What was Saul's mission as the chief persecutor?
Saul's mission as chief persecutor was to stamp out anyone who embraced Jesus of Nazareth as Israel's Messiah. He had authority from the chief priests to bind all who called on the Lord's name, and he had done evil to the saints at Jerusalem, extending that persecution to Damascus.
Les explains that Saul was the chief persecutor, and his mission was to stamp out anybody who had embraced Jesus of Nazareth as Israel's Messiah. Ananias reported to the Lord that he had heard by many how much evil Saul had done to the saints at Jerusalem, and that in Damascus he had authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on the Lord's name. Les points out that the major mentality of most Jews, even today, is the same as Saul of Tarsus: they still think Jesus was an imposter and a blasphemer, and that to do away with the name of Jesus from amongst Israel is doing their God a favor. Les shares an anecdote about an Evangelical and an old Jewish Rabbi arguing the point of Jesus' Messiahship; the Rabbi insisted Jesus had never been here.
Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: