3扫罗生在大数，一个文化很高的城，在那里的大学接受希腊教育。在行传二十二章三节，他说，他『在迦玛列脚前，按著我们祖宗严紧的律法受教。』这指明他从一位伟大的拉比迦玛列，接受宗教教育。无疑的，扫罗是希腊和希伯来这两种语言的学者，也在希腊文化和希伯来宗教里受过训练。不仅如此，他是罗马公民。我们在他身上看见西方文化三个主要的元素：希伯来宗教、希腊文化、罗马政治。他按著希伯来宗教受教，在希腊文化里受训练，又是罗马帝国的公民。也许他的父母或祖父母成了罗马公民，扫罗本人生来就是罗马人。（徒二二25～28。）所以，扫罗有三重资格－希腊文化、希伯来宗教、罗马政治。主是主宰一切并无所不知的。司提反受的教育似乎比彼得和约翰好；彼得和约翰是没有学问的加利利渔夫。但司提反不像扫罗在西方文化的三种元素上那样有资格。在腓立比三章五节，保罗描述自己是『希伯来人所生的希伯来人，』因他生来就是希伯来人，又在希伯来宗教里受过良好的教育。没有一个人像他那样彀资格，担负将神新约经纶带到外邦世界的使命。
3Saul was born in Tarsus, a highly cultured city, and received his Greek education at the university there. In 22:3 he says that he studied “at the feet of Gamaliel, having been trained according to the strictness of the law.” This indicates that he received his religious education from Gamaliel, a great rabbi. No doubt, Saul was a scholar in both the Greek and Hebrew languages, and he was trained in both Greek culture and in Hebrew religion. Furthermore, he was a Roman citizen. With him we see the three main elements of Western culture: Hebrew religion, Greek culture, and Roman politics. He was taught according to the Hebrew religion, he was trained in Greek culture, and he was a citizen of the Roman Empire. His parents or grandparents may have become Roman citizens, and Saul himself was born a Roman (22:25-28). Therefore, Saul had a threefold qualification—in Greek culture, Hebrew religion, and Roman politics. The Lord is sovereign and all-knowing. Stephen seemed to be better educated than Peter and John, who were unlearned Galilean fishermen. But Stephen was not as qualified in the three elements of Western culture as Saul was. In Philippians 3:5 he describes himself as “a Hebrew of Hebrews,” for he was born a Hebrew and was well educated in the Hebrew religion. No one else was as qualified as he to bear the commission to bring God’s New Testament economy to the Gentile world