Paul was a "young man" when they stoned St. Stephen. There is no indication anywhere in scripture or oral tradition that he had a wife.
It would seem this way, but I wonder....
NIV Acts 7:55-60
55. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
56. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
57. At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,
58. dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
60. Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.NIV Acts 8:1-3
1. And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem,and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
2. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.
3. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. |
Could there have been TWO Sauls???
I mean, a 'young Saul' was mentioned just a line or two before the phrase 'and Saul was there' - why the need to restate what was just said?
Perhaps the 'young man' adjective was to differenciate between the two?