Yes, Paul suffered greatly because he had previously persecuted believers, and God showed him how much he must suffer for His name's sake.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul's suffering was a direct consequence of his former life as a persecutor of the church. God chose Paul as a perfect candidate to endure suffering because he had inflicted so much on others, and through it, Paul was sustained by the love of Christ and his vision of glory.
Acts 9:16 — God's direct statement to Ananias about Paul's future suffering.
The Bible records Paul's own account of his sufferings in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28. He lists imprisonments, beatings, stoning, shipwrecks, and constant dangers from both Jews and Gentiles. He also mentions his care for all the churches. In Acts 9:16, God tells Ananias that Paul will suffer for His name's sake. These passages show that Paul's suffering was real and extensive, directly tied to his ministry and his past.
Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul's suffering was a direct consequence of his past life as a persecutor. Paul himself remembered how he had caused others to suffer, and God used that unique background to make him the perfect candidate to endure abuse. Les also highlights that Paul's constant suffering was for the sake of the Gospel, and that despite the physical pain, Paul was sustained by the love of Christ and the memory of his vision of heaven.
Paul suffered beatings with rods, stoning, shipwrecks, and constant opposition from both Jews and Gentiles. He was imprisoned frequently and faced death many times. Les notes that this continued for about 20 years of ministry.
Les teaches that Paul was the perfect candidate for suffering because he had previously inflicted so much suffering on believers. Paul's own memory of his former persecution drove him to endure, and God used his past to shape his future ministry.
Paul was sustained by the love of Christ, which constrained him to continue, and by the memory of his vision of heaven, which he could not share but which comforted him in times of intense suffering.
Paul's Constant Suffering
Les explains that Paul suffered far more than the twelve apostles, experiencing constant beatings, imprisonment, and opposition for the sake of the Gospel.
Paul's Past as Preparation
Les suggests Paul's earlier persecution of believers made him the perfect candidate to endure similar abuse himself.
Driven by Christ's Love
Les emphasizes that the love of Christ was the driving force that kept Paul going despite all his suffering and opposition.
Sustained by Heavenly Vision
Les teaches that Paul's memory of being caught up to heaven sustained him during intense physical suffering.
Catalog of Paul's Sufferings
Les recounts Paul's specific sufferings from 2 Corinthians 11, including beatings, stoning, shipwrecks, and constant dangers.
Paul's Former Persecution
Les describes Paul's former zeal in persecuting believers, which contrasts with his later suffering.
Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen? — 2 Corinthians 1 Explained
Even when some of our number are suddenly stricken, and the first thing that hits our mind is, why do these bad things happen to believers especially? And many times to unbelievers, but they're good people. But they do. Now I'm sure the apostle must have had those thoughts many, many times. Here I am sold out to Christ.
Paul's Remorse for Persecution
Les notes that Paul never got over the sorrow of having persecuted the church, which affected his self-perception as 'least of the apostles.'
2 Corinthians 11:23-28: Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
Paul lists his specific sufferings, showing the extent of his persecution for the Gospel.
Acts 9:16: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
God's direct statement that Paul would suffer greatly for His name.
2 Corinthians 5:14: For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
Paul's motivation for enduring suffering was the love of Christ.
Yes, according to Les Feldick, Paul suffered far more than the twelve disciples during his ministry, facing constant beatings, imprisonments, and opposition for about 20 years.
Paul was sustained by the love of Christ and by the memory of his heavenly vision, which gave him strength during intense persecution.
Yes, Les teaches that Paul's history as a persecutor made him a perfect candidate to endure suffering for the Gospel, and he never forgot his past.
Watch the Teaching: Caught Up to the Third Heaven — 2 Corinthians 12 Explained