What had the Jewish believers in Judea heard about Paul's preaching?
The Jewish believers in Judea had heard only that the man who once persecuted them was now preaching the faith concerning Jesus the Lord Christ, the faith he had formerly tried to destroy. They knew of his past persecution and his complete reversal.
Les explains that these Jewish believers in Jerusalem and Judea had heard only this report: the one who had persecuted them in times past was now preaching the faith concerning Jesus the Lord Christ, which he once destroyed. Les points out that the Holy Spirit was making clear this man had nothing to do with those Jewish congregations in Palestine; he had no ministry to the Jews there in Judea, just as the twelve had no ministry to the Gentiles when Jesus sent them out. His direction was the opposite of Peter and the apostles, as he went into Gentile territory in Cilicia and Tarsus.
But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.