The deep effect made upon Paul by the trial and death of Stephen was not evident at once. The immediate result was to redouble the persecuting ardor of the future apostle. It would be interesting to know whether he was thus striving to hide inward misgivings and seeking to forget the holy light that shone in Stephen's face as he addressed the Sanhedrin. "As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison" (Acts 8:3). In this active persecution of Christians he was not alone, for the flames of fanaticism flared high in Jerusalem and many adherents of the infant Church had to flee to the country districts of Judea and Samaria. This proved to be a blessing in disguise, for like seed scattered by the wind, the teachings of Christianity took root and bore fruit over an increasingly wide area. Unwittingly, Paul was helping to prepare the way for his own later mission to the Gentiles.
The various references to the part he played in this first great persecution of the Christians bear witness to his stern and relentless zeal and show the intensity of his character, a strength that was later to be molded to more constructive uses. When we read that "he made havock of the church" the verb used is a very strong one. It seems to mean "ravage" or "treat shamefully" here. It is employed by the Septuagint version of Psalms 80: 13 with reference to the ravaging or destruction wrought by wild boars in a vineyard. We cannot wonder that in later life he looked back with remorse to those days when, as he wrote to the Galatians, "beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it" (1:13, cf. I Cor. 15:9, I Tim. 1: 13, Acts 26:11).
The records of this period bring out in clear relief the contrast between Saul the fierce and fanatical Pharisee, and Paul the missionary apostle, who could write in all sincerity, "Charity [love] suffereth long, and is kind; ... is not easily provoked" (I Cor. 13:4, 5). These were the hours of utter darkness before the dawn of a new light.
