Paul – Before & After His Conversion

Here’s something interesting to consider from our sermon Sunday. Compare and contrast how Paul treated believers before and after his conversion.

Paul’s Treatment of Believers Before His Conversion:

Persecuted the Church of God – He said in Phil. 3:6, “Concerning zeal, persecuting the church…” In Gal. 1:13, he said, “…beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it.” That was the called-out assemblies of the believing remnant.

Gave Approval to Stephen’s Death – He was present at Stephen’s stoning, and consenting to his death. Acts 8:1, “And Saul was consenting unto his death.” Acts 7:58, “…the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.” The phrase “laid down their clothes” refers to the outer garments of the witnesses. Stoning was a violent act. Taking off one’s outer garments was a practical necessity so your arms could be free to throw the stones. So they laid their garments at the feet of Paul. “Feet” represented a place of authority or control. By laying their clothes at Saul’s feet, the witnesses were not just handing him their garments, but they were also symbolically placing their actions under his approving authority and supervision as a leader of the Pharisees. This suggests that Saul, though a “young man” (anywhere from 24 to 40 years old), held a position of significant influence at the time and was already a leading figure in the persecution of all believers in Israel. His presence was not incidental. He was a key enforcer of the Sanhedrin’s decree to kill Stephen for blasphemy.

Made Havoc of the Church – Acts describes his persecution vividly: “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.” (Acts 8:3) The etymology of “havoc” suggests destruction, ruin, or devastation. It’s a strong word, often used in military contexts to describe the devastation caused by an invading army. He invaded the homes of believers. He was haling men and women. He was dragging them out. This was violent. Undignified. Forcefully dragging men and women out of their homes and throwing them in prison. “He made havock of the church” is a vivid description of Saul’s brutal, violent, and systematic persecution. This verse reveals a destructive, animal-like ferocity driven by religious zeal.

Imprisoned Believers – Acts 8 wasn’t the only verse talking about this. Acts 26:10 – “…many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests…” That’s the Sanhedrin Council, essentially, the supreme court of Israel.

Cast Votes for Their Death – He actively participated in legal condemnation and death of believers in Christ. Paul said in Acts 26:10, “…when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.” Paul wasn’t a serial killer of believers. He was part of a corrupt Jewish system-wide persecution of believers. The entire corrupt political, religious, and legal systems in Israel were all set against believers. Paul was their leader and champion.

Punished Believers in Synagogues – He tried to force believers to blaspheme (deny Christ). Acts 26:11 – “And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme…” Paul wasn’t trying to persuade or reason with the believers. He was using force and pressure to make them renounce their faith. And he did this everywhere he went. He pressured them by threat of force to curse Jesus Christ. The goal was not just to silence them, but to make them publicly deny and dishonor the one they worshiped.

Breathed Out Threatenings and Slaughter – His hatred of believers was murderous. “…Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest.” (Acts 9:1) “Threatenings and slaughter” suggests that the violence was the very substance of his breath. He breathed death of believers. This is such a visceral metaphor, almost as if he were a fire-breathing dragon. Saul was not simply making legal arrests. He was totally consumed by a desire for violence and death. He lived to kill believers.

Pursued Believers to Foreign Cities – Paul said in Acts 26:11, “…being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.” His persecution wasn’t local—he would chase down the believing remnant well beyond Israel. He would hunt them down wherever they were in the known world at the time.

Acted with Violent Zeal and Ignorance – He said in 1 Tim. 1:13, “…I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.” He blasphemed God, persecuted believers, and injured people, and he admitted his actions were rooted in zeal without knowledge.

This paints a picture of Saul not just as a passive opponent, but as the chief persecutor of believing remnant—something he later confessed with deep humility, calling himself “the chief of sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15), not that he was the worst of sinners but that he was the leader of the sinners. He was at the head of this entire corrupt system in Israel moved to murder believers.

Let’s now consider…

Paul’s Treatment of Believers After His Conversion:

He Nurtured Them Like a Parent – He said in 1 Thess, 2:7–8, “We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children… being affectionately desirous of you.” In these passages he’s contrasting himself with false teachers. The false teachers wanted filthy lucre, flattery, and have dominion over people’s faith. Instead, Paul’s ministry was characterized by sincerity of love, sacrifice, elevating their spiritual needs above his own. There wasn’t this domineering authority. There was parental tenderness. He was gentle – Mild; meek; soft; bland; not rough, not harsh or severe toward people. He had a gentle nature, temper or disposition; a gentle manner; a gentle voice. And he describes himself as a nursing mother. He kept them warm like a mother bird keeping her chicks warm under her wings. The apostle’s care was tender, nurturing, and protective. Like a mother, he provided not only spiritual food, but also a comforting and safe environment for the young believers to grow. In 1 Thess. 2:11–12, he also exhorted them as a father doth his children. He also says, “Being affectionately desirous of you,” signifying this passionate, heartfelt longing or desire for all the saints. He’s modeling the idea that an aspect of the fellowship of the mystery is that saints should be well beyond a general feeling of goodwill toward people but there should be an intense, personal love for the saints.

He Grounded and Built Them Up in the Faith – He says in Act 18:11 that he continued there (in Corinth) a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. He taught the word of God to the believers. In Acts 20:20, he also taught “publicly, and from house to house.” He shared and explained the Word of God to the people.

He Strengthened Their Souls – In Acts 14:22 Paul confirmed or strengthened their souls and exhorted them to continue in the faith. In Acts 15:36, 41, He’d revisit churches to “see how they do” and to strengthen them further. Acts 18:23 talks about how he went through Galatia and Phrygia “strengthening all the disciples.” Helping the saints grow by taking them into deeper waters doctrinally strengthens their souls, their inner man, enabling them for the battlefield.

He Modeled Sacrificial Love – There are volumes of verses, like 1 Cor. 4:9–13 in which Paul and his coworkers endured hardship so others could grow. Paul said in 2 Cor. 12:15, “I will very gladly spend and be spent for you.” He said in 1 Thess. 2:9, that he labored night and day so he would not be a burden. There was a willingness to suffer and to sacrifice to gave credibility to his ministry.

He Encouraged Growth and to Abound in Everything – He told the Corinthians, (2Co 8:7) to abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and… see that ye abound in this grace also. He told the Philippians to (Php 1:9) he wanted their love to abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment. And he also told them to rejoice in the Lord and again I say rejoice (Php, 4:4) Paul celebrated their spiritual progress and encouraged them to abound even more in those qualities they already excelled at.

He also Corrected and Disciplined When Needed – He corrected the Galatians when they went astray doctrinally, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you?” In 1 Cor. 5 he told the church to separate when saints engage in egregious unrepentant immorality. And in 2 Thess. 3:6–15, He warned against disorderly conduct and idleness. He didn’t ignore sin but addressed it for the sake of growth and holiness.

He Entrusted Them with Ministry – In Acts 14:23, He appointed elders in every church. In 2 Timothy 2:2, he taught Timothy to pass the truth to faithful men. In Romans 16, he acknowledged and commended many coworkers and fellow servants. Paul raised leaders from among the new believers, trusting God to establish them.

He Prayed Continually for Them – In Rom. 1:9–10, he said that without ceasing, he made mention of them in his prayers. He often times spoke of mentioning names in his prayers. We covered in Eph. 1:16–17 how he gave thanks and prayed they would have wisdom and revelation. In Phil. 1:3–4, he prayed with joy for their fellowship in the gospel. Paul did not just preach and leave—he carried them in his heart and he never failed to pray for them every day.

Finally, He Always Pointed Them to Christ – In 1 Cor. 2:2, he determined to know nothing but “Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” In 2 Cor. 4:5, he said, “We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord.” In Col. 1:28, he warned and taught every man so he could present them perfect in Christ. Christ was always the center—not Paul himself, not church programs, but the Savior.

Now we have this extreme contrast in Paul’s conduct before his conversion and after he begin his ministry. After meeting Christ, the same fiery zeal was redirected into nurturing, teaching, and protecting the very believers he once tried to destroy. Instead of tearing homes apart, he went house to house teaching; instead of dragging believers off, he prayed without ceasing for them; instead of forcing blasphemy, he exhorted holiness and joy; instead of seeking their death, he was willing to spend and be spent for their life in Christ. The persecutor became the martyr, the destroyer a discipler, the enemy a spiritual father—showcasing a transformation so complete that only God’s grace could explain it.

This is the most extraordinary, dynamic, spiritual transformation in the Bible.