Why were the Jews infuriated with Paul's ministry?
The Jews were infuriated because Paul taught that Gentiles were just as good as Jews and that there is no difference now between Jew and Gentile. For nearly 2,000 years they had been taught they were God’s special covenant people, set apart, not to intermarry. Paul’s message to pagan Gentiles and his claim that no one is righteous enraged them.
Les explains that Paul’s message sent the Jewish community “into orbit” because it challenged their centuries-old identity. For almost 2,000 years they had heard that they were special, God’s covenant people, set apart from the rest of the world, not to intermarry, and to stay within their tribes. Now a “little Jew” came out and said there is no difference. Les points out this infuriated them because Paul was attempting to take the salvation of Israel’s God to pagan Gentiles. They followed him from city to city, trying to defeat him, and plagued him until his death. The crowning reason was Paul’s declaration that there is no difference now between Jew and Gentile. Les also notes that when Paul quoted “there is none righteous, no not one,” the Pharisees could have put him to death, because they were righteous in their own eyes, and Paul made it plain that no one is righteous, not even the most religious Jew.
More Questions
What did the Jews do to the Apostle Paul throughout his ministry?
The Jews plagued the Apostle Paul every step of his way, following him from city to city and trying to defeat him until his death.