The rabbis gloried in their superiority, not only to the people of other nations, but to the masses of their own. With their fierce hatred of their Roman oppressors, they cherished the determination to recover by force of arms their national supremacy. The followers of Jesus, whose message of peace was so contrary to their schemes of ambition, they hated and put to death. In this persecution, Saul was one of the most bitter and relentless actors.

Rabbinerne hovmodede sig af deres overlegenhed, ikke blot over for folk af andre nationer, men over for deres eget folks store masser. Sammen med deres voldsomme had mod de romerske undertrykkere nærede de beslutningen om ved våbenmagt at genvinde deres nationale magt. Jesu disciple, hvis budskab om fred var i så stærk modsætning til deres ærgerrige planer, hadede og dræbte de. I denne forfølgelse tog Saulus del som en af de hårdeste og mest ubarmhjertige.