Who was the church that Paul persecuted?
The church Paul persecuted was the assembly of God: Jewish believers in Christ from His earthly ministry in Jerusalem, the congregation over whom Peter preached in the book of Acts. Paul describes it as the Church, or assembly of God, and says he persecuted it beyond measure and wasted it.
Les explains that the church Paul persecuted was the assembly of God—the Jewish believers of Christ's earthly ministry after He had gone, there at Jerusalem, over whom Peter was preaching in the book of Acts. Paul had been steeped in the Jews religion, which by then was watered down with man-made laws and rules and regulations. He says beyond measure he persecuted the Church, or the assembly of God, and wasted it. In verse 14 he adds that he profited in the Jews religion above many equals in his own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the word of God, but traditions.
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
More Questions
What did Paul say about his persecution of the church in Galatians 1:13?
In Galatians 1:13 Paul said his past lifestyle in the Jews' religion included persecuting the church of God beyond measure and wasting it.