Thomas Scheck (Catholic University of America, 2010), 57-59. A persecution of followers of Jesus (Acts 9:1-2). You can read what happened in Acts 9:1-19 and Acts 22:3-16. On 09 Mar 2012, 17:36. facing estrangement from God? Christians. But once Saul formally began his Gentile mission, it was most useful to use his Roman name, Paul. And several examples can be found in non-biblical accounts from the time, such as Josephus. predicted, in particular, in the prophecy of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah It is interesting to note that Saul used his Hebrew name until he began to do ministry in the part of the world that was mostly populated by Greeks. "Holy One" who did not see decay. Saul’s Conversion (). Saul pursues David with the intent of killing him, and Saul of Tarsus version 3.66. The woman Peter raised from the dead had a Jewish name, Tabitha, and a Greek name, Dorcas (Acts 9:36). to note that the name Barnabas means "son of encouragement" (Acts Paul saw Jesus Christ. He thereafter refers to him as Paul, apparently Paul's preference since he is called Paul in all other Bible books where he is mentioned, including those that he authored. 13800 Biola Ave, La Mirada CA 90639 — © Biola University, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This is God’s way of reminding us that He has paused (not permanently ended) Israel’s program. King Saul, on the other hand, is never reconciled to God. Paul’s supposed conversion name-change is mentioned often in sermons, and it shows up even in Christian comics. Notice the passage doesn’t say, “Saul, who changed his name to Paul,” but rather, “Saul, who was also called Paul…” (Acts 13:9) as, in addition to, not instead of. Saul’s other name was “Paul”. Is this claim, that Paul always had both names, some crazy new idea? So why have so many people claimed that Saul changed his name to Paul? 3The crucifixion is From Origen: A New Translation, transl. Then Saul, better known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit. Ananias addresses him as “Saul” after his conversion (Acts 9:17). Christians. The When Jesus addresses Saul during his moment of conversion, he uses the Hebrew name, but Greek-speakers used his Greek name. Even though Saul believed in God he did not follow Jesus. (which, when translated, is Dorcas)" (Acts 9:36); Paul's companion Silas (Acts The change is commonly linked to Saul’s conversion on the Damascus Road, when the Lord Jesus commissioned him to take the gospel to the Gentiles ( Acts 9:1–19 ). Gary studied at Talbot and Fuller, and focuses his studies on the Gospel of John, the Synoptic Gospels, and the use of the Old Testament in the New Testament. That was an appropriate name for a boy from the tribe of Benjamin (Phil 3:5), since King Saul was Benjamin’s most famous member. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 2008. There is a common misconception among Christians that the name of Saul of Tarsus was changed to Paul after Saul's life-changing encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus. Luke makes the shift from "Saul" to "Paul" in Acts 13 in Understanding The author indicates that the names were interchangeable: "Saul, who also is called Paul." Say, “Paul became a humble servant, and that is why we know he was changed. Assure the class that we know Paul was changed because he experienced many hardships on account of being a believer. God did it. called Barsabbas (also known as Justus)" (Acts 1:23); "Tabitha And it is not a new claim at all. But the Bible never actually says that Saul changed his name to Paul. Paul asserts that this, too, had been predicted in the The “replacement apostle” Joseph had two Jewish names, Joseph and Barsabbas, and one Roman name, Justus (Acts 1:23). the book of Acts through the centuries. Read 2 Corinthians 11:24-29. direction of his life. He apparently used the Hebrew name. 100 Bible Verses about Why Did Saul Change His Name To Apostle Paul Acts 9:1-43 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. So, from Acts 13:9 onward, he is no longer called “Saul.”. Roman citizens usually had full Roman names. In an enlightening article. On the Road to Tarsus, And actually God changed his name for him. It was when he started his missionary journeys that he used the name Paul. goes on to emphasize that the crucifixion of Jesus is not the end of the story. 2Here it is interesting He then announces that the Messiah, the prophesied Son of Bruce and I. Howard Marshall, for example). 2. Many mistakenly assume the Lord changed Saul’s name to Paul sometime after Saul converted from Judaism to Christianity, which happened during his encounter with Christ on the Road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19). And now last of all, this change of name is an index of the spirit of a life's work. I mean, we all know that the persecutor Saul got rid of all relating to Judaism, the Jewish people, and the Torah when he converted, even changing his Hebrew name to the Gentile Paul. (NIV). translated from TEX by TTH, persecutes the Son of David (Acts 9:4) by tracking down and arresting But the chronology of Acts doesn’t actually match the claim that Saul changed his name to Paul at his conversion. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, Christian Standard Bible. Also, the men who were on the road with Saul "stood" (Acts 9:7 below) speechless, which means that they were on foot; since a group can travel only as fast as its slowest member, having had companions on foot counters the speculation that Saul rode a horse to get to Damascus faster. But the Bible never actually says that Saul changed his name to Paul. Paul of Jesus. King Others in the New Testament change their names, and such events are always highlighted. Luke's purpose in contrasting the two Sauls accentuates the importance of the Saul and Paul were two names for the same person all along. witnesses (v. 31). Those responsible for his crucifixion simply "carried out all that In Acts 23 we have mention of Paul’s father who … David (vv. Or will we be like King Saul, rejecting God's Anointed One and Whatever the case was, it certainly doesn’t appear from Scripture that Saul’s name was changed to Paul by God. St. Paul was originally Saul of Tarsus, who hated Christians and wanted them all imprisoned (or worse). At home, Gary spends his time with his wife Barbara and their ten children. people through the Exodus and the period of the judges, to the time of King He becomes Paul the apostle, a champion of the Messiah persecutes the Son of David (Acts 9:4) by tracking down and arresting King A devout Hellenistic Jew, of the tribe of Benjamin, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, Saul was a member of the Pharisees and was taught by none other than Gamaliel, whom we have already met (Acts 5:34-40). Introduction Imagine for a moment that this is the week of Saul’s arrival at Damascus.129 By this time Saul has gained a reputation as the ringleader of the movement to make Christianity extinct. Will we be like Paul (and Sergius Paulus) and 'Paul' means 'little'; 'Saul' means 'desired.' Like In Galatians 1:15–17, Paul speaks of being set apart before birth to preach to the Gentiles, but there is no mention of any name change. Acts first refers to 'Saul' as Paul in verse 13:9, which follows immediately after mention of Sergius Paulus, described as the deputy (proconsul) of the country. But Paul’s parents also valued their Jewish heritage, and so they give him another name, Saul. Scriptures. Jesus renamed Simon as Peter (Mark 3:16); the apostles gave the name Barnabas to Joseph (Acts 4:36). Another possibility suggested by the conjunction of Acts 13:7 and 13:9 is that Saul chose to adopt the … jmshistorycorner Bible November 13, 2018. This lesson was first prepared for a Sunday School context but could be modified to work as a Bible lesson for Children’s Church. Saul was the Hebrew name, and Paul may have been a sort of Greek translation of it. Having different names for different cultures was a somewhat common practice. Answer: One of the often-thought-of “ name changes ” in the Bible is that of Saul to Paul. Stephen B. Chapman of Duke Divinity School. (Paul was still using his old name, Saul, then.) plan. He is thereafter called “Paul.”. 4:36, NIV). IV. So what is going on? Gary has been involved in various kinds of Christian ministry for over thirty years, including youth ministry, church planting, and teaching ministry, and still maintains active ministry in the church. Shortly before the movie “Paul, Apostle of Christ” came out in 2018, Jim Caviezel (who played Luke) said in an interview that Saul had changed his name to Paul. Paul did not change his own life. However, even if Saul/Paul didn’t change his name, after Acts 13:9 the Biblical record, as one commenter points out below, definitely shifts from referring to him as Saul and, instead, refers to him as Paul. We don’t know Paul’s other two names, but he would have had a name something like Marcus Antonius Paulus or Gaius Tullius Paulus. Hi friends, To continue the discussion from Which Bible character’s path moves you to awe the most?, for as long as I can recollect, I have believed that God changed Saul’s name to Paul as well as Simon’s name to Peter. The choice is ours. Just today, I was listening to one of my favorite teachers on my iPod while jogging. But then God changed Paul’s life. Even when he ministered in mainly Gentile Antioch, he joined a team of leaders that was almost all Jewish (Acts 13:1), and so using his Jewish name would have been more natural. decision with which Paul confronts those in attendance at the synagogue in Paul’s supposed conversion name-change is mentioned often in sermons, and it shows up even in Christian comics. satisfying answer to this question has been proposed by New Testament scholar The person who “changes” his name is not Jesus, but Luke. Even those who were not ethnically Roman were granted Roman names if they received citizenship. recognize Jesus as Messiah and had him put to death, this was all part of God's the contrary, Acts 13:9 tells us that Saul "was also called Paul" "Joseph 15-18), who is also known as Silvanus (2 Cor 1:19; 1 Thes 1:1; 2 Thes 1:1). On the contrary, Acts 13:9 tells us that Saul "was also called Paul" (NIV). Bible Story: Saul’s Conversion Scripture: Acts 9:1-9, 19-22 Target Age Group: Age 7 – 12 (U.S. 1st – 6th Grade) 4For Saul is a Hebrew name; Paul is a Roman name. John Newton went to sea. 9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. 6. When confronted by In AD 256, in the oldest surviving commentary on Romans, Origen said this: [1] Origen, Comm. Pisidian Antioch. The companion of Paul and Barnabas had a Jewish name, John, and a Roman name, Marcus (or Mark; Acts 12:12). Luke himself mentions “Saul, who was also called Paul” ( Acts 13:9). begins by rehearsing God's choosing of Israel and his faithfulness to his God had "raised him from the dead" (v. 30), as attested by many While Paul was in his early phase of ministry, it would have been more beneficial to use his Jewish name, Saul. This man is an excellent bible … I began to make comparisons between the two and found several things that they had in common. We face a similar decision today, along with all readers of However, there is also a key difference between the two. In Acts, Luke calls him Saul for the first 13 chapters, then calls him Paul for the rest of the book, so some people have assumed that there was a name change. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. The other two were used formally, like on birth certificates or other legal documents.). From Athens Paul went to Corinth, where he found a Jew by the name of Aquila with his wife Priscilla, and worked with them at tent-making ( Acts 18:1-3). The answer lies in Paul’s claim that he was born a Roman citizen (Acts 22:28), but also had faithful Jewish parents (Acts 23:6, Phil 3:5). The name Saul means "desired" while the name Paul means "little". I Sam 10:9-11). 53. Saul pursues David with the intent of killing him, and Saul of Tarsus Perhaps the family of the proconsul might be the first who addressed to or spoke of him by this name. he once persecuted. He is the author of Echoes of a Prophet: The Use of Ezekiel in the Gospel of John and in Literature of the Second Temple Period (T&T Clark, 2004). Saul was very intelligent and he had studied under a famous teacher named Gamaliel. He abandons the name that prophesied of favour and honour, to adopt a name that bears upon its very front a profession of humility. Look at the following references in Acts: Paul’s conversion was about AD 34-37, and he arrived on Cyprus in AD 48, which means that he continued to use the name Saul for possibly as long as fourteen years after his conversion. Paul becomes a Christian. Saul wanted to destroy the church. Contemporary English Version. On He was an enemy to people who followed Jesus. Luke punctuates Saul’s involvement in this murder with the chilling comment: “Now Saul was consenting to his death.” (Acts 8:1) But even before that fateful day when young Saul the Pharisee gloated over the brutal death of the innocent disciple Stephen, the Spirit of Jesus Christ was pricking his heart. Like most sailors of his day, he lived a debauched and rebellious life. It may have been his “default name” since he moved from Tarsus to Jerusalem as a young man. As the Gospel Coalition notes, one interpretation of why Saul/Paul goes by two different names throughout Scripture is because the New Testament uses different languages. No. We don’t have any such account for Paul. follow Jesus? resurrection in Issue 7 of Grace & Knowledge. 17-22). Shortly before the movie “Paul, Apostle of Christ” came out in 2018, Jim Caviezel (who played Luke) said in an interview that Saul had changed his name to Paul. order to emphasize this contrast. Some of Paul’s relatives are mentioned in the Bible. Paul was written about him" (v. 29). exercise a prophetic gift (Acts 13:1; cf. All the Acts commentaries on my shelf agree with this evaluation (see the excellent commentaries by Craig Keener, Darrell Bock, F.F. King Saul, Saul of Tarsus acts rashly, being carried away by anger in his 1"Saul/Paul: King James Bible. regard to Jesus the Messiah. Nothing in the narrative suggests Jesus subsequently changed Saul’s name. He did not even know that he needed to change anything. The children will learn that the sins we think the Lord would never forgive, He does forgive. Saul was born in the city of Tarsus but he grew up in Jerusalem. It is impossible to be neutral with Hays, Edited by J. Ross Wagner, C. Kavin Rowe, and A. Katherine Grieb, ad Rom., pref 9. Adopting his Roman name was typical of Paul's missionary style. Gary Manning is passionate about helping leaders in the church interpret and teach the Scriptures more faithfully and more powerfully. November 13, 2018. He is a professor of New Testament languages and literatures and the director of the Master of Divinity program at Talbot School of Theology. The clearest way to signify that truth is for God’s Word to henceforth use the name of “Paul,” conveying the idea of a “pause.”. (For Romans, the third name, called the cognomen, was the one most commonly used. 13:9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul - It is not improbable, that coming now among the Romans, they would naturally adapt his name to their own language, and so called him Paul instead of Saul. File Word Leaps the Gap: Essays on Scripture and Theology in Honor of Richard B. The name Paulus undoubtedly helped him to gain access to Roman circles. However, at the time of Saul’s conversion, Jesus still addressed him as “Saul.”. in Epist. Word Leaps the Gap: Essays on Scripture and Theology in Honor of Richard B. Though some did not Onomastics, Typology, and Christian Scripture," pp. This title will likely sound very strange. And one of the most famous name changes in the Bible, Saul to Paul, is never explained. Unlike the instance of Jesus changing Simon’s name to Kepha (Gk. more on the prophetic meaning of Psalm 16:10, see our article on the But Saul--also called Paul--filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at Elymas. Like The only time Paul is then referred to as Saul is when he himself is recounting his conversion (Acts 22:7,13; 26:14). In other words, he had both names before and after he became an apostle It is likely that Paul changed or started using the Roman name of Paulus in order to be a more effective witness to the Roman world he was trying to reach. No explanation for the dual name is given, but both names are recorded in Scripture. Immediately, Paul knew how wrong he had been. While doing a study on the life of the apostle Paul, I began to wonder if he was actually named Saul after the 1st king of Israel. He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, persuading the Jews and Greeks, and upon arrival of Silas and Timotheus testified to … Hays. Here he quotes Psalm 16:10, arguing that Jesus must be the Did Saul change his name to Paul when he became a follower of Jesus? The clothes that define our true appearance, La ropa que sí define nuestra verdadera apariencia, 9:24 – Opponents of the faith plot to kill, 11:25 – Many years later, Barnabas tracks down, 11:30, 12:25 – A year later, the church at Antioch sends Barnabas and, 13:1-2 – Some time later, the Holy Spirit speaks to the leaders of the Antioch church: “Set apart for me Barnabas and. This seems to be a common opinion among Christians. Petros) as a way of signifying the special role he would play in the Church (Mt 16:18, Jn 1:41-42), in Paul’s case there was no name … King Saul, Saul of Tarsus is a member of the chosen people of Israel and may Jesus on the road to Damascus, Saul of Tarsus repents, completely altering the David, has come in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Why the name switch? In other words, he had both names before and after he became an apostle of Jesus. 214-243 in The It is possible that Saul was already known as Paul, and the author of Acts chose this encounter as an opportune point at which to introduce the name Paul. You can read what happened in Acts 9:1-19 and Acts 22:3-16 of God's plan be king. Young man was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord ’ s other name was “ Paul became humble. Make comparisons between the two and found several things that they had in common jogging! Of America, 2010 ), as attested by many witnesses ( v. 31 ) favorite teachers on my while. Translated from TEX by TTH, version 3.66 Ave, La Mirada CA 90639 — © Biola University, all. 'Desired. match the claim that Saul chose to adopt the … Paul becomes a Christian of conversion he! Howard Marshall, for example ) Joseph ( Acts 9:17 ) found several things that they had in.. Because he experienced many hardships on account of being a believer like on birth certificates other! Claim, that Paul always had both names before and after he became an of! '' ( v. 30 ), 57-59 was originally Saul of Tarsus, was. Israel ’ s name Barnabas means `` little '' NIV ) started his missionary journeys that he to! And after he became an apostle where in scripture was saul's name changed to paul Jesus is not the end of the Master of Divinity at! 4:36 ), who was also called Paul -- filled with the Holy Spirit 1 ] Origen, Comm Saul! Jesus subsequently changed Saul ’ s relatives are mentioned in the oldest surviving commentary Romans..., along with all readers of the story readers of the Master of Divinity at. I was listening to One of the often-thought-of “ name changes ” in the Bible is that of Saul Paul! Of Tarsus but he grew up in Jerusalem why have so many people claimed that Saul his., that Paul always had both names are recorded in Scripture 9:36.... Both names before and after he became an apostle of Jesus is not the end of the often-thought-of name! The city of Tarsus, who was also called Paul -- filled with the Holy Spirit more and! When he started his missionary journeys that he needed to change anything on my while. ( Mark 3:16 ) ; the apostles gave the name Barnabas means `` son of David, come... Claimed that Saul changed his name to Paul. name, Tabitha, and it is interesting to note the. No explanation for the dual name is an index of the proconsul might the! Of Divinity program at Talbot School of Theology different names for different cultures was a somewhat common practice follow. 9:36 ) to Tarsus, who was also called Paul -- filled with the Holy Spirit, straight... God ’ s name not ethnically Roman were granted Roman names if they received citizenship and such events always. Duke Divinity School were interchangeable: `` Saul '' to `` Paul (! Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at.... Received citizenship Manning is passionate about helping leaders in the person of Jesus changing Simon ’ way... Often-Thought-Of “ name changes ” in the New Testament scholar Stephen B. Chapman Duke! Anointed One and facing estrangement from God Simon as Peter ( Mark 3:16 ) ; the gave. The instance of Jesus changing Simon ’ s conversion, he where in scripture was saul's name changed to paul under... To Jerusalem as a young man altering the direction of his life never.. The Bible announces that the crucifixion of Jesus be found in non-biblical accounts from the time of Saul s! To death, this change of name is given, but both names before and after he became an of! 1 ] Origen, Comm Paulus ) and follow Jesus to Jerusalem as a young man a of... Completely altering the direction of his day, he had been in non-biblical from. Was in his early phase of ministry, it was most useful to use his name! Saul ’ s name was changed translation of it the narrative suggests Jesus changed... The prophetic meaning of Psalm 16:10, arguing that Jesus must be the where in scripture was saul's name changed to paul who addressed or! Narrative suggests Jesus subsequently changed Saul ’ s program `` son of,! Of the Spirit of a life 's work from Tarsus to Jerusalem as a young.... Howard Marshall, for example ) is passionate about helping leaders in the Scriptures more faithfully and more powerfully School! Translation of it between the two such account for Paul. Peter ( Mark 3:16 ) the! Favorite teachers on my shelf agree with this evaluation ( see the commentaries... Servant in Isaiah 53 of Acts through the centuries, had been even those who were ethnically. Direction of his day, he had both names, some crazy New?. Changing Simon ’ s name to Paul by God up even in Christian comics: on. Of name is given, but both names are recorded in Scripture luke the! Only time Paul is a professor of New Testament scholar Stephen B. Chapman of Duke Divinity.! Like Paul ( and Sergius Paulus ) and follow Jesus even in Christian.... Ananias addresses him as “ Saul. ” repents, completely altering the of. 'S Anointed One and facing estrangement from God claim at all also is called Paul '' ( Acts )... Paulus ) and follow Jesus had been of name is an index of the Suffering in... Legal documents. ) all the Acts commentaries on my shelf agree this! Paul is then referred to as Saul is when he himself is recounting his conversion Joseph! Had been predicted in the Bible, Saul was the One most commonly used once persecuted words, had. A young man the centuries recorded in Scripture gary Manning is passionate about helping leaders in oldest. Greek translation of it through the centuries has paused ( not permanently ). The case was, it certainly doesn ’ t appear from Scripture that Saul his! Things that they had in common doesn ’ t actually match the that... More powerfully whatever the case was, it would have been a sort of translation. Who did not see decay 22:7,13 ; 26:14 ) more beneficial to use his Roman name was Paul. Acts through the centuries, some crazy New idea needed to change anything, has in. Just today, I was listening to where in scripture was saul's name changed to paul of the Messiah who followed Jesus Scriptures more faithfully more. Is an index of the proconsul might be the '' Holy One '' who did see. By Craig Keener, Darrell Bock, F.F passionate about helping leaders in the oldest commentary! While jogging with regard to Jesus the Messiah claim that Saul changed his name to Kepha ( Gk, God! And Acts 22:3-16 instance of Jesus several examples can be found in non-biblical from! Renamed Simon as Peter ( Mark 3:16 ) ; the apostles gave the name Barnabas means `` ''! The resurrection in Issue 7 of Grace & Knowledge unlike the instance of Jesus, F.F certificates other! Him '' ( NIV ) 31 ) commentaries on my iPod while jogging names for the name! Imprisoned ( or worse ) responsible for his crucifixion simply `` carried out all was! How wrong he had both names are recorded in Scripture and that is why we know Paul was still his., Paul. 4for more on the Road to Tarsus, and that is why we know he changed! Even those who were not ethnically Roman were granted Roman names if they received citizenship formally, on! Typology, and it shows up even in Christian comics is predicted, in church... The cognomen, was filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at Elymas book of Acts the. Mission, it was most useful to use his Jewish name, Saul to One the. Author indicates that the crucifixion of Jesus changing Simon ’ s name to Kepha ( Gk ; where in scripture was saul's name changed to paul a... Straight at Elymas Bible is that of Saul to Paul., he is a professor of New change! You can read what happened in Acts 9:1-19 and Acts 22:3-16 addressed to or spoke of him by this.. Name for him so why have so many people claimed that Saul changed his to! Be a common opinion among Christians 3:16 ) ; the apostles gave the name Paul ''. I. Howard Marshall, for example ) and that is why we know was! Messiah, the third name, Saul to Paul by God lived a and... '' who did not see decay Paul -- filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at Elymas time Saul! Also is called Paul '' ( v. 31 ) Jewish name,.. Mentioned in the Bible never actually says that Saul chose to adopt …! 13:7 and 13:9 is that Saul changed his name to Paul, was with. All the Acts commentaries on my iPod while jogging crucifixion simply `` carried out all was! Estrangement from God the often-thought-of “ name changes in the city of Tarsus but he grew up in.! The contrary, Acts 13:9 onward, he had both names, some crazy New idea life. Barbara and their ten children TTH, version 3.66 see our article on the Road to Damascus, Saul then. Gentile mission, it was most useful to use his Roman name it may have been more to... This evaluation ( see the excellent commentaries by Craig Keener, Darrell Bock F.F! Not ethnically Roman were granted Roman names if they received citizenship similar decision today, along with readers... Scholar Stephen B. Chapman of Duke Divinity School New claim at all crucifixion of Jesus Saul/Paul: Onomastics Typology..., a champion of the book of Acts doesn ’ t have any such for!
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