Saul became Paul to reflect the transformation that took place in his life and to identify more fully with his mission to the Gentiles. The change was not forced or commanded by God, but represented a shift in audience and purpose as the gospel expanded beyond Israel to the broader Roman world.
Acts 13:9 provides the first mention of this transition:
“Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him…”
This verse occurs during Paul’s first missionary journey, as he begins his active outreach to Gentile territories. The name change appears as he confronts a Jewish sorcerer and then begins ministering to Sergius Paulus, a Roman proconsul. The use of “Paul” here marked a turning point.
Saul was his Hebrew name, rooted in his Jewish heritage and tribe of Benjamin, named after Israel’s first king. Acts 9:4 confirms Jesus used “Saul” during the Damascus Road encounter:
“Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’”
But as Paul’s ministry shifted toward Gentile regions, he adopted the Roman name “Paul,” which was more culturally accessible and appropriate for his calling. As a Roman citizen, Paul moved freely across the empire. Using a Roman name allowed him to bridge cultural gaps and remove unnecessary barriers.
Paul later wrote:
“To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews… to those who are without law, as without law… that I might win those who are without law.”
(1 Corinthians 9:20–21)
This was not a denial of his Jewish identity but an intentional strategy to advance the gospel. Paul remained deeply Jewish in heritage and conviction, often calling himself “a Hebrew of the Hebrews” (Philippians 3:5) and emphasizing his Pharisaic training (Acts 22:3).
The change in name also paralleled the dramatic change in character. Saul the persecutor had become Paul the preacher. His conversion was total, not just external but internal. He testified:
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain… I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
(1 Corinthians 15:10)
Though the Lord never explicitly commanded the name change, the consistent use of “Paul” from Acts 13 onward underscores his new identity and mission. He no longer operated as a Jewish authority figure persecuting Christians. He now served as a chosen vessel to bring Christ to the nations.