Saul's authority to persecute believers outside Israel came from the chief priests in Jerusalem, who gave him letters to Damascus to arrest men and women of 'this way' and bring them bound back to Jerusalem.
In Acts 9:1-2, Saul went to the high priest and asked for letters to the synagogues of Damascus, intending to bring any of 'this way' — Jewish believers that Jesus was the Christ — bound to Jerusalem. Paul later testified that he acted 'with authority and commission from the chief priests' (Acts 26:12). Les Feldick teaches that the Jewish leaders did retain authority under the Roman Empire within the confines of their religion to put their own people to death, and Saul used that authority to extend his campaign outside Israel.
Acts 9:1-2 — This is the passage where Saul requests and receives letters from the high priest to arrest believers in Damascus and bring them bound to Jerusalem — the very authority in question.
Acts 26:12 — Paul's own defense confirms he went to Damascus 'with authority and commission from the chief priests,' naming the source of his authority outside Israel.
Acts 9:1-2 records that Saul, 'yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,' and 'desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.' The authority originated with the high priest in Jerusalem, and its reach extended to the synagogues of a city outside Israel. Later, in Acts 26, Paul describes the same commission in his own words. He says he shut up saints in prison 'having received authority from the chief priests' (Acts 26:10), and that he went to Damascus 'with authority and commission from the chief priests' (Acts 26:12). He also states that, 'being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities' (Acts 26:11). The biblical text presents the chief priests as the source of Saul's authority both within Jerusalem and for his journey beyond Israel's borders.
Les Feldick reads the account as straightforward history. Saul of Tarsus was a 'religious zealot' — a student of Gamaliel — who 'honestly thought that Jesus was an imposter' and that belief in Him was 'totally rotting away Judaism, defaming the Temple and the Law.' Les notes Saul did everything humanly possible to stamp out the name of Jesus before he ever left Israel (clips 4, 5). On the specific matter of authority, Les is emphatic: 'Then people try to tell me that the Jews didn't have authority to put people to death under the Roman Empire. Oh, yes, they did. It says so. They had the authority within the confines of their religion to put their own people to death' (clip 2). He grounds this in Paul's own confession — 'I have received authority from the chief priests' — and in the record that believing Jews were put to death for believing Jesus was the Christ (clips 2, 7). Les also admits the arrangement can seem puzzling, remarking, 'I've often wondered, how did the Romans allow that?' (clip 5), but he anchors his answer in what Scripture itself declares. Les further shows that Saul's authority was not confined to Israel's borders. Having 'pretty well cleansed the little nation of Israel,' Saul desired letters from the high priest to go into Gentile territory and target the synagogues of Damascus (clips 1, 3). 'Wherever Paul or Saul of Tarsus heard there was an element of believing Jews, that Jesus was the Christ, he went after them' (clip 3). Les reminds readers that these believers had not separated themselves from the Law or temple worship, and that Saul was doing all of this in the name of religion, thinking he was doing God a service (clip 6).
Les Feldick explains that Saul of Tarsus was a 'tremendously religious man' trained at the feet of Gamaliel, the greatest rabbi of the day. Saul 'honestly thought that Jesus was an imposter' and a blasphemer, and that the best thing that could happen to Israel was to have everything connected with Jesus stamped out and put out of memory (clip 4). He detested 'with a passion the name of Jesus of Nazareth, because he could see it as just totally rotting away Judaism, defaming the Temple and the Law,' and he believed he was doing his God a service by stamping out any belief that Jesus was the Christ (clips 5, 6).
The biblical record shows Saul obtaining letters from the high priest 'to Damascus to the synagogues' (Acts 9:2), and Paul later confessing he persecuted believers 'even unto strange cities' (Acts 26:11). Les highlights this scope: Saul 'was not satisfied any longer with just working the small towns of Israel' — he wanted to go into Gentile territory and target the synagogues of Damascus, bringing men and women bound to Jerusalem (clip 1). 'Wherever Paul or Saul of Tarsus heard there was an element of believing Jews, that Jesus was the Christ, he went after them' (clip 3).
Les Feldick directly answers a common objection: 'Then people try to tell me that the Jews didn't have authority to put people to death under the Roman Empire. Oh, yes, they did. It says so. They had the authority within the confines of their religion to put their own people to death' (clip 2). He points to Paul's testimony that he had 'received authority from the chief priests' and that Jewish believers 'were put to death' for believing Jesus was the Christ (clips 2, 7). Les acknowledges he has wondered how the Romans allowed such a thing (clip 5), but he insists the scriptural record is clear that the chief priests exercised this authority.
Saul Breathing Out Threatenings
Les opens Acts 9 by describing Saul of Tarsus consumed with hatred for anything connected with the followers of Christ, setting the stage for Saul's request to the high priest for authority to pursue believers.
Letters to Damascus from the High Priest
Les explains that Saul went to the high priest for letters to Damascus so he could go into Gentile territory, enter the synagogues, and bring believing men and women bound back to Jerusalem.
Jewish Authority Under the Roman Empire
Les insists the Jews did have authority under the Roman Empire to put their own people to death within the confines of their religion, citing Paul's own confession of receiving authority from the chief priests.
Persecution 'Even to Strange Cities'
Les shows that Saul did not confine his persecution to Jerusalem — he pursued believing Jews wherever he heard of them, which is why he set out for Damascus.
Saul the Religious Zealot
Les describes Saul as a tremendously religious man, taught by Gamaliel, who honestly believed Jesus was an imposter and that stamping out the movement was the best service he could render to Israel.
How Did the Romans Allow It?
Les notes that Saul got permission from the high priest to go to Damascus and then raises the natural question — 'how did the Romans allow that?' — the very question this page answers from the supporting clips.
Persecution in the Name of Religion
Les reminds readers that Saul did all of this in the name of religion, thinking he was doing God a service by stamping out belief in Jesus of Nazareth.
Authority from the Chief Priests Repeated
Les again emphasizes that Saul received authority from the chief priests, and that believing Jews were put to death for the crime of believing Jesus was the Christ.
Acts 9:1-2: And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
The core narrative showing Saul's authority originated in letters from the high priest and extended to the synagogues of Damascus.
Acts 26:9-10: I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 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 recounts imprisoning saints in Jerusalem by authority received from the chief priests.
Acts 26:11: And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
Paul states his persecution reached 'even unto strange cities,' showing the campaign extended beyond Israel.
Acts 26:12: Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
Paul explicitly says he went to Damascus 'with authority and commission from the chief priests.'
Saul went to the high priest at Jerusalem and desired letters to the synagogues of Damascus (Acts 9:1-2). With those letters he planned to arrest any men or women of 'this way' and bring them bound to Jerusalem. Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul later testified he had 'received authority from the chief priests,' which is the scriptural basis for his mission (Acts 26:10-12).
Les Feldick is emphatic: 'Then people try to tell me that the Jews didn't have authority to put people to death under the Roman Empire. Oh, yes, they did. It says so.' He explains that the chief priests had authority within the confines of their religion to put their own people to death, and Saul of Tarsus acted at the head of it (clips 2, 7).
Les describes Saul as a 'religious zealot' trained by Gamaliel who honestly believed Jesus of Nazareth was an imposter and that belief in Him was rotting away Judaism. Saul thought the best thing for Israel was to stamp out everything connected with Jesus, and he did everything humanly possible to accomplish that, even pursuing believers to strange cities (clips 3, 4, 5).
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul Persecuted the Early Church — Galatians Chapter 1