What does Acts 26 reveal about Paul's life before following Jesus?
Acts 26 rehearses Paul's pre-conversion life: he was active in Judaism, a Pharisee of Pharisees, and persecuted followers of Jesus of Nazareth in Jerusalem, trying to stamp them out and thinking he was doing God a favor. He testified he thought he ought to do many things contrary to Jesus' name as a religious fanatic.
Les teaches that Acts 26 gives a revealing part of Paul's past that many people ignore. Before following Jesus, Paul was not merely a bachelor with a grudge against women or marriage; rather, he was alone when he began his apostolic ministry. Les's premise is that Paul had at one time been married and had children, and he points to Acts 26 to back that up. In Acts 26, Paul rehearses his past life when he was active in Judaism: he was a Pharisee of the Pharisee, persecuting believers in Jerusalem who had become followers of Jesus of Nazareth, trying to stamp them out, and thinking he was doing God a favor. Quoting Acts 26:9, Paul says he verily thought he ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth, as a religious fanatic, which he also did in Jerusalem.
More Questions
In Acts 26, does Paul tell his own story in the first person?
In Acts 26, Paul is personally rehearsing in the first person the story of his earlier life and persecution of believers.
How many times is Paul's conversion detailed in Acts?
Paul's conversion is recorded in full detail three times in Acts: chapter 9, chapter 22, and chapter 26.