Acts 26:9-11 – “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
“I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.” The “I too” we can take to understand as referring back to his statements immediately preceding. The NKJV translates it as “Indeed.” This shows that Paul is continuing with what he had previously said. He had recounted his faithful and loyal service as a Pharisee. He was saying something like “So, building upon that.”
Since Paul had been a loyal Pharisee, he had formerly thought as they had thought, and that was that they had opposed Jesus and they opposed the Gospel message that the disciples of Jesus promoted. Yet he was more zealous than most of them. He not only opposed them from the pulpit or in teachings, but he, being zealous as to the things that he thought were blasphemous to God, would take put action to his beliefs. He would bring those of The Way to stand before the Sanhedrin. And Paul did not do this as a crazed fanatic who operated outside the authority of the leaders, but he had their favor and had written authority from them to carry out the campaign against the Way. Family and Friends, Paul was sincere. Yes, sincerely wrong, but sincere. He truly thought that he was serving God in persecuting the Christians. So as amazing as it seems that the Lord would call Paul to be his chosen instrument to promote the Gospel to gentiles, we must remember that men look at outside appearances, but God knows and judges the heart (1 Samuel 16:7, Psalm 44:21). It is comforting for us to know that when we mean right, but do wrong, we are forgiven through Jesus and God knows how to bring us back to where we belong.
Although not conclusive, when Paul states that he cast votes against Christians, who would not renounce Jesus, to be put to death, it is thought that the conclusion can be made that he was a member of the Sanhedrin. Now there were many different Sanhedrin’s for the different synagogue locations, but of course the highest was the one in Jerusalem.
“Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.” Paul did not stop with persecuting the Christians in Jerusalem, but, as he said, he was obsessed with stamping the belief out of existence wherever they were. And again, he did this with the authority of Jewish leaders in Jerusalem.
Paul was convinced that He was pleasing God in hunting down, and if necessary, to have the early believers killed. It is easy to judge Paul harshly. Yet, while not having people imprisoned or killed, don’t we do the same thing. Don’t we sometimes think we are doing right and later regret what we thought or have done? Don’t we sometimes think that we should be the one to “set a person right” by telling them what it is we think they did wrong (not here referring to sin)? Then later we recognize that we went about it all wrong. Perhaps we were zealous for “right” but we did it without love. Oh we say we did it for love, but truly the love was lacking. Yes we do that. Yes we have done that. Family, let us not rely on our own understanding, but walk in the understanding and the love of God. (Proverbs 3:5-8) It is how Jesus lived, and it is how we ought to live. In doing so we bring honor and praise to Jesus. How great an honor to be called to this most noble of causes! And yet, not to do this out of duty, but from a heart transformed by God! (Romans 12:2) Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”