How did Paul feel about the day he persecuted Jewish believers?
Paul sorrowed deeply over the day he persecuted Jewish believers; it weighed on him so heavily he could never get it off his mind. When he learned the one he was persecuting was his Old Testament Jehovah, it beat him down, and he never quite got over it.
Les teaches that Paul could not get it off his mind. Having received authority from the chief priests, when believers were put to death, Paul gave his voice or vote against them; he voted to put them to death, in effect saying, take no prisoners. He punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme, forcing fellow Jews to blaspheme Jesus, recant their faith, or be put to death. After he found out the one he was persecuting was his Old Testament Jehovah, it beat him down, and he never quite got over it. Les notes there are many more accounts of how Paul sorrowed for the day he had so persecuted these Jewish believers, and he called himself the least of the apostles because he persecuted the church, the assembly of God, those Jewish believers at Jerusalem.
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.