghi kanmwa sẹ vbe uwu avbe emwa Osanobua, levbasevba, Osanobua keghi ya ọna ru mwẹ ẹse wẹẹ, ne I rhie iyẹn nọ maan ọghe ẹfe Kristi ne ẹi mwẹ okhiẹ bu iran ne ẹi re Ju gha khian.” (Ẹfis 3:8) Iyẹn nọ maan nii ẹre ọ ru ekpataki sẹ vbene Pọl ghaa ye hẹ vbe egbe ikpakpa.