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Focusing on the essential Gospel calls in the Gospels, and Acts, and Epistles:

1. Repent is the prerequisite for salvation in logical sequence

a. Jesus proclaimed:

Matthew 4:17 - From that time on, Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.' (cf. Mt 3:2 - 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.')

Mark 1:15 - 'The times has come,' and 'The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news!'

Luke 24:47 - '...that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem,'(cf.Luke 13:3,5 - 'No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewisew perish.')

b. Disciples were sent out to preach, 'that they should repent,' (Mark 6:12)

c. Peter (Acts 2:38): 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit' (cf. Acts 3:19,11:18, 26:20).

d. Paul (Acts 17:30): 'The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,' (cf. 26:20)

Notes:

1). In Matthew 4:17,'from then on began to preach' means a continues work of preaching(herald) of the same message was set in motion by Jesus, and disciples were to follow.

2). In Luke 24: 47, Jesus was explicite that 'repentance for forgiveness' is the order. In OT & NT, 'to repent' or 'turn or return' to God, with a sincere change of heart, turn to God-centered life, from the self- cetered, is the prerequisite for forgiveness and restoration of the broken relationsip with God (salvation).

2. Paul was saved after Repentance

a. Paul turned (repent) to Jesus, confessed Jesus is 'Lord.'

For Paul, a tremendous spiritual reality took place when he encountered the glorified Jesus who he vehimently persucated. The repentance, forgiveness, and salvation,were occurred.

b. Verse 5 - 'Who are you, Lord?

A close examination of Paul's pivotal question, its potential dual interpretation, 'Who are you?' 'Lord?'

In the New Testament, the term κύριος is used to refer to God in specific divine contexts, such as the angel of the Lord, the way of the Lord, and worship of the Lord. Most frequently in the New Testament, it is used to address Jesus Christ.

In particular, in extraordinary circumstances, for example, when Peter caught a great many fishes, he said, 'Oh, Lord, please leave me - I am such a sinful man' (Luke 5:8).

Paul used the Greek word κύριος to refer to Jesus almost 280 times. As a highly educated rabbi who initially opposed the 'new way,' he wouldn't have used this term to describe a mere superior being.

Similar to Peter, who, after being overwhelmed by the 'catch,' referred to Jesus as κύριος, Paul had a divine encounter when he heard a voice and saw a bright light. This extraordinary experience instantly made him realize the true nature of Jesus. (cf.Gamaliel, an influential Pharisee and expert of the Law, was Paul's mentor, and he also recognized the divine nature of Jesus, as stated in Acts 5:39.)

c. As Paul, who confessed that he received teaching from the Lord, said (Romans 10:10-13):

'For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

In sum, 'repentance' is the prerquisite for salvation, for all, the Jews and the Gentiles. And, Paul was no exception. He repented before he was 'saved.'

Q: Exactly when did Paul repent... before or after he was saved?

Focusing on the Essential Gospel Calls in the Gospels, Acts, and Epistles:

1. Repentance as a Prerequisite for Salvation:

a. Jesus’ Proclamation:

• Matthew 4:17: "From that time on, Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.'" (cf. Matthew 3:2: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.")
• Mark 1:15: "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!"
• Luke 24:47: "...that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem." (cf. Luke 13:3, 5: "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.")

b. The Disciples’ Mission:

• Mark 6:12: "They went out and preached that people should repent."

c. Peter’s Call for Repentance:

• Acts 2:38: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (cf. Acts 3:19, 11:18, 26:20)

d. Paul’s Message:

• Acts 17:30: "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent." (cf. Acts 26:20)

Notes:

1. In Matthew 4:17, "from then on began to preach" indicates that Jesus initiated a continuous work of heralding this message, which the disciples continued.
2. Luke 24:47 explicitly states that "repentance for forgiveness" is the divine order. Both the Old and New Testaments present repentance, turning to God with a sincere change of heart, as a prerequisite for forgiveness and the restoration of a broken relationship with God (salvation).

2. Paul Was Saved After Repentance:

a. Paul’s Conversion:

Paul turned to Jesus and confessed Him as 'Lord.' During his encounter with the glorified Jesus, whom he had vehemently persecuted, repentance, forgiveness, and salvation occurred.

b. The Question of 'Lord':

• Acts 9:5: "'Who are you, Lord?' Paul asked."
• The term κύριος (Lord) is used in the New Testament to refer to God in divine contexts. Most frequently, it addresses Jesus Christ. In extraordinary circumstances, such as Peter’s reaction to the miraculous catch of fish (Luke 5:8), κύριος denotes a recognition of Jesus' divine nature.
• Paul used κύριος nearly 280 times to refer to Jesus. As a well-educated rabbi who initially opposed the 'new way,' he would not have used this term for a mere superior being. Like Peter, Paul had a divine encounter, realizing Jesus’ true nature when he heard a voice and saw a bright light, seeing the glorified Jesus as stated in 1 Corinthians 9:1 and 15:8. Additionally, Paul learned under Gamaliel, who also recognized Jesus' divine nature in Acts 5:39.

c. Paul’s Teaching on Salvation:

Romans 10:10-13: "For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, 'Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'"

In Summary:

Repentance is the prerequisite for salvation for both Jews and Gentiles, and Paul was no exception. While it is not explicitly recorded, Paul did 'repent' (μετανοέω), turning from being a law-observing Jew to believing in Jesus and the Gospel, before he was saved.

1. Repent is the prerequisite for salvation

Jesus proclaimed:

Disciples sent out to preach, 'that they should repent,' (Mark 6:12)

Peter (Acts 2:38): 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit' (cf. Acts 3:19,11:18, 26:20).

Paul (Acts 17:30): 'The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,' (cf. 26:20)

1. Repent is the prerequisite for salvation in logical sequence

a. Jesus proclaimed:

b. Disciples were sent out to preach, 'that they should repent,' (Mark 6:12)

c. Peter (Acts 2:38): 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit' (cf. Acts 3:19,11:18, 26:20).

d. Paul (Acts 17:30): 'The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,' (cf. 26:20)

1). In Matthew 4:17,'from then on began to preach' means a continues work of preaching(herald) of the same message was set in motion by Jesus, and disciples were to follow. 2). In Luke 24: 47, Jesus was explicite that 'repentance for forgiveness' is the order.In OT & NT, 'to repent' or 'turn or return' to God, with a sincere change of heart, turn to God centered life, from the self snter) is the prerequisite for forgiveness and restoration of the broken relationsip with God (salvation).

1). In Matthew 4:17,'from then on began to preach' means a continues work of preaching(herald) of the same message was set in motion by Jesus, and disciples were to follow.

2). In Luke 24: 47, Jesus was explicite that 'repentance for forgiveness' is the order. In OT & NT, 'to repent' or 'turn or return' to God, with a sincere change of heart, turn to God-centered life, from the self- cetered, is the prerequisite for forgiveness and restoration of the broken relationsip with God (salvation).