September 27-Octobe 1, 2010

But Saul, who was also known as Paul,

filled with the Holy Spirit,

fixed his gaze upon him,

Acts 13:9

It’s always a joy to meet up with my old friend Paul. We will be walking with him for most of the journey that remains in our trek through the Word. When I recall his early beginnings and then think of the man he became, I clearly see what it is to be a “new creature in Christ!”

Although we often refer to him as Paul, Jesus called him Saul when met him on the road to Damascus. When and how was Saul’s name changed? I know some of you have already looked at this with me when we journey together on our last trip through the Word. But for the sake of those who were not with us, and also for those who may have missed the information in that blog, I am sharing it with you again. I enjoyed reading it again and I’m sure those who heard it before won’t mind hearing it again.

A NEW NAME

Throughout the Bible we find places where God changes people’s names. A while ago we were with Abram and Sarai when God changed their names to Abraham and Sarah. Jacob’s encounter with the Angel of the Lord resulted in being called Israel. Jesus nicknamed Simon, Peter. But when was Saul’s named converted to Paul?

We are often under the assumption that it was during some divine encounter with God that Saul found himself called by a new name. Can you recall any time that God ever spoke to Saul and changed his name? Search as you may, you won’t find it anywhere in Acts, or any other book for that matter. Why – because it just isn’t there! So how did Saul become Paul?

To understand this, we must understand who Paul is. In Paul’s address to the multitude in Jerusalem, his defense before King Agrippa, and also his letter to the Philippians, Paul gives us great insight to his background and upbringing. He was raised in a strong Jewish home, upholding the Law with great zeal. But Paul also made it clear, when he was about to be beaten by the Roman captain, that he was a born Roman citizen. Although Paul was in Jerusalem when we met him, the place of his birth and his hometown were in Tarsus, a chief town in Cilicia. Back then, just as it is today, a Jew who was from another area would most often have two names, a Hebrew name and a name common to the region he was from.

A number of years ago, when I was in the Midrasha College of Jewish Studies in Southfield, Michigan, I was the only Gentile in my class. On our first day of class, we were asked to give our names and then to give our Hebrew name. For some time, my class thought I did not have a Jewish name because I was a liberal Jew. We all developed a good relationship over the next few weeks. One day the question came up as to why we were all attending the language class. When I confessed that I was a Christian and a Bible teacher, once they got over the shock, they said, “So that’s why you don’t have a Hebrew name.” Because they had become my friends, they felt it was extremely important that I be given a new name. With the help of my teacher, they decided that my name should be Shir-le, which means “sing to me.”

Paul would also have had two names; one representing his Roman heritage and also a Hebrew name. When we first meet the religiously zealous Saul, he was going by his Hebrew name. Once Saul had been converted, he tried to persuade the Jews to embrace the truth of their Messiah. Each time he began to influence his people to accept Christ, Jewish teachers and leaders came to turn the hearts of the people against him. Over and over again, the Jews rejected Paul, while the Gentiles embraced him. Paul was aware of his call to the Gentiles, but he always honored the fact that the gospel was to the Jew first and then to the Gentile.

I personally believe the reason for Paul’s name change is found in the last chapter of the book of Acts.

After three days Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, "Brethren, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there was no ground for putting me to death. But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation. For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel."

They said to him, "We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere."

When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe. And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, "The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, saying, `Go to this people and say, "You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; And you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; For the heart of this people has become dull, And with their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes; Otherwise they might see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them." "Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen."

When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves. And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.

At this point in Paul’s ministry, he knew he had fulfilled the need to bring the message to the Jews first. He purposed from this time forth, that he would freely go to the Gentiles without further obligation to the Jews. When Paul writes to the Philippians, he describes every aspect of his Judaism. When he is done proving that he truly had been a Jew of Jews, he goes on to say that he counted all those things as rubbish so that he may gain Christ and his righteousness. I am persuaded that Paul was determined to demonstrate it was not Judaism and the Law that caused a man to be right with God, but it was only relationship with the crucified One that mattered. So strong were his convictions, that “Saul” did the unthinkable! He gave up his Hebrew name and only went by his Roman one. This would speak volumes to the Gentiles, as well as the Jews!

So in conclusion, why is there no account of God changing Saul’s name? Because He didn’t! Saul laid down every aspect of his Judaism for the sake of the gospel, including his coveted Hebrew name! The question is. what are we willing to lie down for the sake of the Gospel?