The answer is: Saul

Acts 7:58 - Saul, first a persecutor, became Paul the apostle.

In Acts 7:58, we catch a glimpse of Saul during one of the most poignant moments in early Christianity. While Stephen, one of the first deacons, delivered a powerful defense of his faith, a group hardened against his message took to stoning him. Saul stands by as a silent witness, watching and approving of this brutal act. The details of the moment might seem trivial—after all, what's the significance of a couple of coats? But this moment illustrates a shift, setting the stage for Saul's transformation into Paul, the traveling apostle whose teachings would shape Christian thought profoundly.

Interestingly, Saul’s original role as a coat-holder wasn’t just a line in the narrative; it symbolizes a level of complicity and agreement with the violence of the moment. It ironically highlights how closely he's now tethered to the work of the Church he would soon work to advance.

Fast forward to the conversion experience on the road to Damascus, Saul, who persecuted Christians, became the very embodiment of their message. Imagine the amazement when he began preaching! It reminds us that the past doesn't define our future. The same instruments of oppression can pivot to become tools of enlightenment and outreach, reminding us that we each can undergo transformation. Highlighting themes of forgiveness and redemption, this episode emphasizes that everyone has the potential for change, reinforcing the radical love that came to define early Christian communities.