Saul was a ruthless tax collector before the Lord sruck him blind on the road to Damascus. Who knows what the Lord will have to do get Obama’s artention? Miracles happen on a daily basis, but most people do not realize it. The miracle was that a treacherous Saul turned into Paul, who hgave the world he prolific testimony of Jesus Christ in the Holy bible.
Matthew was the tax collector, not Saul. Saul was a tentmaker by trade and a Pharisee by training. I don’t think any Pharisee would have lowered himself to collect taxes for the hated Roman occupiers. (Whenever tax collectors are mentioned, it’s clear they are considered scum.)