Lexical Summary Saulos: Saul Original Word: Σαῦλος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Saul. Of Hebrew origin, the same as Saoul; Saulus (i.e. Shaul), the Jewish name of Paul -- Saul. see GREEK Saoul NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina modified form of Saoul Definition Saul, the Jewish name of the apostle Paul NASB Translation Saul (15). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4569: ΣαῦλοςΣαῦλος, Σαύλου, ὁ (see Σαούλ, 2), Saul, the Jewish name of the apostle Paul (cf. Woldemar Schmidt in Herzog edition 2 xi., p. 357f; Conybeare and Howson, St. Paul, i. 150ff (American edition); Farrar, St. Paul, chapter 19:at the end; B. D. American edition under the word Topical Lexicon Personal Background and Hebrew Roots “Saul” (Greek Σαῦλος) is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew שָׁאוּל, meaning “asked for” or “desired.” A Benjaminite name made famous by Israel’s first king (1 Samuel 9:2), it is borne in the New Testament exclusively by the man later known as Paul. Acts 13:9 records, “Saul, who was also called Paul,” indicating a dual naming that reflects both his Jewish heritage and his Roman citizenship. Appearances in Acts Luke employs “Saul” fifteen times, all in the early chapters of Acts, tracking his transition from zealous persecutor to chosen instrument of Christ. • Acts 7:58 – Introduced as a young man consenting to Stephen’s death, Saul symbolizes the militant opposition of some Jewish leaders to the nascent church. Persecutor to Apostle: The Significance of the Name Change Luke’s literary choice to retire “Saul” after Acts 13:9 underscores a theological trajectory: the persecutor becomes the apostle to the nations. The Hebrew “Saul” fits his pre-conversion identity rooted in pharisaic zeal (Philippians 3:5-6). The Roman “Paul” suits his commission “to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel” (Acts 9:15). The change therefore testifies to the gospel’s crossing of cultural boundaries while maintaining continuity with Israel’s promises. Ministry Partnerships Whenever Luke reverts to the pairing “Barnabas and Saul,” he highlights mentoring and accountability within the church at Antioch. Saul’s acceptance by leaders such as Barnabas, Peter, and James (Galatians 1–2) validates his apostleship and models cooperative ministry that bridges ethnic divides. Theological Themes Illustrated by “Saul” 1. Sovereign Grace: Saul’s violent opposition (Acts 8:3) magnifies divine mercy—“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15). Practical Lessons for the Church • No opponent of the gospel is beyond Christ’s reach; prayer for persecutors is never futile. Forms and Transliterations Σαυλον Σαῦλον Σαυλος Σαῦλος Σαυλου Σαύλου Σαυλω Σαύλῳ σαύρα σαφώθ σαφώς Saulo Saulō Saúloi Saúlōi Saulon Saûlon Saulos Saûlos Saulou SaúlouLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 7:58 N-GMSGRK: νεανίου καλουμένου Σαύλου NAS: of a young man named Saul. KJV: feet, whose name was Saul. INT: of a young man called Saul Acts 8:1 N-NMS Acts 8:3 N-NMS Acts 9:1 N-NMS Acts 9:8 N-NMS Acts 9:11 N-AMS Acts 9:22 N-NMS Acts 9:24 N-DMS Acts 11:25 N-AMS Acts 11:30 N-GMS Acts 12:25 N-NMS Acts 13:1 N-NMS Acts 13:2 N-AMS Acts 13:7 N-AMS Acts 13:9 N-NMS Strong's Greek 4569 |
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