Was Paul a well-known Pharisee before his conversion?
Yes, he was one of the top Pharisees in Judaism and was well known among Jewish religious leaders. However, outside Palestine, Saul of Tarsus was unknown; he came to Asia Minor, Greece, Athens, and Corinth as a relative unknown. So he was well known, yet unknown.
Les explains that Paul was constantly opposed by detractors who ridiculed and scorned him, yet he continued on. He had been one of the top Pharisees in Judaism, well known among the Jewish religious leaders, but outside Palestine no one had heard of Saul of Tarsus. Thus he entered Asia Minor, Greece, Athens, and Corinth as a relative unknown. Les also notes that Paul had been rich, profiting more than his equals in the Jewish religion, likely wealthy with one of the better homes in Jerusalem, yet he cast it all aside and counted it as dung for the Gospel. He was always threatened with his life, sorrowful yet rejoicing, poor yet making many rich, having nothing yet possessing all things.