Chapter 1—Saul the Persecutor
From among the most bitter and relentless persecutors of the church
of Christ, arose the ablest defender and most successful herald of the
gospel. With the apostolic brotherhood of the chosen twelve, who had
companied with Christ from his baptism even to his ascension, was
numbered one who had never seen the Lord while he dwelt among men,
and who had heard his name uttered only in unbelief and contempt.
But beneath the blindness and bigotry of the zealot and the Pharisee,
Infinite Wisdom discerned a heart loyal to truth and duty. And the
voice from Heaven made itself heard above the clamors of pride and
prejudice. In the promulgation of the gospel, Divine Providence would
unite with the zeal and devotion of the Galilean peasants, the fiery
vigor and intellectual power of a rabbi of Jerusalem. To lead the battle
against pagan philosophy and Jewish formalism, was chosen one who
had himself witnessed the debasing power of heathen worship, and
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endured the spiritual bondage of Pharisaic exaction.
Saul of Tarsus was a Jew, not only by descent, but by the stronger
ties of lifelong training, patriotic devotion, and religious faith. Though
a Roman citizen, born in a Gentile city, he was educated in Jerusalem
by the most eminent of the rabbis, and diligently instructed in all the
laws and traditions of the Fathers. Thus he shared, to the fullest extent,
the hopes and aspirations, the lofty pride and unyielding prejudice, of
his nation. He declares himself to have been “a Hebrew of the Hebrews;
as touching the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the
church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” He
was regarded by the Jewish leaders as a young man of great promise,
and high hopes were cherished concerning him as an able and zealous
defender of the ancient faith.
In common with his nation, Saul had cherished the hope of a
Messiah who should reign as a temporal prince, to break from the
neck of Israel the Roman yoke, and exalt her to the throne of universal
empire. He had no personal knowledge of Jesus of Nazareth or of
his mission, but he readily imbibed the scorn and hatred of the rabbis
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