In Acts 9:1-2, Luke says this:
Then Saul [Paul], still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way [Christianity], whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
And in Acts 26:9-11 Paul speaks,
I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
Yet here he says, in Philippians 3-4-6
If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Now I may be wrong, but I am sure at this time the High Priest was a Sadducee and most of the Temple was dominated by Sadducees; why is Paul the apparent Pharisee working for them? Is the Orthodox going to work for some Karaite?
Then Saul [Paul], still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way [Christianity], whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
And in Acts 26:9-11 Paul speaks,
I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
Yet here he says, in Philippians 3-4-6
If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Now I may be wrong, but I am sure at this time the High Priest was a Sadducee and most of the Temple was dominated by Sadducees; why is Paul the apparent Pharisee working for them? Is the Orthodox going to work for some Karaite?
