Acts 13:9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul,

 

We have been studying the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. While many believe that when he met Jesus on the Road to Damascus, Jesus changed his name but this is not true. Saul is not referred to as Paul until much later. It is not until the 9th Verse of the 13th Chapter of Acts that we find his name change and it simply says, Then Saul, who also is called Paul,

 

No one changed his name to Paul. The fact is, his name was also Paul. You see, he was born a Jew in the Roman city of Tarsus. His parents were proud of their Jewish heritage and gave him a Hebrew name which was Saul.

 

However, after his conversion on the Road to Damascus and his Calling to be the Apostle to the Gentiles, he chose to use the Roman version of his name which is Paul. This made sense as he traveled far outside Jerusalem and into the Gentile world preaching the Gospel of Christ.

 

The English (American) name John is said differently in other countries. John in Spanish or Latin countries is Juan while in German, it is Johann. John in the Danish language is Hans, in French it is Jean, and in Russian, John is Ivan. With this said, we understand that Saul and Paul are actually the same name. Saul being Hebrew and Paul being Roman.

 

Paul began to use this name on his first missionary trip to Cyprus. His life's work would now be sharing the Gospel to see people convert to Christianity. He was a man of great wisdom and he understood that he had to relate to people if he was to win them for Christ.

 

He wrote about this in his letter to the Corinthians. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the Gospel’s sake, that I may be a partaker of it with you. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

 

It is also believed that the Apostle preferred to use the name Paul because it means “small” or “little” and he had become a very humble man. His whole life had changed. Nothing was the same for Paul anymore. He became humble to reach the lost for Christ. As he said, to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the Gospel’s sake, that I may be a partaker of it with you.

 

Jesus changed this man. That’s what Jesus does. He changes people.

 

 

Jesus will……….turn the tide……….in this dark world.

 

 

Changing more every day,         Doreen

 

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