Who did Saul put in the position of blaspheming Jesus or being put to death?
Saul of Tarsus put his fellow Jews in the position of either blaspheming the name of Jesus, hating Him as Saul did, or being put to death. He compelled them in synagogues to blaspheme and voted against believers when religious leaders decided between death and prison.
Les explains that Saul, before his conversion, relentlessly persecuted Jewish believers. When they were brought before the religious leaders, Saul voted to put them to death rather than imprison them, saying, in effect, take no prisoners. He also punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme. The persecutor's ploy was to force people to make a choice: blaspheme Jesus Christ, recant faith in Him, or be put to death. Saul put his fellow Jews into that same position, demanding they blaspheme the name of Jesus and hate Him as Saul did, or die. Later, when Saul discovered he had persecuted the one who was truly his Old Testament Jehovah, it beat him down, and he never could quite get over it.
And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
More Questions
How did Saul of Tarsus persecute the early believers?
Paul carried out his persecution through the actions of the authorities and the whipmasters until these Jewish believers were either beaten to death or finally succumbed.