Was Paul well known outside of Palestine?
No. Paul was well known among the Jewish religious leaders, but outside of Palestine no one had heard of Saul of Tarsus. He entered Asia Minor, Greece, Athens, and Corinth as a relative unknown. Thus he was well known, yet unknown.
Les explains that Paul had been one of the top Pharisees in Judaism and was well known among the Jewish religious leaders. But outside of Palestine, who had ever heard of Saul of Tarsus? No one. So he came into Asia Minor, Greece, Athens, and Corinth as a relative unknown. He was well known, and yet unknown. Everywhere he went there were detractors who ridiculed and scorned him, yet he had to continue on. He had been wealthy, probably had one of the better homes in Jerusalem, but he cast all that aside and counted it as dung for the sake of the Gospel.