9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 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. 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. (Acts 26:9-11 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Here the apostle frankly declares, That he was once as sharp and bitter an enemy to Christ and to all that believed in him as anyone whatever; and thought himself bound in conscience to persecute all that owned him, and with threatenings and tortures compelled them to deny Christ; and being exceedingly fierce, he forced them to fly to heathen cities to escape his fury.
Where note, 1. That we ought to be upon very good and sure grounds before we oppose and persecute any.
2. That some persecute others and at the same time think they do well in so doing: I verily thought, says the apostle, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus. He spake as if his conscience would have troubled others, for that which was indeed their conscience.
Note, 3. That Paul, being a blasphemer himself, compelled the professors of the gospel to blaspheme. This he probably did two ways.
First, by his example; they imitated him in blaspheming or speaking evil of the ways of Christ.
Or, secondly, by his cruelty: vexing them so in the professions of Christ that some who were unsettled probably fell away, and blasphemed the name of Christ which they had professed: He compelled them to blaspheme.
There is a compelling power and constraining force in an example, especially in the example of persons in power and authority. Men sin with a kind of authority: Paul’s blasphemous example compelled others to blaspheme.