The context

Acts chapter 9 records the events on the road to Damascus. This event changed the direction of Saul’s life and became critically important in the Acts of the Apostles. This account is repeated three times (Acts 9:1-9 is the first record; Acts 22:1-11 is Paul’s defense before the mob; Acts 26:1-23 is Paul’s defense before King Agrippa II). Saul (Paul) would become the successor to the Gentile evangelism that Peter had begun.

The character of Saul

(1) Among the characters in the Acts of the Apostles, Peter and Saul are the two central figures. The two had both strong personalities and weaknesses. Two were appointed as apostles of Jesus Christ, built up, and used by the Holy Spirit. While Saul’s physical characteristics are unknown, there is a tradition that he was “short, bow-legged, and bald.” (2) Family history. Before he was born, his grandfather or father moved to Tarsus. Tarsus was the capital of the Roman province of Cilicia. It is believed that his grandfather or father obtained Roman citizenship. This indicates that his family belonged to the upper class of the city of Tarsus. There were three ways to obtain citizenship: (a) Serve in a national or local public office for a certain period. (b) Purchase it with money (which is likely in Paul’s family’s case). (c) A freed slave granted citizenship by a citizen master. Saul was born a Roman citizen. This privilege would prove useful for his evangelism. (3) Name. His Hebrew name is Saul (Shaul). Same as the first king of Israel from the tribe of Benjamin, Saul, reflecting his family’s pride. His Roman (Latin) name is Paul (Paulus). (4) Language and education. He is believed to have been raised speaking Greek, but at home, he likely spoke Hebrew or Aramaic. Additionally, he must have learned Latin during his education. His father was either a Pharisee or closely associated with the Pharisee sect. The training to become a Pharisee was rigorous. At the age of 5, he began formal education in the Hebrew Scriptures, and at 10, he started learning about Rabbinic Judaism and the Oral Law (he likely went up to Jerusalem to study under Gamaliel around this time. Saul’s sister lived there; ref. Acts 23:16). Saul had his Bar Mitzvah at 13. In Jerusalem, he also received vocational training (tentmaking). God had been preparing Saul to be an apostle to the Gentiles even before he was saved. The same can be said for us. Let’s meditate on how the things we experience before being saved can be used.