Why did Saul of Tarsus persecute the followers of Jesus so fiercely?
Saul of Tarsus hated the name of Jesus of Nazareth with a passion because he saw it as totally rotting away Judaism and defaming the Temple and the Law. Therefore he did everything humanly possible to stamp out that name, even obtaining permission from the High Priest to pursue believers beyond Jerusalem.
Les teaches that Saul’s fierce opposition flowed from his perception that the name of Jesus of Nazareth was totally rotting away Judaism and defaming the Temple and the Law. Because of that passionate hatred, Saul did everything humanly possible to stamp out that name. He believed he had covered his bases in Jerusalem and Judea, then sought permission from the High Priest to extend the persecution to Damascus. Les also notes Judaism had enough clout that the Romans allowed this.