Why did Paul punish believers in every synagogue and cause them to blaspheme?
Paul persecuted believers because he sincerely thought he must oppose Jesus of Nazareth, and he acted under authority from the chief priests. He imprisoned saints, voted for their death, and punished them in synagogues with the lash to force them to deny their confession and blaspheme.
Les explains that in Acts 26 Paul is speaking in the first person before Agrippa, recounting his former zeal. He verily thought he ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth, and he did it in Jerusalem. By authority from the chief priests he shut up many saints in prison. When they were put to death, he gave his vote against them. His persecution was not nominal; it was to the death, without mercy, and cruel. In verse 11 he says he punished them oft in every synagogue and caused them to blaspheme. Les points out that the Jews' preferred punishment was the lash, 39 stripes, and Paul was all in favor of it. They whipped believers to make them deny their confession. Les notes Paul did not cause blasphemy with words.
And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
More Questions
What does it mean that Paul caused them to blaspheme in Acts 26:11?
Paul punished the believers in every synagogue and thereby caused them to blaspheme — that is, he made them deny their confession, and he did not accomplish this with words.
Why did Paul whip believers in every synagogue?
Paul's purpose in punishing believers was to make them deny their confession of Christ.
How did Saul of Tarsus persecute the early believers?
Paul carried out his persecution through the actions of the authorities and the whipmasters until these Jewish believers were either beaten to death or finally succumbed.
What did Paul mean by 'compelled them to blaspheme'?
When Paul says he 'compelled them to blaspheme,' he means he forced Jewish believers to renounce their faith in Jesus.