The person you’re looking for is Saul of Tarsus, later known as the apostle Paul.

Quick Scoop

  • Saul first despised the Christian movement and violently persecuted early believers, even imprisoning and approving the deaths of Christians.
  • On the road to Damascus, he experienced a dramatic encounter with Jesus, after which he converted and began traveling widely to preach Jesus’ message across the Roman world.
  • Under the name Paul, he helped establish many early churches and wrote several New Testament letters that are central to Christian teaching today.

In short: the answer to “who first despised the Christian movement, but then later traveled to preach Jesus’ message?” is Saul (Paul) the apostle.