When and why was Saul’s name changed to Paul?

Answer

One of the frequently discussed “name changes” in the Bible is that of Saul to Paul. The transformation is often associated with Saul’s conversion on the Damascus Road, where the Lord Jesus instructed him to bring the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 9:1-19). However, during Saul’s conversion, Jesus still referred to him as “Saul.” It was later when Jesus directed Ananias to locate “Saul” in Damascus and restore his sight. In Acts 9, “Saul” is depicted as growing in spiritual strength and gaining a deeper understanding of Jesus as the Messiah. Therefore, the name change from Saul to Paul did not occur during Jesus’ encounter on the road to Damascus. If Jesus did not initiate the change, how and when did it happen?

The explanation is that Saul also went by the name Paul. It was customary to have dual names during that era. Acts 13:9 refers to the apostle as “Saul, who was also called Paul.” Subsequently, in Scripture, Saul is consistently identified as “Paul.”

Paul, a Jew, was born in the Roman city of Tarsus. He took pride in his Jewish lineage, as detailed in Philippians 3:5: “Circumcised on the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrew parentage; in observance of the law, a Pharisee.” His fervor and piety led him to persecute Christians as a demonstration of his dedication. Initially, he preferred using his Hebrew name, Saul, until a period following his acceptance of and preaching about Christ. Thereafter, as “the apostle to the Gentiles” «For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: », (Romans 11:13), he embraced his Roman name, Paul.

Name, Paul. It would make sense for Paul to use his Roman name as he traveled further and further into the Gentile world.

It is interesting that Paul began using his Roman name on Cyprus when the Roman proconsul on that island was converted “Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.”, (Acts 13:12). This was during Paul’s first missionary journey and involved a high-ranking, idolatrous Gentile coming to faith in Christ. The fact that the proconsul’s name was Sergius Paulus has led some to think that Saul took the name Paulus/Paul as a reminder of this event, but the apostle’s name being the same as the proconsul’s is most likely a coincidence.

Using his Roman name was fitting for the man who proclaimed that he would become “all things to all people,” a Jew to the Jews in order to win the Jews, weak to the weak in order to win the weak, etc., all for the sake of the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). Adopting his Roman name would allow Paul to approach the Gentiles to whom he was sent and speak to them in their own language, becoming as one of them and setting them at ease. It is also possible that Paul gave up the use of his Hebrew name, Saul, with its regal connotation and chose to use his Roman name, Paul, meaning “little” or “small,” because he desired to become smaller in order to present Christ as greater cf: John 3:30.

Unlike the changing of Simon’s name to Peter (Matthew 16:18-19), which Jesus did for a specific purpose, there is no reference in the Bible to Jesus changing Saul’s name to Paul.