Name Change of Saul to Paul on the Damascus Road

The biblical figure known as Paul was originally named Saul, a common Jewish name meaning "asked for" ^[9]. He was born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, which was a Roman province ^{[1, 2]}. While Saul was his Hebrew name, he likely also had the name Paul from infancy for use in the Gentile world, as was common for Jews living in Gentile cities ^{[1, 11]}.

The transition from "Saul" to "Paul" in the biblical narrative occurs in the book of Acts. Before his conversion, Saul was a persecutor of Christians ^[10]. His dramatic encounter with Jesus occurred on the road to Damascus, a significant ancient city in Syria ^{[4, 5]}. During this event, a light from heaven flashed around him, and he heard a voice asking, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" ^[13]. This experience left him temporarily blind, and he was led by hand into Damascus ^[7]. After his conversion, Barnabas introduced Saul to the apostles in Jerusalem, describing how Saul had seen the Lord and boldly preached in Jesus' name ^{[3, 6]}.

The first instance where the name "Paul" is explicitly used in Acts is in chapter 13, verse 9: "But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him" ^[8]. This change is significant, as it marks a transition in his ministry. While some traditions suggest the name change was a direct result of his conversion on the Damascus Road, the text indicates that he was known by both names ^[11]. The shift to primarily using "Paul" coincides with his mission to the Gentiles ^[14]. John Chrysostom notes that Paul maintained a deep love for his Jewish people and considered them still privileged, adhering to the principle "To the Jew first, and also to the Greek" ^[12]. However, the use of "Paul" (a Greco-Roman name) signals his predominant focus on the Gentile mission ^[14]. Luke recounts Saul's conversion three times in Acts (9:1-19, 22:1-21, 26:1-29), underscoring its central importance to the narrative ^[10].

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Paul — =Saul (q.v.) was born about the same time as our Lord. His circumcision-name was Saul, and probably the name Paul was also given to him in infancy "for use in the Gentile world," as "Saul" would be his Hebrew home-name. He was a native of Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia, a Roman province in the south-east of Asia Minor. That city stood on the banks of the river Cydnus, which was navigable thus far; hence it became a centre of extensive commercial traffic with many countries along the shores of the Mediterranean, as well as with the countries of central Asia Min”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Paul — (small, little). Nearly all the original materials for the life St. Paul are contained in the Acts of the Apostles and in the Pauline epistles. Paul was born in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia. (It is not improbable that he was born between A.D. and A.D. 5.) Up to the time of his going forth as an avowed preacher of Christ to the Gentiles, the apostle was known by the name of Saul. This was the Jewish name which he received from his Jewish parents. But though a Hebrew of the Hebrews, he was born in a Gentile city. Of his parents we know nothing, except that his fathe”
Acts “Acts 9:27 (BSB) — Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who spoke to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Damascus — Activity, the most ancient of Oriental cities; the capital of Syria (Isa. 7:8; 17:3); situated about 133 miles to the north of Jerusalem. Its modern name is Esh-Sham; i.e., "the East." The situation of this city is said to be the most beautiful of all Western Asia. It is mentioned among the conquests of the Egyptian king Thothmes III. (B.C. 1500), and in the Amarna tablets (B.C. 1400). It is first mentioned in Scripture in connection with Abraham's victory over the confederate kings under Chedorlaomer (Gen. 14:15). It was the native place of Abraham's stew”
Acts “Acts 9:3 (BSB) — As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Barnabas — (son of consolation or comfort) a name given by the apostles, (Acts 4:36) to Joseph (or Jose), a Levite of the island of Cyprus, who was early a disciple of Christ. In (Acts 9:27) we find him introducing the newly-converted Saul to the apostles at Jerusalem. Barnabas was sent to Jerusalem, (Acts 11:19-26) and went to Tarsus to seek Saul, as one specially raised up to preach to the Gentiles. (Acts 26:17) He brought him to Antioch, and was sent with him to Jerusalem. (Acts 11:30) On their return, they were ordained by the church for the missionary work, (Acts”
Acts “Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. -- Acts 9:8”
Acts “But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him, -- Acts 13:9”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Saul — Asked for. (1.) A king of Edom (Gen. 36:37, 38); called Shaul in 1 Chr. 1:48. (2.) The son of Kish (probably his only son, and a child of prayer, "asked for"), of the tribe of Benjamin, the first king of the Jewish nation. The singular providential circumstances connected with his election as king are recorded in 1 Sam. 8-10. His father's she-asses had strayed, and Saul was sent with a servant to seek for them. Leaving his home at Gibeah (10:5, "the hill of God," A.V.; lit., as in R.V. marg., "Gibeah of God"), Saul and his servant went toward the north-west ov”
Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 9:1: 9:1-19 The conversion of Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus road is of central importance to the narrative of Acts—Luke recounts the story three times (also 22:1-21; 26:1-29). Paul (Saul) also alludes to this experience several times in his letters (1 Cor 15:8-10; Gal 1:11-17; Phil 3:4-11; see 1 Tim 1:12-17). Saul’s conversion was his prophetic call and commission as an apostle (Acts 9:15; 22:15, 21; 26:15-18). No one is beyond the power of God to reach, redeem, and use for holy purposes—nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). Paul was prepared through his training, ”
Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 13:9: Then Saul (who also is called Paul),.... He was called by both these names; as he was a Jew by birth, his parents called him Saul, that was his Jewish name, and by which he went among the Jews; and as he was a citizen of a Roman city, Tarsus in Cilicia, he went among the Romans, or Gentiles, by the name of Paul, a Roman name; and it was usual with the Jews to be called after this manner, that is, to have one name among themselves, and another among the Gentiles: it is a rule with them (n), that "the Israelites out of the land, their names are as the names of the Genti”
CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: the Jews for the reason mentioned by Chrysostom is wholly improbable. The mission to the Gentiles entrusted to them never cancelled, in their minds, their obligation to the Jews as having in the plan of God an economic precedence. Paul not only maintained throughout his life an ardent love and longing for his people ( Rom. ix .) and a confident hope of their conversion ( Rom. xi .), but regarded them as still the people of privilege, on the principle: “To the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” ( Rom. i. 16 .) This view, together with the fact that th”
Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 9:4: he fell to the earth--and his companions with him (Act 26:14), who "saw the light" (Act 22:9). and heard a voice saying unto him--"in the Hebrew tongue" (Act 26:14). Saul, Saul--a reduplication full of tenderness [DE WETTE]. Though his name was soon changed into "Paul," we find him, in both his own narratives of the scene, after the lapse of so many years, retaining the original form, as not daring to alter, in the smallest detail, the overpowering words addressed to him. why persecutest thou me?--No language can express the affecting character of t”
Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 13:9: 13:9 Luke makes the significant transition from the name Saul (a Hebrew name) to Paul (a Greco-Roman name), perhaps indicating that Paul was now on a predominantly Gentile mission. For the rest of the book of Acts, he is called Paul except when he recounts his conversion (as in 22:7, 13; 26:14).”

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