What did Paul mean when he said he gave his vote against the saints in Acts 26:10?
Paul meant that when believing Jews confessed Jesus as Messiah before the Sanhedrin, he cast his vote or voice against them, agreeing they should be put to death. His persecution was not nominal; he actively voted to execute the saints, showing he had no mercy and was cruel in opposing Christ.
Les explains that Paul, speaking first-person before Agrippa, admits he thought he ought to do many things contrary to Jesus of Nazareth and did so in Jerusalem. He shut up many saints in prison with authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death, he gave his vote or voice against them. Les teaches this was not nominal persecution: as believers came before the Sanhedrin and confessed Christ as Messiah, the Sanhedrin voted, and Paul voted to put them to death. He had no mercy, and his persecution was cruel. Les also notes verse 11: Paul punished them often, favoring the Jews' lash of 39 stripes, whipping them to make them deny their confession and causing them to blaspheme—not with words.
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
What does Paul mean when he says he 'gave his voice' against believers who were put to death?
When Paul says he 'gave his voice' against believers put to death, he means that when believers were brought before the religious leaders and a vote was taken whether to execute them or imprison them, Saul of Tarsus voted to put them to death.
Who are the "saints" Paul says he shut up in prison in Acts 26:10?
The "saints" Paul imprisoned in Acts 26:10 were the believing Jews who had embraced Jesus of Nazareth.
What does 'I gave my voice' mean in Acts 26:10?
When Paul says he 'gave his voice' against Christians being put to death, the better word is 'vote'—he voted to have them put to death.