See! By His teaching He made the persecutor into a persecuted one
and the insolent one into the chosen vessel of His proclamation.
Through Saul, the mattock, who set out to uproot the churches,
He laid the foundations of faith for the whole world.
He made the demolisher the architect of His building,
He laid the foundation upon which all true ones will construct.
The wonder is that someone can be praised by his foes
and that even his enemies defend his innocence.
The testimony of friends, even though trustworthy, is insufficient,
so that He enlisted His enemy to become a witness of His proclamation.
He who was full of murderous rage towards the disciples
was the one He appointed to defend them, His true ones.
The man who was dragging off (to prison) men and women because of Jesus,
was the very one He caused to be dragged off on account of His teaching.
Wisely He hunted the hawk and turned it into a dove,
showing His power over even the wildest of creatures.
– Jacob of Serugh (c. 452–521), Homily 61.23–38
Locus Communis 