A former persecutor of Christians who was chosen by Jesus in a vision to be an apostle to the non-Jewish people. Most of the New Testament letters are written by him.
About Saul (Paul)
Name meaning “asked,” with the implication being “asked of God.” A name with a usage extending far back into prebiblical times, it is attested in third-millennium texts from Tell Mardikh in Syria (ancient Ebla) and appears also to have been used in the second millennium in the city of Ugarit on the coast of Syria.
In addition to the conventional spelling, it is sometimes spelled Shaul in older English versions. Apart from King Saul, the most famous bearer of the name, one other person called Saul (Shaul) is referred to in the OT, though little is known about him (see Shaul).
Key References
They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas
All Scripture References (20)
Acts (20)
They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see a thing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
“Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him.
Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.
When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, bringing with them John, also called Mark.
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, a man of intelligence, summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.
Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas
I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’
came and stood beside me. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘receive your sight.’ And at that moment I could see him.
We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’