Acts 9 describes how Saul was converted from being a devout Jew who persecuted Christians to being a Christian himself. A little later, when Saul, along with Barnabas, started out on his first missionary journey, Acts 13:9 says, “Then Saul, who was also called Paul…” Throughout the rest of the Bible, the man is called Paul. So, “Paul” is his usual name in the Bible.

Many Jews in those days had a Jewish name, which was used by their Jewish friends and family, and a Greek or Latin name, which was used by everyone else. This is because most people in the Roman Empire, especially the eastern Roman Empire, spoke Greek, and many people also understood Latin, the language of Rome. As a Roman citizen (Acts 16:35-39, 22:22-39), Paul probably spoke all three languages. Similarly, many people around the world today speak English even if that is not the language they grew up with. Chinese people in Canada often have two names, a Chinese name, which many of us English speakers cannot pronounce, and an English name. Before Acts 13, Saul mostly lived among Jewish people. After Acts 13, Paul mostly traveled among Greek-speaking people. God had called him to preach mainly to gentiles, that is, people who were not Jews.

The name “Saul” was an old Hebrew name (Shauwl) originally meaning “asked.” It suggests that Saul’s birth was an answer to prayer. The first king of Israel was also named Saul.

The name “Paul” comes from a Latin name (Paulos) originally meaning “little.” People in Rome spoke Latin, but many of the people that Rome conquered and incorporated into their Roman Empire spoke Greek. The Roman authorities would issue decrees in Latin but also in Greek so that people in the rest of the Empire could understand them. When Jesus was crucified, “Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS…the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek” (John 19:19-20). Aramaic was the language that the Jews spoke in those days, Latin was the official language of the Roman Empire, and Greek was the common language that most people in the Empire used to communicate with each other.

Saul probably chose to use the Latin name “Paul” because the names sound similar. As well, Saul in the Old Testament was a king, but “Paul” means “little.” Before becoming a Christian, Saul thought he was pretty great. He was proud of himself. After he became a Christian, Saul realized that he was small and insignificant compared to the greatness of Jesus. Calling himself “Paul” was a recognition that he had been humbled by Jesus and submitted to Him. In Philippians 3:7-9, Paul wrote: “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him.”