Augustine of Hippo : Accordingly Paul, who, although he was formerly called Saul, chose this new designation, for no other reason, as it seems to me, than because he would show himself little, — the "least of the apostles," — contends with much courage and earnestness against the proud and arrogant, and such as plume themselves on their own works, in order that he may commend the grace of God. This grace, indeed, appeared more obvious and manifest in his case, inasmuch as, while he was pursuing such vehement measures of persecution against the Church of God as made him worthy of the greatest punishment, he found mercy instead of condemnation, and instead of punishment obtained grace. — ON THE SPIRIT AND THE LETTER 7.12 Bede : Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit. From Sergius Paulus the proconsul, because he subjugated him to the faith of Christ, he took the name of Paul. And the subsequent sections of this account deal with the miracles of Paul. For it was fitting that he should give the completion to apostolic acts, whom the Lord had long chosen despite him kicking against the goads. — Commentary on Acts Bede : But Saul, who is also Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, and so on. Just as Barnabas' name was changed immediately after his renunciation, so that instead of Joseph he was called Barnabas, which is, instead of "increased," "son of consolation." For after he was increased and added to the number of the elect, he immediately deserved to be both called and to be "son of παράκλησις," that is, "of consolation" through the received grace of the Spirit; so Saul, after receiving the rank of apostleship, was named Paul. Because he had become humble from being proud, he was rightly called Paul instead of Saul: for Saul was named after the impious and persecutor king Saul, but Paul is named from humble and small spirit. For Paul means "small." Hence, interpreting his own name in a certain way, he himself would say: For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God (I Cor. XV). — Retractions on Acts Cassiodorus : "Then Saul, otherwise Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, said. "This continues what started above. While Sergius the proconsul and Paulus the prudent man listened, the apostle Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, vigorously reproved Bar-jesu the false prophet; and to show that his invective had been for the love of the Lord, he said to him: "Thou shalt be blind, and shalt not see the sun at all for a time." Then a dark mist coming upon him shut up his natural sight in such a way that he sought someone else's hands to help him leave. The performance of this miracle being ascertained, the judges who saw it were converted, believing that a doctrine proven to be displayed by such miracles was truly that of the supreme God. — Complexiones on the Acts of the Apostles John Chrysostom : "But Saul, who is also Paul,"-here his name is changed at the same time that he is ordained, as it was in Peter's case. — Homily on Acts 28 Oecumenius : "Saul, who is also Paul." So that Paul might not seem lesser than the other apostles in this respect, God changed his name, and calling Saul Paul, and whatever preeminence the chief of the disciples possessed, he also obtained, and received a position of greater familiarity. [CHRYSOSTOM] — Commentary on Acts Oecumenius : Therefore to show that Paul's words to Elymas the sorcerer were not spoken in anger, he anticipated and said, "filled with the Holy Spirit." For these words were not of punishment but of conversion. If they had been disciplinary, he would have made him blind forever; now, however, not that, but for a time, that he might convince the proconsul. [CHRYSOSTOM] — Commentary on Acts