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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul doesn't just admit to imprisoning believers; he reveals he "cast his vote" against them when they were executed, a stark detail showing he was actively involved in their condemnation, not just a passive bystander. This wasn't just about locking people up; he actively participated in the legal process that led to their deaths.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is recounting his past actions to King Agrippa, desperately trying to show how drastically his life has changed. He's describing his zealous persecution of early Christians in Jerusalem after Stephen's martyrdom, admitting to imprisoning believers and even approving their executions under the authority of the chief priests. This stark confession serves to highlight the immense power of the divine encounter that later transformed him on the road to Damascus.
Before his dramatic conversion, Paul was not just a passive observer of Christian persecution – he was an active participant. He details his involvement with chilling clarity.
Paul, in recounting his past actions to King Agrippa, doesn't shy away from the horrific violence he inflicted. He states, '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.'
This wasn't a hesitant or reluctant participation. The language suggests a deliberate and approving role in the condemnation and death of early believers. He acted with official authority granted by the chief priests, demonstrating the institutional nature of this persecution.
This admission is powerful because Paul is deliberately highlighting the depth of his past sin to underscore the magnitude of God's grace in his conversion. He shows that he was not simply misguided, but actively and with conviction, worked against God's people.
Paul's admission hints at his significant standing within the religious and political structure of Jerusalem at the time.
When Paul says he 'received authority from the chief priests' and 'cast my vote,' he's revealing his involvement in the judicial processes of the time. While he wasn't a member of the highest council (the Sanhedrin) in the same way the chief priests were, he was clearly trusted and empowered by them.
This authority allowed him to imprison believers and participate in decisions that led to their deaths. The phrase 'cast my vote' implies active consent and approval of their execution. It suggests he was part of a group that held power over life and death, a role usually reserved for members of the Sanhedrin or those acting under its direct mandate.
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His willingness to admit this speaks volumes. It wasn't just about personal conviction; it was about his recognized position within a system that actively sought to eliminate the nascent Christian movement.
Paul refers to his victims as 'the saints.' Why this particular word, and what does it reveal about their identity and his perception?
The term 'saints' (Greek: hagios) means 'holy ones' or 'set apart.' Paul uses this term even when recounting his persecution of them. This is incredibly significant.
Even in his past, when he saw them as enemies, there was an underlying recognition, perhaps unconscious at first, of their unique identity in God. They were not merely criminals or troublemakers; they were consecrated to God. By using this term, Paul acknowledges their divine status and that his actions were against God's chosen people.
This highlights the radical nature of early Christianity. Believers were set apart by their faith in Christ, distinguishing them from the rest of society. Paul's journey involved recognizing that his war wasn't just against a new sect, but against those who belonged to God.
Understand the original words
hagios · Greek Noun/Adjective
Believers in Christ; those who are set apart by God for His service and have been sanctified through faith.
archiereus · Greek Noun
Religious leaders in Jerusalem who held ecclesiastical and legal authority over the Jewish people, often involved in the legal proceedings against Christians.
Paul's bold recounting of his past actions reveals the stark contrast between his zealous, destructive fury against early Christians and the transformative power of his encounter with Christ, highlighting God's radical mercy.
c. AD 34
Stephen's Martyrdom
Stephen, a prominent early Christian leader, is stoned to death in Jerusalem. Saul (later Paul) plays a key role in this event, guarding the cloaks of the executioners.
c. AD 34-36— this verse
Saul's Persecution Begins
Empowered by the chief priests, Saul begins a fierce persecution of the church in Jerusalem, arresting and imprisoning many believers.
c. AD 36
Saul's Journey to Damascus
Saul travels towards Damascus with authority to arrest Christians there, but has a dramatic encounter with the risen Jesus on the road.
c. AD 42-46
Saul's Ministry in Tarsus
After his conversion, Saul spends time in his hometown of Tarsus, likely a period of reflection and preparation before his wider ministry.
c. AD 46-48
First Missionary Journey
Barnabas and Saul (now called Paul) undertake their first major missionary journey, spreading the gospel to Gentiles in Cyprus and Asia Minor.
This passage describes the initial scattering of believers after Stephen's martyrdom, where Saul was actively involved in persecuting the church, directly preceding the events Paul alludes to in Acts 26:10.
Acts 22:4In a parallel account of his conversion, Paul also admits to persecuting this 'way' unto the death, binding and delivering men and women into prison, which reinforces the severity of his actions mentioned in Acts 26:10.
Philippians 3:6Paul reflects on his zealous pursuit of the church 'according to the law,' and even going 'above measure' beyond his peers in zeal, which aligns with the intense persecution he describes in Acts 26:10.
1 Timothy 1:13Paul calls himself a 'blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent,' explicitly mentioning that he acted in his unbelief, which directly correlates to the actions he recounts in Acts 26:10.
gillActs 26:10: "Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them."
Which thing I also did in Jerusalem,.... The metropolis of Judea, where he had had his education, and was well known; here he consented to the death of Stephen, and held the clothes of the witnesses while they stoned him; and here he haled men and women out of their houses, and committe…
henryActs 26:1-11: "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:"
26:1-11 Christianity teaches us to give a reason of the hope that is in us, and also to give honour to whom honour is due, without flattery or fear of man. Agrippa was well versed in the Scriptures of the Old Testament, therefore could the better judge as to the controversy about Jesus being the Messiah. Surely ministers may expect, when they preach…
Paul doesn't just admit to imprisoning believers; he reveals he "cast his vote" against them when they were executed, a stark detail showing he was actively involved in their condemnation, not just a passive bystander. This wasn't just about locking people up; he actively participated in the legal process that led to their deaths.
Paul is recounting his past actions to King Agrippa, desperately trying to show how drastically his life has changed. He's describing his zealous persecution of early Christians in Jerusalem after Stephen's martyrdom, admitting to imprisoning believers and even approving their executions under the authority of the chief priests. This stark confession serves to highlight the immense power of the divine encounter that later transformed him on the road to Damascus.
Paul is recounting his past actions to King Agrippa, desperately trying to show how drastically his life has changed. He's describing his zealous persecution of early Christians in Jerusalem after Stephen's martyrdom, admitting to imprisoning believers and even approving their executions under the authority of the chief priests. This stark confession serves to highlight the immense power of the divine encounter that later transformed him on the road to Damascus.
"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." — Paul doesn't just admit to imprisoning believers; he reveals he "cast his vote" against them when they were executed, a stark detail showing he was actively involved in their condemnation, not just a…
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Last reviewed October 2026