The life and work of St. Paul

SAUL THE PERSECUTOR, 97
spread of Christianity, and showed that the disciples had a loftier mission
than to dwindle down into a Galilean synagogue. The sacred fire, which
might have burnt low on the hearth of the upper chamber at Jerusalem, was
kindled into fresh heat and splendour when its brands were scattered over all
Judaea and Samaria, and uncircumcised Gentiles were admitted by baptism
into the fold of Christ.
The solemn burial of Stephen by holy men whether Hellenist Chris-
tians or Jewish proselytes the beating of the breast, the wringing of the
hands with which they lamented him, 1
produced no change in the purpose
of Saul. The sight of that dreadful execution, the dying agonies and
crushed remains of one who had stood before the Sanhedrin like an angel in
the beauty of holiness, could hardly have failed to produce an impression on
a heart so naturally tender. But if it was a torture to witness the agony of
others, and to be the chief agent in its infliction, then that very torture became
a more meritorious service for the Law. If his own blameless scrupulosity
in all that affected legal righteousness was begiuniag to be secretly tainted
with heretical uncertainties, he would feel it all the more incumbent on him
to wash away those doubts in blood. Like Cardinal Pole, when Paul IV.
began to impugn his orthodoxy, he must have felt himself half driven to
persecution, in order to prove his soundness in the faith.
The part which he played at this time in the horrid work of persecution
has, I fear, been always underrated. It is only when we collect the separate
passages they are no less than eight in number in which allusion is made
to this sad period it is only when wo weigh the terrible significance of
the expressions used that we feel the load of remorse which must have
lain upon him, and the taunts to which he was liable from malignant enemies.
He " made havoc of "
literally, " "
he was ravaging the Church. 2
No stronger metaphor could well have been used. It occurs nowhere else
in the New Testament, but in the Septuagint, and in classical Greek, is
applied to the wild boars which uproot a vineyard. 3 Not content with the
visitation of the synagogues, he got authority for an inquisitorial visit from
house to house, and even from the sacred retirement of the Christian home
he dragged not only men, but women, to judgment and to prison. 4 So
thorough was his search, and so deadly were its effects, that, in referring
to it, the Christians of Damascus can only speak of Saul as " he that
devastated in Jerusalem them that call on this name," s
using the strong
word which is strictly applicable to an invading army which scathes a con-
quered country with fire and sword. So much St. Luke tells us, in giving
a reason for the total scattering of the Church, and the subsequent bless-
1 Acts viii. 2, KOIMTO* pcyat. The word is found in the LXX., Gen. 1. 10, &c., but here
alone in the New Testament.
' Acts viii. 3, VAvfiaiVero TT)V