[even] though I had previously spoken against Christ, and persecuted [Christians] and acted outrageously. However, I obtained mercy because I acted out of ignorance, not believing [in Christ].
As far as enthusiasm is concerned, I persecuted the church; as far as being righteous according to the Law of Moses is concerned, I was without just blame.
For you have heard about the way I lived in the past, when I was in the Jewish religion, [that is], how I mercilessly persecuted the church of God, making havoc of it.
And everyone who heard him was amazed and exclaimed, “Is this not the man who tried to destroy all the people who called on [Jesus’] name in Jerusalem and has now come here [to Damascus] for the purpose of arresting them and bringing them before the leading priests?”
They threw him out of the city and stoned him [to death]. Those who witnessed [the incident] placed their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
But when the girl’s slave-owners saw that their prospects for income [from her activities] were [now] gone, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them to the open shopping market, in front of the authorities.