Who was Saul of Tarsus in Acts?
Saul of Tarsus, later known as the Apostle Paul, was the main force behind the persecution of the church. He consented to Stephen’s death and led the rebellion, hating anything concerning Jesus of Nazareth. He was a religious Pharisaical Jew, a Pharisee of the Pharisee, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Les explains that Saul of Tarsus is the man who will later be known as the Apostle Paul. In Acts 8, when Stephen was stoned, Saul was not just a casual onlooker; he was consenting to his death, but more than that, he was driving it and was the main force. Les says Saul was the leader of the rebellion and hated anything concerning Jesus of Nazareth. Les points to Galatians 1:13, where Paul writes by Holy Spirit inspiration that he persecuted the church of God beyond measure and wasted it—the Jewish church at Jerusalem. Saul was a good religious Pharisaical Jew, and as he writes in Romans, a Pharisee of the Pharisee, of the tribe of Benjamin. Les notes this so we see Saul for what he really is by Acts chapter 9.