How did Paul feel about Jesus before he was saved?
Before he was saved, Paul was a persecutor and a raging religious zealot who hated the name of Jesus of Nazareth with a passion. By the grace of God, rather than being zapped or sent to eternal doom, he was permitted to be saved and to receive mercy instead of wrath.
Les explains that Paul did not receive his apostleship or salvation because of his education or any merit of his own, but by the grace of God. He calls Paul a persecutor and a raging religious zealot who hated the name of Jesus of Nazareth with a passion. Instead of zapping him or sending him to eternal doom, God's grace permitted Him to save Paul and pour out mercy, because grace is God's unmerited favor that makes mercy possible. Les also notes that if God had acted by what was fair, He would have wiped out Israel or mankind, as when Israel made the golden calf, but God shows mercy because He is sovereign.