Religious intolerance, as demonstrated by the Jewish leaders in their persecution of the Apostle Paul, is a significant theme in the New Testament. This intolerance is rooted in the complex interplay of religious, cultural, and political factors of the time. The Jewish leaders, particularly the Pharisees and Sadducees, viewed Paul as a threat to their religious authority and traditions. His teachings about Jesus Christ and the inclusion of Gentiles in the faith were seen as radical and subversive.

Background and Context

Paul, formerly known as Saul of Tarsus, was a Pharisee and a zealous persecutor of Christians before his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19). After his conversion, Paul became a fervent missionary, spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the Roman Empire. His message emphasized salvation through faith in Christ alone, which challenged the Jewish leaders' adherence to the Mosaic Law and their understanding of righteousness.

Instances of Persecution

1. Damascus and Jerusalem: After his conversion, Paul began preaching in Damascus, where he faced immediate opposition. The Jews conspired to kill him, forcing him to escape the city by being lowered in a basket through an opening in the wall (Acts 9:23-25). Upon his return to Jerusalem, he encountered further hostility, necessitating his departure to Tarsus (Acts 9:29-30).

2. Antioch in Pisidia: During his first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas faced opposition from the Jewish leaders in Antioch. The leaders incited prominent city figures against them, leading to their expulsion from the region (Acts 13:50).

3. Iconium and Lystra: In Iconium, the Jewish leaders stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against Paul and Barnabas, resulting in an attempted stoning (Acts 14:2-5). In Lystra, Jews from Antioch and Iconium persuaded the crowds to stone Paul, leaving him for dead (Acts 14:19).

4. Thessalonica and Berea: In Thessalonica, the Jewish leaders were envious of Paul's success and incited a mob to attack the house of Jason, where Paul was staying (Acts 17:5-9). In Berea, the Jews from Thessalonica followed Paul and stirred up the crowds against him (Acts 17:13).

5. Corinth and Ephesus: In Corinth, the Jews brought Paul before the proconsul Gallio, accusing him of persuading people to worship God contrary to the law (Acts 18:12-13). In Ephesus, a riot ensued due to the influence of Jewish leaders and silversmiths who felt threatened by Paul's teachings (Acts 19:23-41).

6. Jerusalem and Caesarea: Upon his return to Jerusalem, Paul was seized by the Jews in the temple and accused of defiling it by bringing Gentiles inside (Acts 21:27-29). This led to his arrest and subsequent trials before the Sanhedrin, Felix, and Festus, where the Jewish leaders persistently sought his execution (Acts 23-25).

Theological Implications

The persecution of Paul by the Jewish leaders highlights the tension between the nascent Christian faith and traditional Jewish beliefs. Paul's teachings on grace, faith, and the inclusion of Gentiles challenged the exclusivity of Jewish religious identity. The Jewish leaders' intolerance can be seen as a defense of their religious traditions and authority, which they perceived as being undermined by Paul's message.

Scriptural References

· Acts 9:23-25: "After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him. But his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall."
· Acts 13:50: "The Jews, however, incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district."
· Acts 17:5: "The Jews, however, became jealous, so they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and set the city in an uproar. They attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring Paul and Silas out to the people."
· Acts 21:27-29: "When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, crying out, 'Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.'"

The persecution of Paul by the Jewish leaders serves as a poignant example of religious intolerance, illustrating the challenges faced by early Christians in proclaiming the Gospel amidst opposition from established religious authorities.Acts 13:50
But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
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Acts 17:5
But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took to them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
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Acts 18:13
Saying, This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.
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Acts 21:28-31
Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teaches all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and has polluted this holy place.
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Acts 22:22,23
And they gave him audience to this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
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Acts 23:2
And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
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The Counsel of Gamaliel.
... precepts, and its minute attention to religious ceremonies ... Intolerance was natural
to such a sect ... Josephus, in his Jewish antiquities, mentions one Theudas, who ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture vii the counsel of.htm

Criticism of the Westminster System of Doctrine.
... is also wrong to derive intolerance from the strength and intensity of religious
conviction"although ... His Jewish conviction or pharisaical fanaticism made ...
/.../ 97 criticism of the.htm

A Clearing-Up Storm in the Realm
... There will be many false religious teachers, many Christians untrue ... which of course
was born in the Jewish nation. ... It has been marked by intolerance of all not ...
/.../vi a clearing-up storm in the.htm

Aims of the Papacy.
... the Church of Rome and the Jewish Church at ... of religion, forbid a revival of intolerance
and tyranny ... great light, intellectual, moral, and religious, is shining ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /35 aims of the papacy.htm

Liberty of Conscience Threatened
... the Church of Rome and the Jewish Church at ... of religion forbid a revival of intolerance
and tyranny ... great light, intellectual, moral, and religious, is shining ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 35 liberty of conscience.htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
... delight in swearing, and roisterous habits, were ill suited to the religious restraints
of the ... Whence came the invisible power that struck Paul from his horse? ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm

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