Which saint was originally named Saul before his conversion?

Which saint was originally named Saul before his conversion? Saint Paul. In the New Testament, the apostle is introduced as Saul, a Jewish Pharisee who persecuted followers of Jesus. Acts describes him traveling toward Damascus when a bright light and a voice identifying Jesus changed the direction of his life.

After this experience, Saul was baptized and began proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah. The name Paul appears later in Acts, and Paul’s letters consistently use Paul. Saul and Paul are generally understood as two forms of his name rather than evidence that he underwent a formal name change at conversion; Jewish people living in the Roman world could use both Hebrew or Aramaic and Greco-Roman names.

Paul became one of Christianity’s most influential missionaries and theologians. His epistles helped shape Christian teaching, although he was not one of the Twelve apostles who followed Jesus during his earthly ministry. The conversion is traditionally associated with Damascus and is commemorated in many churches on January 25.