DECEMBER 13 SAUL, CALLED PAUL By Doug Bookman Professor, Shepherds Theological Seminary Adjunct Faculty, Word of Life Bible Institute
But Saul, who was also called Paul… (Acts 13:9a)
Saul of Tarsus was an able and accomplished man before he confronted the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus – and he was very proud of that. But the encounter recorded in Acts 9 changed him. It confronted him with the reality that his pride was an insult to the God who is the Giver of all good gifts, certainly including whatever strengths the man Saul possessed. That life change seems to be reflected in a “sidebar” note found in Acts 13:9: “But Saul, who was also called Paul…” Luke always referred to him as “Saul” to this point. From here through the book of Acts and in all his writings, he goes by the name “Paul.” Why this change? There are many theories, but I would argue Saul probably took the name Paul in memory of a confrontation between the prophet Samuel and King Saul of Israel – doubtless the apostle’s namesake. Samuel had discovered King Saul in a deliberate, prideful sin. He had refused to obey King Yahweh regarding the spoils taken in his victory over the Amalekites. Getting to the heart of the spiritual issue at stake, the prophet rebuked the king with these words: “When you were little in your own eyes… did not the Lord anoint you king over Israel?” (1 Samuel 15:17–23 NKJV). Interestingly, the Greco-Roman name “Paul” means “little.” Pride remained a struggle for the apostle Paul throughout his life (2 Corinthians 12:7–10). He later confessed that his “thorn in the flesh” was God’s way to remind him that only when he acknowledged his weakness was he strong (12:10). Another very practical way in which he contrived to resist that besetting temptation to pride was this: Every time he was addressed by his name “Paul,” he was reminded, “Only when I am little can God use me for His purposes and glory!”
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