Before his conversion, Saul of Tarsus was a zealous Jewish persecutor of the believing Jews who followed Jesus as the Messiah.
Saul was a religious zealot who had been trained at the feet of Gamaliel. He honestly believed Jesus was an imposter, so he thought he was doing God a service by stamping out all belief in Jesus of Nazareth. He ravaged the church, entering houses, committing men and women to prison, and even advocating their death before setting out for Damascus to arrest more believers.
Acts 9:1-2 — This passage directly describes Saul's pre-conversion role: breathing out threatenings and slaughter and asking the high priest for letters to the Damascus synagogues to arrest believers.
Acts 8:3 — This verse shows Saul making havoc of the church, entering every house, and hailing men and women to prison.
Acts 8:3 says, "As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison." This is the biblical picture of Saul's activity before his conversion: he was actively and violently persecuting the believers. Acts 9:1-2 continues, "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." Saul was not satisfied with persecuting believers in Jerusalem; he was prepared to travel to Damascus to arrest those who followed "this way." Saul is also introduced in connection with Stephen's martyrdom: "And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul" (Acts 7:58).
Les teaches that Saul began his rampage against the believing Jews when Stephen was martyred in Acts 7, and that he was not satisfied with what he had done in Jerusalem and Judea — he wanted to go after the believing Jews at Damascus (Clip 1). Les describes Saul as a "tremendously religious man" who had been taught at the feet of Gamaliel, the greatest rabbi of the day, and who honestly thought Jesus was an imposter and a blasphemer (Clip 2). Les emphasizes that Saul acted in the name of religion, believing he was doing God a service by stamping out everyone who followed Jesus of Nazareth (Clips 1, 2). He was so intense that he made havoc of the assembly, entering every house and committing men and women to prison, and Les calls him the "chief advocate" of putting believers to death because their crime was believing that Jesus was the Christ (Clips 2, 3). Les also points out that Saul's mission was directed at Jewish believers, not Gentiles. Even when Saul went to Damascus — a Gentile city — he asked the high priest for letters to the synagogues so he could bring believing Jews, men or women, bound back to Jerusalem (Clips 4, 5). Les notes that Saul considered the belief that Jesus was the Messiah a heresy and that nothing worse could happen to Israel (Clip 5).
Les says Saul was a religious zealot who had been taught by Gamaliel. He honestly believed Jesus was an imposter and a blasphemer, and he thought the best thing that could happen to Israel was to stamp out everything connected with Jesus. Therefore he persecuted those who believed Jesus was the Messiah — even to imprisonment and death. Les emphasizes that Saul was doing all of this in the name of religion, thinking he was doing his God a service.
Scripture says Saul, still breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked for letters to the synagogues at Damascus. If he found any followers of "this way," whether men or women, he wanted to bring them bound to Jerusalem. Les points out that Damascus was Gentile territory, but Saul was after believing Jews, not Gentiles — he specifically wanted to go into the synagogues and arrest Jews who had come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah.
Saul is first introduced at the martyrdom of Stephen, where the witnesses laid their clothes at his feet. Les says that as Israel was rejecting everything concerning the Christ, we are introduced to Saul of Tarsus, and he is not presented in a very good light.
Was Cornelius Really Saved? Acts 10 Explained Verse by Verse
Hello and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
Rampage Against Believing Jews
Les explains that Saul's persecution began against the believing Jews after Stephen's martyrdom, and that Saul wanted to pursue them all the way to Damascus, convinced he was doing God a service.
A Religious Zealot Trained by Gamaliel
Les shows that Saul's intensity came from his religious devotion: he had been taught by Gamaliel and honestly believed Jesus was an imposter, so he made havoc of the church and committed believers to prison.
Chief Advocate of Putting Believers to Death
Les describes Saul as the chief advocate of executing believers because their crime was believing that Jesus was the Christ.
Going to Damascus With Letters to Synagogues
Les points out that Saul requested letters to the Damascus synagogues, and that his whole mission was still entirely Jewish.
Pursuing Believing Jews Into Gentile Territory
Les emphasizes that Saul considered belief that Jesus was the Messiah a heresy and wanted to bring such believers, men or women, bound to Jerusalem.
Religious but Fleshly
Les uses Saul as an example of someone who was religious yet carnal, because his motivating power was contrary to God.
First Introduction at Stephen's Stoning
Les notes that Saul is first introduced holding the garments of those stoning Stephen, putting him in an unfavorable light.
Acts 7:58: And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
This is the first time Saul appears in Scripture, present at the stoning of Stephen.
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 verse describes Saul's violent persecution of the early believers.
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.
This passage shows Saul's determination to arrest followers of Jesus even outside Jerusalem.
Yes. Les says Saul had been taught at the feet of Gamaliel, the greatest rabbi of the day, and was a tremendously religious man. He acted in the name of religion, thinking he was doing God a service by stamping out those who believed in Jesus.
Saul wanted letters from the high priest to the synagogues at Damascus so he could arrest believing Jews who followed Jesus as the Christ and bring them bound to Jerusalem. Les notes that Saul was not satisfied with Jerusalem and Judea; he wanted to pursue believers into Gentile territory.
Les says Saul made havoc of the assembly, entering every house and haling men and women to prison. He also says Saul was the chief advocate of putting believers to death because they believed Jesus was the Christ.
Watch the Teaching: Was Cornelius Really Saved? Acts 10 Explained Verse by Verse