While doing a study on the life of the apostle Paul, I began to wonder if he was actually named Saul after the 1st king of Israel. I began to make comparisons between the two and found several things that they had in common. The name Saul means "desired" while the name Paul means "little". It's interesting to think that Paul started off as Saul, or the one to be desired, but when God got a hold of him, he became Paul the little one. Sounds like the words of John the Baptist when he said of Christ, "He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30He must increase, but I must decrease.
See All...

1. Both Benjamites
1. King Saul (1 Samuel 9:21And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
   See All...)
2. Saul of Tarsus (Philippians 3:5Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.
   See All...)
2. Both Transitional Men
1. King Saul - Transitional man from the judges to the kings
2. Saul of Tarsus - Transitional man from Jew to Gentile
3. Both Were the Least
1. King Saul said that his family was the least and that he didn't feel worthy to be king (1Samuel 9:21
   See All...)
2. Saul of Tarsus said he was the least of the apostles and not meet to be called an apostle (1 Corinthians 15:9For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
   See All...)
4. Both Excelled
1. King Saul excelled beyond those surrounding him (1 Samuel 9:2And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
   See All...)
2. Saul of Tarsus was above many of his equals (Galatians 1:14And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
   See All...)
5. Both Fell on Their Face Before a Prophet
1. King Saul fell on his face before a dead prophet (1 Samuel 28:14And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
   See All...)
2. Saul of Tarsus fell on his face before Jesus Christ (Acts 9:4-5 [4] And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? [5] And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
   See All...)
6. Both Asked the Prophet What They Should Do
1. King Saul asked the prophet what he should do (1 Samuel 28:15And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
   See All...)
2. Saul of Tarsus asked Jesus, what will you have me to do (Acts 9:6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
   See All...)
7. Both Wanted Followers of Their Enemy Dead
1. King Saul attempted to kill Jonathan because he loved David (1 Samuel 20:33And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.
   See All...)
2. Saul of Tarsus consented to stone Stephen because of his love for Jesus Christ (Acts 7:58And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
   See All..., Acts 8:1And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
   See All...)
8. Both Persecuted Their Enemy
1. King Saul persecuted king David (1 Samuel 18:11And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
   See All...)
2. Saul of Tarsus persecuted the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 9:4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
   See All...)