A Tale of Two Sauls

The name Saul was likely a prominent name among the Israelites and one that was given in honour. After all, the first king the nation knew was named Saul. Upon consideration of these truths, I have often wondered if Saul of Tarsus (later the apostle Paul), whose family obviously elevated their Jewish heritage (Acts 22:3), was named after the first king. With that in mind, consider the similarities between the two men.

Both were Benjamites.

• King Saul was a Benjamite (1 Samuel 9:21).
• Saul of Tarsus was of the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5).

Both were transitional men.

• King Saul was the transitional man from the leadership of judges to that of kings.
• Saul of Tarsus was a transitional man in turning the focus from the Jews to the Gentiles.

Both deemed themselves to be the least.

• King Saul said his family was the least and that he did not feel worthy to be king (1 Samuel 9:21).
• Saul of Tarsus, at the time Paul, said he was the least of the apostles and not meet to be called an apostle (1 Corinthians 15:9).

Both excelled their peers.

• King Saul excelled his peers (1 Samuel 9:2).
• Saul of Tarsus, again as Paul, excelled many of his equals (Galatians 1:14).

Both fell upon their faces before a prophet supposed to be dead.

• King Saul fell on his face before Samuel (1 Samuel 28:14).
• Saul of Tarsus fell on his face before the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 9:4-5).

Both asked of the prophet what he should do.

• King Saul asked Samuel what he should do (1 Samuel 28:15).
• Saul of Tarsus asked Jesus what He would have Saul to do (Acts 9:6).

Both sought to kill a man because of his love for another man.

• King Saul attempted to kill Jonathan because Jonathan loved David (1 Samuel 20:33).
• Saul of Tarsus consented to kill Stephen because Stephen loved the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 7:58; Acts 8:1).

Both persecuted God’s anointed.

• King Saul persecuted David (1 Samuel 18:11).
• Saul of Tarsus persecuted the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 9:4).

Both presented/present a daughter to the anointed king.

• King Saul gave his daughter to David to wife (1 Samuel 18:27).
• Saul, now Paul, will, in a sense, present a daughter to the Lord Jesus Christ to wife (2 Corinthians 11:2; Galatians 4:19).