"Saul, Saul, why doest thou persecute me?"
Acts 9:4

"Saul, Saul, why doest thou persecute me?"
Acts 9:4

What did Jesus say here?

Saul in his zeal had been mercilessly persecuting the newly founded followers of Jesus Christ who are called Christians.
Saul is first mentioned in Acts 7:58-59, where he gave his approval for the stoning to death of the first Christian martyr, Saint Stephen.

Acts 8:1-3, "Now there broke out on that day a great persecution against the CHURCH in Jerusalem, and all except the Apostles were scattered abroad throughout the land of Judea and Samaria. And devout men took care of Stephen's burial and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was harassing the CHURCH; entering house after house, and dragging out men and women, he committed them to prison."
Acts 9:1-5, "But Saul, still breathing threats of slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, that if he found any men or women belonging to this Way (a word used for Christianity at that time), he might bring them in bonds to Jerusalem. And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew near to Damascus, when suddenly a light from heaven shone round about him; and falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?"And he said, "Who art thou Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom thou art persecuting."

Elucidation...
1. What was it that Saul persecuted in Acts 8:1-3?
It was the CHURCH as mentioned twice in those three verses.

2. Then why did Jesus Christ say, "Why doest thou persecute me?", instead of 'Why dost thou persecute My Church'?
It is because His Church is his body and He is the head (Eph 5:23).
Whatever happens to the body is registered in the head. Isn't that true?

3. Therefore, whenever someone persecutes the Church which Jesus Christ founded, they are persecuting its founder as well.

"For I am the least of the Apostles, and am not worthy to be called an Apostle because I persecuted the CHURCH OF GOD."
1Cor 15:9

"For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism; how beyond all measure,
I persecuted the CHURCH OF GOD, and ravaged it."
Gal 1:13.
"As regards zeal, a persecutor of the CHURCH OF GOD."
Phil 3:6
"I give thanks to Jesus Christ our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he counted me trustworthy in making me his minister.
For I formerly was a blasphemer, a persecutor and a bitter adversary; but I obtained the mercy of GOD because I acted ignorantly, in unbelief."
1Tim 1:12-13
"Do not be a stumbling block to Jews and Greeks and to the CHURCH OF GOD."
1Cor 10:32

Here are two extremely simple and very basic questions for those who attack the Catholic Church:

1. Since every church on earth had a founder with a name, please name the founder of the Catholic Church?

I can name the founders and dates of founding of hundreds of sects of diverse denominations and do it with genuine documented proof.
So for anyone who attempts to answer that question, please show me your proof.
Why is it that non-Catholics refuse to, or cannot answer that simple question?

2. Show me the Bible verse(s) which gave authority for any human person to found another church other than the one which Jesus Christ founded?

I eagerly await truthful answers to those two very simple questions.

Written by Bob Stanley, April 1, 1999
Major update, February 16, 2009

 Back to Home Page...