If Paul had desired a wife, would God have provided him a way to get one?

[dothackzero]

Basically, I'm just wondering if the gift of cellabusy is only for the people that don't desire a wife or there is some of the people that want a wife have the gift of celibacy too.

[chosenone]

That hard to say. I am sure that there are people who really want to marry but who never do. For women believers especially, there simply arent enough Christian men to go round, especially when they get slightly older, so many will not marry.
Paul did have a rather a special task, and I doubt that any wife he had would have seen him much, unless she went round with him!

[Lively Stone]

God calls people to celibacy, and He brings them to the acceptance of it. Normally, those who have the calling do not have the strong desire for marriage or a high libido instilled in them. God covers His bases.

As for Paul, I have read that there is some thought that he may have been married earlier as a Pharisee, but that he may have been a widower.

[JohnDB]

Tradition holds that Paul was divorced when he became an apostle & due to what we read in scripture we know he was consumed with preaching the gospel message so much that he didn't have time for a spouse.

But also there is a "hushed" tradition that Pricilla (or maybe it was lydia) was sweet on him. Can't remember. Either way there was found a piece of purple cloth in his coffin.   

[larry2]

1 John 5:14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

Corinthians 12:7   there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
 
2 Corinthians 12:8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. God had put this trial in Paul for a reason.
 
Israel lusted and tempted God, and Psalms 106:15 says And He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

[comfy]

"But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills." (1 Corinthians 12:11) So, I can see that the Holy Spirit chooses who gets which gifts.

And our Apostle Paul says he wishes that all men were single like him . . . but > "For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that." (1 Corinthians 7:7) So, I can see that marriage in Jesus is a gift of the Holy Spirit, and celibacy is a gift.

So - - through 1 Corinthians 12:11, I see that the Holy Spirit chooses who gets which gift. So, it is not about what I want. A gift can be used to bring me to where I don't want to go, but I'll be glad God did.

In my case, I have been interested in marrying quite a number of different women, but it seems there is something deeper that is winning lolololol

I would say that the real gift of the Holy Spirit will have you getting more like Jesus, and not be bringing out your own nature and your personality flaws which can act up when you are seeking what you just want for yourself. So, if you get more into something, and start meeting with ever more frustration and arguing and confusion and not getting better in how God has us loving . . . this can show how God does not bless us to do what He doesn't want.