Saul persecuted the early believers because he was a religious zealot who was convinced Jesus of Nazareth was an imposter and that stamping out His followers was service to God.
Saul of Tarsus, trained at the feet of Gamaliel, genuinely believed the claim that Jesus was the Christ was a heresy that threatened Israel's religion and culture. He thought the best thing he could do as a servant of God was to persecute, imprison, and even kill those who followed Jesus. His campaign began in Judea and extended to Damascus through letters from the high priest.
Acts 9:1-2 — This is the key passage showing Saul breathing out threatenings and slaughter and requesting authority to arrest believers in Damascus.
Acts 9:1-2 records that Saul went to 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 same passage describes him as 'yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord.' Acts 8:3 shows the extent of his earlier activity: 'As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.' In Acts 26:9-10, Paul later gave his own testimony: '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.' Acts 7:58 also places Saul at the stoning of Stephen.
Les Feldick teaches that Saul's persecution was rooted in religious conviction, not mere hatred. Saul was a 'tremendously religious man' trained at the feet of Gamaliel, the greatest rabbi of the day. He honestly thought Jesus of Nazareth was an imposter and a blasphemer, and that the best thing for Israel was to have everything connected with Jesus stamped out of memory. Les calls him a 'religious zealot' and a 'religious fanatic.' Saul saw the believers who confessed Jesus as the Christ as followers of a heresy that would ruin Israel's religion and culture. He therefore made it his purpose of life to imprison and even kill them. Les stresses that Saul's targets were Jewish believers, not Gentiles, and that these believers were still under the umbrella of Judaism, connected to the Law, temple worship, and the synagogue. Saul was not satisfied with his work in Jerusalem and Judea; he obtained official letters and extended his persecution to the synagogues of Damascus. Les also notes that although Saul was religious, his motivating power was carnal and fleshly, not pleasing to God, because he was stamping out those who had recognized that Jesus was indeed the Christ.
Les Feldick teaches that Saul was after believing Jews, not Gentiles. These Jewish believers had embraced the Gospel of the Kingdom and believed Jesus was the Messiah. They were a called-out assembly, yet they remained under the umbrella of Judaism—still connected to the Law, temple worship, and the synagogue. This is why Saul searched the synagogues in Damascus, because that is where 'this way' could be found.
Les points to the stoning of Stephen as our first introduction to Saul of Tarsus. The witnesses laid their cloaks at Saul's feet, and from that point on Saul made havoc of the assembly, entering into houses and committing men and women to prison. His campaign began in Jerusalem and Judea, but he carried it beyond Israel all the way to Damascus.
According to Les, Saul saw Jesus of Nazareth as a fake and a blasphemer. As a servant of the true God of Abraham, he believed the best thing he could do was to stamp out anybody who had anything to do with Jesus. He was not satisfied with his efforts in the small towns of Israel, so he went to the high priest and asked for letters to the synagogues of Damascus, planning to arrest believers and bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Why Paul Was Never One of the Twelve — Acts 9 Explained
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. We left off at the end of our last program, and we just finished chapter 8, and we're ready for chapter 9.
Persecuting Believing Jews
Les explains that Saul was after the believing Jews who followed what he considered the heresy that Jesus was the Messiah, and that he tried to stamp it out by persecution, imprisonment, and death.
Religious Zealot Trained by Gamaliel
Les shows that Saul was a tremendously religious man who honestly thought Jesus was an imposter and a blasphemer, making him a religious zealot who wanted everything connected with Jesus erased.
On the Way to Damascus
Les notes that Saul was a religious fanatic on his way to Damascus and that his mission was entirely Jewish, centered on the synagogues.
Stamping Out an Inroad into Judaism
Les compares Saul's zeal to totalitarian leaders who stamp out opposition; Saul saw Jesus as ruining Israel's culture and religion and therefore persecuted the believers.
Purpose of Saul's Life
Les teaches that Saul considered Jesus a fake and made it the purpose of his life to stamp out anyone connected with Him, even imprisoning and putting to death those who believed Jesus was the Christ.
Saul at Stephen's Stoning
Les ties Saul's first appearance to the stoning of Stephen and explains that Saul hated the name of Jesus because of his religious convictions, honestly believing he was doing God's service.
Carnal Religious Zeal
Les points out that even though Saul was religious, his motivation was carnal and fleshly, because he was stamping out those who had recognized Jesus as 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.
This is the central passage describing Saul's persecution and his plan to arrest believers in Damascus.
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 shows the intensity of Saul's persecution before he left for Damascus.
Acts 26:9: I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Paul's own testimony reveals his internal conviction that he was doing the right thing.
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.
This verse confirms the extent of Saul's involvement in imprisoning and executing believers.
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 verse marks Saul's first appearance at the stoning of Stephen.
Yes. Les Feldick teaches that Saul honestly thought he was doing God's service by stamping out those who believed Jesus was the Christ. He saw Jesus as an imposter and a threat to Israel's religion.
Only Jewish believers, according to Les. The persecution was all Jewish, and Saul searched the synagogues because Gentiles did not worship there. The believers he targeted were Jewish believers who had recognized Jesus as their Messiah.
Saul was on his way to Damascus. He had obtained letters from the high priest authorizing him to enter the synagogues, find followers of 'this way,' and bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul Was Never One of the Twelve — Acts 9 Explained