At the scene of Stephen's trial and death, Saul had seemed to be imbued with a frenzied zeal. Afterward he was angered by his own secret conviction that Stephen had been honored by God at the very time when he was dishonored 102 by men. Saul continued to persecute the church of God, hunting them down, seizing them in their houses, and delivering them up to the priests and rulers for imprisonment and death. His zeal in carrying forward this persecution brought terror to the Christians at Jerusalem. The Roman authorities made no special effort to stay the cruel work and secretly aided the Jews in order to conciliate them and to secure their favor.

Ved Stefanus domfældelse og død var det, som om Saulus havde været besjælet af en sindssvag nidkærhed. Siden harmedes han over sin egen hemmelige overbevisning om, at Stefanus var blevet æret af Gud netop i det øjeblik, hvor han blev vanæret af mennesker. Saul vedblev med at forfølge Guds menighed, med at jage dens medlemmer, gribe dem i deres huse og overgive dem til præsterne og rådsherrerne til fængsel og død. Hans iver for at gennemføre denne forfølgelse bragte rædsel over de kristne i Jerusalem. De romerske myndigheder gjorde sig ingen særlige anstrengelser for at standse disse grusomheder og hjalp i hemmelighed jøderne for at vinde deres gunst.