Who was Saul persecuting before his conversion?
Prior to his conversion, he persecuted Jewish believers in Jesus as the Messiah. He tried to stamp out anyone in Israel who proclaimed Christ, arresting those in synagogues who believed in Him and bringing them to Jerusalem for trial, punishment, and often death.
Les explains that Saul was trying to stamp out anyone in Israel who had proclaimed Christ as the Messiah and believed, people who had become separated from the mainstream of Judaism while still keeping temple worship and the Law. Saul had evidently cleansed the homeland, then went to the chief rulers to pursue Jews in Damascus, arresting and bringing them back to Jerusalem for trial, punishment, and often death. On the Damascus road he had absolute hatred for anything contrary to Judaism, and he sought anyone in the synagogue who were believers in Christ. Yet the Lord called him by grace.
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
More Questions
What was Saul doing to Christians in Israel before his conversion?
Before his conversion, Saul was trying to stamp out everyone in Israel who had proclaimed and believed Jesus was the Messiah.
Who was Saul persecuting before he became a Christian?
Before his conversion, Saul was trying to stamp out anyone in Israel who had proclaimed Christ as Messiah and believed it, people who had become separated from the mainstream of Judaism even though they were still keeping temple worship and the Law.
Why did Saul think Christians deserved to die?
Saul's attitude toward anyone who embraced Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah was that they were not worth living, because he saw them as nothing but a threat to his religion.