Faith, repentance, and the historical roots of Christianity are not typical subjects on Bill Maher’s Club Random Podcast. That made Tim Allen’s extended discussion of the apostle Paul all the more notable, particularly given Maher’s long-standing skepticism toward religion.
During the wide-ranging conversation, Allen spoke openly about Paul’s Jewish identity, his dramatic conversion, and the theological consequences that followed. The exchange exposed Bill Maher’s audience, many of whom are not accustomed to hearing biblical history discussed seriously, to foundational Christian truths through an unexpected voice.
Allen grounded Paul in history rather than myth, explaining that Paul was not born a Christian figure at all. He told Maher that he had come to realize that “St. Paul—his name Saul actually—is Jewish,” identifying him by his birth name, Saul of Tarsus. Allen emphasized that Saul was deeply entrenched in Jewish religious life and openly hostile to the early church, describing him as “a zealot Jew” who “prosecuted Christians.”
That background, Allen explained, made Paul’s conversion all the more extraordinary. Recounting Paul’s own testimony from the Road to Damascus, Allen described how Saul said that four other people were with him when “a light so bright blinded me” and that Jesus appeared and confronted him directly, asking, “What’s your problem with me?”
Allen portrayed the encounter not as a vague spiritual awakening, but as a moment of reckoning. He explained that Paul later returned to Jerusalem and admitted, “Guys, we screwed up,” believing they had killed “the actual living entity” sent to fulfill God’s purpose.
According to Allen, that realization reshaped everything Paul believed about law, faith and salvation.
Order Jonathan Cahn’s Newest Book, “The Avatar” on Amazon.com!
The consequences were enormous. Allen explained that Paul became the driving force behind opening the faith to non-Jews, telling Maher that Paul insisted pagans should be included without adopting Jewish ritual law. As Allen recounted it, Paul’s message was simple: “You don’t have to eat no pork. You don’t have to be circumcised.”
Allen framed Paul as a uniquely positioned figure, fluent in Jewish theology, Greek philosophy, and Roman law. He noted that Paul’s Roman citizenship repeatedly saved his life, recalling that Paul would challenge his accusers by reminding them, “The problem you’re going to have with that is I’m also a Roman citizen,” forcing authorities to take him before Roman courts rather than execute him.
Beyond history, Allen highlighted Paul’s philosophical insight, particularly his teaching on law and sin.
Allen told Maher that Paul believed law was essentially created to define sin, explaining that “without law, you don’t know what sinful is.” For Allen, that idea cut through the circular reasoning he sees in modern philosophy.
“Philosophy runs in circles,” Allen said during the conversation, adding that it “can’t explain anything really.” He contrasted that frustration with Paul’s clarity about human nature, morality and accountability.
The discussion also addressed common misconceptions about Jesus’ identity. Allen recalled correcting a tour guide in Jerusalem who suggested Jesus was not Jewish. Allen said he gently but firmly explained that Christianity emerged from Judaism, not in opposition to it, noting that Jesus was Jewish and that the early followers of Christ understood themselves within that tradition.
What made the exchange striking was not that Allen defended Christianity, but that Maher’s platform allowed the biblical narrative to be presented without mockery. Maher listened, engaged and allowed Allen to explain Paul’s story without interruption or ridicule.
For an audience accustomed to skepticism, the conversation offered an unfiltered exposure to Scripture, history, and testimony. Allen did not preach. He explained. He did not argue doctrine. He told the story of a man whose life was radically transformed by an encounter with Christ.
Sometimes, that is how seeds are planted.
Scripture teaches that faith often begins with hearing, and hearing comes through testimony. In that sense, it is a good thing that Maher’s audience encountered the story of Paul the Apostle through someone they already recognize and respect.
The prayer now is simple: that the seed planted through that conversation will take root, leading to repentance, truth and salvation.
That is a prayer worth praying.
If you would like to watch the full interview, click here (Editor’s Note: Strong Language).
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
