Who did Paul persecute before his conversion?
Before his conversion, Paul persecuted the believers in Jerusalem who had become followers of Jesus of Nazareth. He tried to stamp them out, thinking he was doing God a favor, and he acted contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Les teaches that Acts 26 rehearses Paul’s past life when he was active in Judaism. Paul was a Pharisee of the Pharisees, and he was persecuting the believers in Jerusalem who had become followers of Jesus of Nazareth. He was trying to stamp them out and thought he was doing God a favor. Paul himself says he thought he ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth, and as a religious fanatic, he did those things in Jerusalem.
More Questions
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.
Which accounts of Paul's conversion are told in the first person by Paul himself?
Acts 9 is Luke the writer's record of Saul's conversion, while Acts 22 and 26 are Paul's own first-person rehearsals of the same event.