When Ananias came to restore his sight, he called him "Brother Saul". In Acts 13:9, Saul is called "Paul" for the first time on the island of Cyprus – much later than the time of his conversion. The author of Luke–Acts indicates that the names were interchangeable: "Saul, who also is called Paul."

Why did God choose Saul as Paul?

So he set out to bring to justice the heretics who were betraying the God he'd worshipped his entire life. ... Scripture clarifies that God specifically chose Paul, before he was born, to proclaim the Gospel, mainly, but not exclusively, to the gentiles (Galatians 1:15-16).

When did Paul see Jesus?

Jesus's resurrection featured prominently in Paul's preaching in Thessalonica (Acts 17:3), Athens (17:31), and evidently in Corinth.