Why was Saul of Tarsus so infuriated by reports about Jesus and His followers?
Saul of Tarsus was infuriated because reports of Jesus’ miracles and of more Jews following after the Messiah from Nazareth struck at the religion he was defending. As a Pharisee and key man of the Sanhedrin, he saw this growing movement as a threat to his own religious standing and authority.
Les explains that Saul of Tarsus was a Pharisee of the Pharisees and one of the key men of the Sanhedrin, likely in his 30s and almost the same age as Jesus. As Saul heard all about the miracles Jesus of Nazareth was performing, and every time he heard that more Jews were following after the Messiah from Nazareth, it totally infuriated him. He was defending his religion; first he had to defend his religion, and then later he had to defend his apostleship.