What future apostle stood by watching the stoning of the Churchs first martyr, Stephen?
–Those who actually hurled the stones at Stephen left their outer garments in the care of a young Pharisee who watched the stoning with approval—his name was Saul. He was the same Saul who would shortly be converted himself on the Damascus road and become a great witness for Christ to the gentiles– the apostle Paul.
That was no other than Saul of Tarsus, later and better known as the Apostle Paul. Here is his background: An Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin and an apostle of Jesus Christ. (Eph 1:1; Php 3:5) Though perhaps having both the Hebrew name Saul and the Roman name Paul from childhood (Acts 9:17; 2Pe 3:15), this apostle may have chosen to go by his Roman name in view of his commission to declare the good news to the non-Jews.Ac 9:15; Ga 2:7, 8. Paul was born in Tarsus, a prominent city of Cilicia. (Ac 21:39; 22:3) His parents were Hebrews and evidently adhered to the Pharisaic branch of Judaism. (Ac 23:6; Php 3:5) He was a Roman citizen from birth (Ac 22:28), his father having perhaps been granted citizenship for services rendered. Paul probably learned the trade of tentmaker from his father. (Ac 18:3) But, at Jerusalem, he received instruction from the learned Pharisee Gamaliel, suggesting that Paul was from a prominent family. (Ac 22:3; 5:34) Languagewise, Paul was versed at least in Gr
“St. Paul the Apostle (Hebrew: שאול התרסי Šaʾul HaTarsi, meaning “Saul of Tarsus”, Ancient Greek: Σαουλ Saul and Σαῦλος Saulos and Παῦλος Paulos), the “Apostle to the Gentiles” was, together with Saint Peter and James the Just, the most notable of early Christian missionaries. Unlike the Twelve Apostles, there is no indication that Paul ever met Jesus prior to the latter’s crucifixion. According to Acts, his conversion took place as he was traveling the road to Damascus, and experienced a vision of the resurrected Jesus. Paul asserts that he received the Gospel not from man, but by “the revelation of Jesus Christ”.” “He first appears in the pages of the New Testament as a witness to the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7:57-8:3).
