Question (VBS) and Answer: Why did Saul persecute Christians (like Stephen)

Great questions guys! One of the best things that you can do when you have a Biblical question from one passage of scripture is try to find the answer from the rest of scripture. In other words try to find Biblical answers to Biblical questions.

Great questions guys! One of the best things that you can do when you have a Biblical question from one scripture is to first try to find the answer from other scriptures. In other words try to find Biblical answers for Biblical questions.

Some of the things that Paul says in other passages reveals why he persecuted Christians and was fine with Stephen being stoned.Let’s look at what Paul says this in (flip)

Acts 26:9 ESV

“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

Saul persecuted Christians because he was convinced that he was doing the right thing in opposing Christ.

Woah, wait, wait, wait, why would anyone want to oppose the name of Jesus? That does not sound like a good idea. (It’s really not, obviously!!) There is another scripture that answers that question…that helps with this question…if that makes sense...(page flipping)

1 Timothy 1:13 ESV

though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,

1 Timothy 1:18 ESV

This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,

So did you catch that? He acted ignorantly (obviously) in unbelief. There is the key, Saul did not believe that Jesus was really the messiah! If Saul believed that Jesus was not the messiah as He claimed to be, then in Saul;s mind, Jesus was a false prophet and blasphemer whom Jews were following and becoming Christians hence blaspheming themselves.

Ok, but why all the persecuting people like Stephen? Weeeellll…under the Jewish law that Saul followed, (until he became a Christian) if a person blasphemed God he was to be stoned. (Wait, wait…)What is blasphemy? (oh yeah blasphemy is “the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God…or “the act of claiming the attributes of a deity for a mere man” (in other words insulting God’s name…)

Under the Jewish law or Old law the punishment for blasphemy (as says was stoning. It says; (bible flip)

Leviticus 24:16 ESV

Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.

“Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him.”

This is why Stephen was stoned because He believed in Jesus who said He was God and so preaching Jesus as God’s son was blaspheming God in their minds. (And in their minds that deserved death) This is why Saul persecuted Christians.