Saul
The name Saul (or Shaul) comes from the Hebrew word meaning “asked.” The name first appears in a list of early Edomite kings (Gen. 36:37-38). A clan of Simeonites, the Shaulites, is named for Simeon’s son, Shaul (Gen. 46:10). A Levite was also named Shaul (1 Chron. 6:24). Shaul is simply an alternate spelling for Saul.
The most well-known Saul in the Old Testament was the first king of Israel. He was a Benjamite. Most references to him are found in 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles. He is also mentioned in the traditional headings of five psalms (18, 52, 54, 57, 59), in a sermon in Acts 13:21, and in a reference to his birthplace in Isaiah 10:29.
King Saul was set up for success, but a series of sins ended his dynasty and, eventually, his life (1 Sam. 13:5-14; 15:1-35; 28:4-19; 31:1-6). He reigned forty years, from about 1050 to 1010 BC (Acts 13:21).
Paul
Acts introduces us to another Benjamite named Saul, a Pharisee who zealously persecuted the church (Acts 7:58-8:3; Php. 3:5-6). He was chosen to be an apostle by a direct vision from Jesus, and he wrote thirteen of the New Testament letters (Acts 9:1-18). As a Christian, he used his zeal to spread the good news of salvation throughout the world.
The apostle Saul’s story is, in a way, King Saul’s story in reverse. King Saul started off fighting the enemies of God’s people but later turned against God’s next anointed king and spiraled into sin. The apostle began fighting against God’s Anointed King and His disciples but later repented and became a disciple himself. It’s interesting that both men were Benjamites named Saul.
Saul also had a Roman (Latin) name: Paulus1. In Acts 13:9, Luke begins referring to Saul by his Roman name. The shift may have been due to his work among Hellenistic Jews2 and Gentiles. Paul also had Roman citizenship, which provided certain rights (Acts 16:37; 22:23-29). Paulus means “small.”
Another person with this name was Sergius Paulus, governor of Cyprus (Acts 13:7).
Footnotes:
1 English translations often remove the us or os from the end of Latin and Greek names (Timotheos, Markus).
2 Hellenistic Jews refers to Jews who normally spoke Greek or Jews of the Dispersion (those living outside of Palestine). Hellenism was adoption of Greek culture and
language. In Judea, Hellenism was controversial (Acts 6:1). Outside of Judea, Jews were generally Hellenistic.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Acts 13:2
~ SR
Citation
Ruhmann, Scott. “Behind the Name: Saul & Paul.” 27th Street Church of Christ. Access date: . http://www.churchofbend.com/bth/saul.htm