Saul

Scott M. McDonough proposed recently in the Journal of Biblical Literature (Vol. 125, No. 2, pp. 390–391) that Acts 13 holds the key. This chapter contains the only reference in the New Testament to Israel’s first king, Saul, the son of Kish. There is more than one commonality between Paul/Saul and the ancient king. King Saul persecuted David, whom God had anointed to replace him. In a similar way, Saul persecuted the one he later understood to be the true Son of David. By changing his name from Saul to Paul, he distanced himself from the actions and mindset of his namesake.

Acts 7:58 - When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

Acts 8:1 - Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Acts 8:3 - But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

Acts 9:1 - Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,

Acts 9:4 - and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"

Acts 9:8 - Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.

Acts 9:11 -And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying,

Acts 9:17 -So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

Acts 9:22 -But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

Acts 9:24 -but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death;

Acts 11:25 - And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul;

Acts 11:30 - And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.

Acts 12:25 - And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark.

Acts 13:1 - Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and

Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Acts 13:2 - While they were ministering to 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 13:7 - who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.

Acts 13:9 - But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him,

Acts 13:21 "Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

Acts 22:7 - and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, `Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?'

Acts 22:13 came to me, and standing near said to me, `Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very time I looked up at him.

Acts 26:14 "And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, `Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'