3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. 4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. 5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. (Acts 22:3-5 KJV)
Paul was a persecutor in the beginning
Paul gives an account of himself to show the Roman commander that he was not the Egyptian rebel he was thought to be, and also to convince the Jews that he was not an enemy of their law and temple. His preaching of Christ, especially to the Gentiles, was done by divine commission. He explains:
Paul gives an account of himself to show the Roman commander that he was not the Egyptian rebel he was thought to be, and also to convince the Jews that he was not an enemy of their law and temple. His preaching of Christ, especially to the Gentiles, was done by divine commission. He explains:
He was of their own nation, a Jew of the seed of Abraham, not a foreigner or traitor. “I am a Jew,” he says, “a man—not a beast—and one of your own people, not a barbarian. I respect your nation, law, and temple, because I belong to them myself.” He was born in Tarsus, a notable city in Cilicia, and was a free citizen, not a slave. This detail, though minor, was worth mentioning to those who looked down on him.
He received a quality education. He was raised in Jerusalem at the feet of Gamaliel, a respected teacher of the Jewish law, and was trained with precision in the tradition of the elders. His parents brought him to Jerusalem early, intending for him to become a Pharisee. His phrase “at the feet of Gamaliel” suggests not only that he was a student, but that he was diligent and attentive, like Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet.
He was a devoted follower of Judaism. His studies and efforts were focused on the strictest interpretation of the law. He was zealous toward God, as his audience was (Romans 10:2), sincerely believing that in persecuting Christians, he was honoring God (Isaiah 66:5). Paul hoped that just as he had been zealous for God under the law, they might one day be zealous for God in Christ.
He had been a fierce persecutor of Christians (Acts 22:4-5). His conversion was clearly the result of divine intervention, since he had previously hated Christianity with intense passion. He persecuted Christians “unto the death,” voting for their execution (Acts 26:10), and targeting not only believers but the faith itself. He worked to frighten people away from Christianity by imprisoning both men and women. He had full authorization from the high priest and the elders to arrest Christians, especially those in Damascus.
The leaders trusted him to stamp out this new movement. He carried letters to the Jewish community there—called “brethren” because of their shared ancestry and religion—so they could assist him in arresting converts and bringing them to Jerusalem to face punishment or death. Paul had made havoc of the church and was on track to destroy it.
“Such a one,” says Paul, “I was at first, just like you are now. I understand the heart of a persecutor, and I pray you come to understand the heart of a convert, as I have. And who was I to resist God?”