What did Paul mean when he said he 'gave his voice against them' when they were put to death?
Paul meant he cast his vote or gave his voice in agreement with the religious leaders' death sentence against Jewish believers. When they were brought before the council and asked whether to execute or imprison them, Saul voted to put them to death, refusing to take prisoners and wanting to eliminate the enemy.
Les explains that Paul, then Saul of Tarsus, is recalling his former persecution before his Damascus Road encounter. Having received authority from the chief priests, when believers were brought before the religious leaders, a vote was taken whether to put them to death or in prison. Saul would vote to put them to death, reasoning, "Why feed an enemy? Get rid of him. Take no prisoners." That was Saul's attitude. He also punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme, forcing people to either blaspheme Jesus Christ, recant their faith, or be put to death. Later, after he found out the one he persecuted was his Old Testament Jehovah, it beat him down, and he sorrowed over persecuting those Jewish believers. He called himself the least of the apostles because he persecuted the church, the assembly of God, those Jewish believers at Jerusalem.
Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
More Questions
Why were the prisoners in Saul's persecution put to death?
The believers Saul had imprisoned were put to death because their crime was believing that Jesus was the Christ.
How severe was Paul's persecution of believers before his conversion?
Paul's persecution of the saints was not merely nominal; he persecuted them to the death and gave his vote against them.