What’s in a name? Paul
“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Spirit….,”
Acts 13:9 KJV, From this time forward Saul is called by the name Paul in scripture.
Observations:
Hebrew names are not sacred as some imagine: Saul is a Hebrew name, and it was discarded. Paul is a Roman name with a totally different meaning, and became his identity.
In the OT Hebrew names were changed to Gentile names by Kings like Nebuchadnezzar to erase Hebrew religious identity. Was this also God’s intention with Paul?
“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5
Paul means small. Could the name describe his unimpressive stature?
2 Cor.10:10 “because the letters indeed–saith one– are weighty and strong, and the bodily presence weak, and the speech.”
Or his spiritual posture among the saints and before the Lord?
2 Corinthians 10:1 And I, Paul, myself, do call upon you–through the meekness and gentleness of the Christ–who in presence, indeed am humble among you, and being absent, have courage.
My friend the meaning of the name is important, not the language spoken.