Saul profited by gaining wealth, power, and high status as a zealous religious leader, but he counted it all as loss after meeting Christ.
According to Les Feldick, Saul was a 'religious bigwig' who made 'big bucks' by exploiting poor worshippers, selling them substandard sacrificial animals at inflated prices. He was likely a member of the Sanhedrin, had a family, and lived sumptuously. But upon his conversion, he lost it all, counting everything as dung for the excellence of knowing Christ.
Philippians 3:7-8 — Paul explicitly states he counted all his religious gains as loss for Christ, showing the ultimate profit perspective.
The Bible indicates that Saul of Tarsus was highly advanced in Judaism beyond many of his own age, being 'more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers' (Galatians 1:14). He persecuted the church violently, entering houses and committing believers to prison (Acts 8:3). He later wrote, 'But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ' (Philippians 3:7). Scripture does not detail his financial profits, but it shows his religious zeal and subsequent renunciation of all.
Les Feldick teaches that Saul profited in the Jews' religion by exploiting the poor. He was part of a corrupt system that charged bloated prices for defective sacrifices, and Saul 'was making big bucks' (Clip 0). He was a 'religious bigwig' who likely gained tremendous wealth and had a family (Clip 1). Les believes Saul was a member of the Sanhedrin (Clip 3). Everything he did, he did in the name of religion, thinking he was serving God by persecuting believers (Clip 2, Clip 4). Ultimately, Les emphasizes that Saul lost all these profits when he became a believer (Clip 1).
Les Feldick describes that the religious leaders of Israel took advantage of poor people by selling them inferior sacrifices at ten times the price. He says, 'they were selling them the off scouring of stuff that they could use for a sacrifice, and charging them bloated prices.' And he notes, 'Saul was right in the middle of that. He was making big bucks.'
Les Feldick teaches that Saul likely had a wife and children, but because of his conversion, he had to put all that behind. He says, 'he lost it all.' This includes his wealth, family, and status. Paul referred to this in Philippians, counting everything he owned as 'dung' compared to knowing Christ.
Saul persecuted Christians because he believed he was doing God a service. As a zealous religious Jew, he thought that Jesus of Nazareth was a heretic and that stamping out this belief was his duty. He voted to put believers to death and was ruthless, but all in the name of religion.
Saul's Financial Profit
Les explicitly states that Saul made 'big bucks' by selling overpriced defective sacrifices to the poor, showing he profited financially from corrupt religious practices.
Saul's Loss After Conversion
Les explains that Saul was a 'religious bigwig' who gained great wealth and had a family, but he lost it all after his conversion, counting everything as 'dung'.
Why Paul Was Never One of the Twelve — Acts 9 Explained
They haven't separated themselves from the Law, from temple worship and what have you, but they are assembling as believing Jews. Now then it's against these believing Jews that Saul of Tarsus began his rampage when Stephen was martyred back in chapter 7, and now we pick the man up, not satisfied with what he had accomplished in the area of Jerusalem and Judea and so forth.
Saul's High Status
Les teaches that Saul was a top man, likely a member of the Sanhedrin, and his voting to put Christians to death shows his powerful position.
Why Israel Rejected the Gospel — Acts 8 Explained
"...As for Saul, he made havoc of the assembly." These Jewish believers. "...Entering into every house, and hailing men and women, and committed them to prison." Hey, he was ruthless. But in the name of what? Religion. He is a religious Jew. And everything he does, he thinks he is doing for the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Come over with me to chapter 26 of Acts. Chapter 26.
What the Bible Really Says About Suffering and Glory
But he was after the believing Jews who had supposedly followed the heresy that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah. And to this good Jew, Saul of Tarsus, nothing worse could have happened to Israel. And so he's trying to stamp it out by persecution, by imprisonment, by putting them to death. All right, read on.
Why the Law Can't Save You — Romans 7:5-14 Explained
And so he was carnal, he was fleshly, even though he was religious, yet the motivating power within him was not the things that were pleasing to God, but quite the contrary, because he was stamping out those who had recognized Jesus was indeed the Christ. Now, again, we have to understand the mindset of not only Saul of Tarsus, but all the religious Jews of Jesus' day.
Introducing Paul: Why God Stopped the Prophetic Clock
Now most will just say, well, Jesus was the one who started Christianity. Well, Jesus is the foundation of it, no doubt. But who built upon that foundation? Well, the Apostle Paul. And so I was encouraged, at least there's a few people starting to recognize that Christianity would not be where it is tonight had not it been for the Apostle Paul or Saul of Tarsus.
Galatians 1:14: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
Paul's own statement that he profited in Judaism, confirming his high status and dedication.
Philippians 3:7-8: But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.
Paul explains that his previous religious gains were worthless compared to knowing Christ, indicating he lost everything.
Acts 8:3: As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
This shows Saul's ruthless persecution of believers, which he did thinking he was serving God.
Acts 26:10: Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
Paul mentions his voting against believers, showing his authority and active participation in persecution.
Les Feldick teaches that Saul was 'making big bucks' by exploiting worshippers, selling them defective sacrifices at bloated prices. He lived in a culture where top religious leaders like Caiaphas lived sumptuously, and Saul likely profited similarly.
Les Feldick believes Saul was married and had children, but he had to leave them behind when he became a Christian. He lost his family along with his wealth and status.
Saul was a zealous religious Jew who thought he was serving God by stamping out the belief that Jesus was the Messiah. He saw Jesus as a heretic, and persecution was his religious duty.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul Persecuted the Early Church — Galatians Chapter 1