"ROV"?????? SHAUL

Since I have become a believer in Yeshua as Moshiach I have heard Rabbi Shaul called many things... Paul of Tarshis, The Apostle Paul, and even "Saint" Paul (make me gag). In the attempt of some Messianic believers who want to be correct in what we call him, some have called him ROV Sha'ul, however, this poses a major problem, the problem is this.....

In the year 66 C.E. The Roman Emperor Nero sent The Roman general Vespasian (Father of Titus) to campaign against the Jews in the area which the Romans called Judea.

By the year 70 C.E. Vespasian's troops surrounded the city of Yerushalyem (this is year when the Beis haMikdosh was destroyed on the 9th of Av), it was at this point that The great Sage Rabbi Yochanon BenZakkai ,who was inside the city, had his Talmid'eem (disciples) sneak him out in a coffin, when they got the coffin to Vespasian Rabbi Yochanon Ben Zakkai jumped out and told Vespasian that he (Vespation)would become the next Emperor of The Roman Empire.
This idea of becoming Emperor sounded great to Vespasian who was flabbergasted and then asked in return "what do you get out of it?". Rabbi Yochanon Ben Zakkai replied "Give us Yavneh, and give us it's sages" meaning, let us go to Yavneh in Bavli (Babalonia) and set up a Yeshiva (Seminary of Jewish Learning). (NOTE: Yavneh means "Vineyard", for it was named because of it's school's rows of seating, which were semi circles, like the way grapes were planted in vineyards).

During this time in Yavneh those who earned smicha (Rabbinical ordination) were not allowed to be be given the title "Rabbi" because they were not given smicha in Yerushalyem, so they took an alternate title, which was "ROV".
This is why to call Rabbi Sha'ul "Rov" is incorrect, it would put him in a bit later time period that he was in....and it would also put him as a student of Yavneh in the golus (diaspora), when in fact Rabbi Shaul was actually a talmid of R. Gamliel in Yerushalyem.

May I propose that his proper title should be "Rabbi Shaul haShaliach" (Rabbi Shaul,The sent out one).

Be well...