Prominent among the Jewish leaders who became thoroughly aroused by the success attending the proclamation of the gospel, was Saul of Tarsus. A Roman citizen by birth, Saul was nevertheless a Jew by descent and had been educated in Jerusalem by the most eminent of the rabbis. "Of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin," Saul was "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." Philippians 3:5, 6. He was regarded by the rabbis as a young man of great promise, and high hopes were cherished concerning him as an able and zealous defender of the ancient faith. His elevation to membership in the Sanhedrin council placed him in a position of power.

Dette kapitel er bygget op over Apg 9,1-18

En af de mest fremtrædende blandt de jødiske ledere, som blev dybt rystet over den fremgang, der fulgte evangeliets forkyndelse, var Saulus fra Tarsus. Skønt Saulus af fødsel var romersk borger, var han dog af jødisk slægt og havde fået sin uddannelse i Jerusalem hos de betydeligste rabbinere. Saulus var "af Israels folk, af Benjamins stamme, hebræer af hebræere, lovtro farisæer, nidkær forfølger af kirken, ulastelig efter lovretfærdighedens krav." Fil. 3,5-6. Af rabbinerne blev han anset for at være en meget lovende ung mand, og man nærede store forhåbninger om, at han skulle blive en nidkær forkæmper for den gamle tro. Hans ophøjelse til at være medlem af det jødiske råd gav ham en magtstilling.