SEV Biblia, Chapter 13:9
Entonces Saulo, que tambin es Pablo, lleno del Espíritu Santo, poniendo en l los ojos,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 13:9
Verse 9. Saul, who also is-Paul] This is the first time the name Paul occurs, and the last time in which this apostle is called Saul, as his common or general name. Saul, lwa Shaul, was the name of the first Israelitish king, and signifies asked, sought; from la shaal, he asked, inquired, &c.
Paul, Paulus, if derived from the Latin, signifies little, dwarfish: but if from the Hebrew, alp pala, it signifies extraordinary, wonderful; and this appears to have been the derivation assigned to it by St. Jerome, com. in Ep. Pauli ad Philem., who translates it mirabilis, wonderful, and Hesychius must have had the same in view, for he defines it thus, paulov, qaumastov, h eklektov, sumboulov, Paul, wonderful, or elect, counsellor. The lexicographer had probably here in view, Isaiah ix. 6: his name shall be called ( y[wy alp pel yots) wonderful, counsellor; which he might corrupt into paulus, and thus make his qaumastov sumboulov out of it by way of explanation. Triller, however, supposes the sumboulov of Hesychius to be corrupted from sundoulov fellow servant, which is a term not unfrequently applied to apostles, &c., in the New Testament, who are called the servants of God; and it is used by Paul himself, Col. i. 7; iv. 7. The Latin original is the most probable. It is well known that the Jews in the apostolic age had frequently two names, one Hebrew, the other Greek or Roman. Saul was born of Jewish parents, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; he had therefore his first name from that language, lwa Shaul, asked or begged; as it is possible he might have been a child for whom his parents had addressed their fervent petitions to God.
The case of Samuel is one in point. See 1 Sam. i. 9-18. As he was born in Tarsus, in Cilicia, he was consequently born a free Roman citizen; and hence his parents would naturally give him, for cognomen, some name borrowed from the Latin tongue, and Paulus, which signifies little, might indicate that he was at his birth a small or diminutive child. And it is very likely that he was low in stature all his days; and that it is to this he refers himself, 2 Cor. x. 10, for his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. If he were small in stature, his voice would be naturally low and feeble; and the Greeks. who were fond of a thundering eloquence, would despise him on this very account.
Filled with the Holy Ghost] Therefore the sentence he pronounced was not from himself, but from God. And indeed, had he not been under a Divine influence, it is not likely he would have ventured thus to accost this sorcerer in the presence of the governor, who, no doubt, had greatly admired him.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 9. Then Saul (who also is called Paul) , etc.] He was called by both these names; as he was a Jew by birth, his parents called him Saul, that was his Jewish name, and by which he went among the Jews; and as he was a citizen of a Roman city, Tarsus in Cilicia, he went among the Romans, or Gentiles, by the name of Paul, a Roman name; and it was usual with the Jews to be called after this manner, that is, to have one name among themselves, and another among the Gentiles: it is a rule with them f637 , that the Israelites out of the land, their names are as the names of the Gentiles; yea, their names differed in Judea and Galilee; a woman went by one name in Judea, and another in Galilee f638 : and it is observable, that Luke calls the apostle by his Jewish name Saul, whilst he was among the Jews, and only preached among them; but now he is got among the Gentiles, and was about to appear openly to be their apostle, he all along hereafter calls him by his Gentile name Paul: though some think his name was changed upon his conversion, as it was usual with Jewish penitents to do; when a man repented of his sin, he changed his name (says Maimonides) f639 , as if he should say, I am another, and not the man that did those (evil) works.
So when Maachah, Asas mother, or rather grandmother, was converted, or became right, she changed her name into Michaihu, the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah; that her former name might not be remembered, lest it should be a reproach unto her f640 : though others think, that the apostle was so called, from Sergius Paulus the deputy, whose conversion he was the instrument of; and whose family might choose to call him so, because of the nearness in sound between the two names: others think he had his name Paul, or Paulus, from the smallness of his stature and voice, to which he seems to have some respect, in ( 2 Corinthians 10:10) and there is one Samuel the little, which the Jewish doctors often speak of, and who by some is taken to be the same with the Apostle Paul. This name is by Jerom, or Origen f641 , interpreted wonderful, as if it came from the Hebrew word alp pala; and others derive it from l[p , paul, which signifies to work; and a laborious worker the apostle was, and a workman also which needed not to be ashamed; but since it is certain that Saul was his Hebrew name, it is most likely that this was a Gentile one, and not of Hebrew derivation: the first account of these names, and the reason of them, seems to be the best: now of him it is said, that he was filled with the Holy Ghost ; which does not design the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost in general, with which he was always filled, and thereby qualified for his work as an apostle; but in particular, that he had by the Spirit, not only a discerning of the wickedness of this man, but of the will of God, to make him at this time a public example of divine wrath and vengeance, for his opposition to the Gospel: wherefore he set his eyes on him ; very earnestly, thereby expressing an abhorrence of him, and indignation against him, and as it were threatening him with some sore judgment to fall upon him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 4-13 - Satan is in a special manner busy with great men and men in power, to keep them from being religious, for their example will influence many Saul is here for the first time called Paul, and never after Saul. Sau was his name as he was a Hebrew; Paul was his name as he was a citize of Rome. Under the direct influence of the Holy Ghost, he gave Elyma his true character, but not in passion. A fulness of deceit an mischief together, make a man indeed a child of the devil. And thos who are enemies to the doctrine of Jesus, are enemies to all righteousness; for in it all righteousness is fulfilled. The ways of the Lord Jesus are the only right ways to heaven and happiness. Ther are many who not only wander from these ways themselves, but set other against these ways. They commonly are so hardened, that they will no cease to do evil. The proconsul was astonished at the force of the doctrine upon his own heart and conscience, and at the power of God by which it was confirmed. The doctrine of Christ astonishes; and the mor we know of it, the more reason we shall see to wonder at it. Those wh put their hand to the plough and look back, are not fit for the kingdo of God. Those who are not prepared to face opposition, and to endur hardship, are not fitted for the work of the ministry.
Greek Textus Receptus
σαυλος 4569 N-NSM δε 1161 CONJ ο 3588 T-NSM και 2532 CONJ παυλος 3972 N-NSM πλησθεις 4130 5685 V-APP-NSM πνευματος 4151 N-GSN αγιου 40 A-GSN και 2532 CONJ ατενισας 816 5660 V-AAP-NSM εις 1519 PREP αυτον 846 P-ASM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
9. Saul - Paul. The first occurrence of the name of Paul in the Acts. Hereafter he is constantly so called, except when there is a reference to the earlier period of his life. Various explanations are given of the change of name. The most satisfactory seems to be that it was customary for Hellenistic Jews to have two names, the one Hebrew and the other Grreek or Latin. Thus John was also called Marcus; Symeon, Niger; Barsabas, Justus. As Paul now comes prominently forward as the apostle to the Gentiles, Luke now retains his Gentile name, as he did his Jewish name during his ministry among the Jews. The connection of the name Paul with that of the deputy seems to me purely accidental. It was most unlike Paul to assume the name of another man, converted by his instrumentality, out of respect to him or as a memorial of his conversion. Farrar justly observes that there would have been in this "an element of vulgarity impossible to St. Paul"Set his eyes on him. See on Luke iv. 20.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
13:9 {But Saul, who is also called Paul} (saulos de, ho kai paulos). By this remarkably brief phrase Luke presents this epoch in the life of Saul Paul. The "also" (kai) does not mean that the name Paul was given now for the first time, rather than he had always had it. As a Jew and a Roman citizen, he undoubtedly had both names all the time (cf. John Mark, Symeon Niger, Barsabbas Justus). Jerome held that the name of Sergius Paulus was adopted by Saul because of his conversion at this time, but this is a wholly unlikely explanation, "an element of vulgarity impossible to St. Paul " (Farrar). Augustine thought that the meaning of the Latin _paulus_ (little) would incline Saul to adopt, "but as a proper name the word rather suggested the glories of the Aemilian family, and even to us recalls the name of another Paulus, who was 'lavish of his noble life'" (Page). Among the Jews the name Saul was naturally used up to this point, but from now on Luke employs Paul save when there is a reference to his previous life (#Ac 22:7; 26:14). His real career is work among the Gentiles and Paul is the name used by them. There is a striking similarity in sound between the Hebrew Saul and the Roman Paul. Paul was proud of his tribe of Benjamin and so of King Saul (#Php 3:5). {Filled with the Holy Spirit} (plesqeis pneumatos hagiou). First aorist (ingressive) passive participle of pimplemi with the genitive case. A special influx of power to meet this emergency. Here was a cultured heathen, typical of the best in Roman life, who called forth all the powers of Paul plus the special help of the Holy Spirit to expose the wickedness of Elymas Barjesus. If one wonders why the Holy Spirit filled Paul for this emergency rather than Barnabas, when Barnabas was named first in #13:2, he can recall the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit in his choice of agents (#1Co 12:4-11) and also the special call of Paul by Christ (#Ac 9:15; 26:17f.). {Fastened his eyes} (atenisas). As already in #Lu 4:20; 22:56; Ac 3:4,12; 6:15; 10:4.
