“They (Saul and Barnabas) traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.” (Acts 13:6-12)
Though this is a great story of courage and willingness to confront evil with the power of God’s spirit… the actual changing of Paul’s name is a little anti-climatic.
I mean, the three other men that we have looked at this month had fairly significant name changes… God spoke to Abraham very dramatically… God wrestled Jacob right before the change… Jesus proclaimed the change of Peter’s name. But in Paul’s case, there is just one line in scripture that refers to the change:
“Then Saul, who was also called Paul…” That’s it. In fact, we don’t even know if God changed Paul’s name. We really don’t even know the exact time when Saul’s name was changed to Paul. All we have is this line: “Then Saul, who was also called Paul…” That’s all we have to go on.
But perhaps it is significant to observe that we never see the name of Saul used again in the book of Acts. From this passage forward. Paul is always referred to as Paul.
So let’s pause to consider the definitions of these names and see if we can glean any insight from them: The name Saul literally means: ‘To ask’ or ‘asked of God.’ The name Paul literally means ‘small or little.’
The thought that might come to your mind is simply to observe that the definition of Saul sounds more significant than the definition of Paul. It sounds more spiritual… more meaningful… more groovy. I mean, given the choice… would you rather be called ‘Asked of God’ or ‘Little?’ I bet the majority of us, if we were honest, would rather be called ‘Asked of God.’ I mean, there’s a certain ring to that name. There’s really no ring to being called ‘Small.’ Hey Smalls! How you doing? No thanks. Just call me Saul.
Yet, given what we know about Paul… I think the definition 'little' is significant. Much like the Pharisees that Jesus personally dealt with… Saul grew up in an atmosphere of arrogance as it concerned the law. If Saul was anything like other Jewish teachers and leaders… He would have seen himself in a much greater light than normal people. He knew the law better than than. He lived the law more closely than them. He was a better person than them.
This attitude is certainly seen within Saul in the way he chooses to engage Christ followers. He condemned them. He gave approval to violence directed at believers… He stood against them whenever he could. He was not acting out of any sort of love… which Jesus indicated was of utmost importance when trying to follow the law.
Ultimately, Saul acted based on his own understanding, his own intellect, his own strength. There was a lot of Saul in Saul… and not much of God in Saul.
And perhaps the name Paul… perhaps the word 'little' or 'small' was a reminder to Paul of his place next to God. Tiny. Perhaps the name Paul was a call to humility. Perhaps being called ‘small’ or ‘little’ on a daily or hourly basis would help Paul prioritize his life in the right way… in a similar way that John the Baptizer organized his life: I must become less so that Christ can become more. I must become Paul, I must become little, I must empty my vessel of ME and fill it with Jesus. Perhaps.
I confess that I am just making a guess. Scripture does not confirm or deny the reason why Saul’s name is changed to Paul. But I can tell you with great certainty that scripture is very clear on this issue of humility and living on less of our own strength and resources and more on God’s.
In fact, Paul himself was very clear on this issue. He wrote some neat letters… and while it’s hard to pick favorites… especially when you are talking about scripture… the book of Philippians is a masterpiece as it relates to this issue of humility and living smaller lives so that Christ might be greater.
Bill Hybels wrote a book some time ago with a great title: Descending into Greatness. It’s a great irony in our faith journey: (one that Paul learned and taught about) In order to find true significance in this life… we must die to ourselves. In order to make a big impact we must become smaller… smaller as to create more room for God to fill us up and mold us into the type of person that He wants us to be.
And now that I think about it… maybe being called ‘Smalls’ isn’t as bad as I originally thought…
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