Who was Saul of Tarsus before his conversion?
Saul of Tarsus was a Jew and a Pharisee of the Pharisees. He hated the name of Jesus of Nazareth, not because Jesus was a blasphemer per se, but because of his religious convictions. He honestly believed he was doing God's service by trying to stamp out early Jewish believers who believed Christ was the Messiah.
Les explains that Saul of Tarsus is first introduced at the stoning of Stephen, where the witnesses laid their cloaks at his feet. In the transitional book of Acts, Saul comes on the scene as a Jew and a Pharisee of the Pharisees. He hated the very name of Jesus of Nazareth, not because Jesus was a blasphemer per se, but because of his religious convictions. Saul honestly thought he was doing God's service by trying to stamp out the early Jewish believers who believed that Christ was the Messiah.
More Questions
When does Saul of Tarsus first appear in Acts?
Saul of Tarsus is first introduced at the stoning of Stephen as the next man to come on the scene in the book of Acts.