You have heard how I lived earlier in my Jewish way of life. With all my strength I attacked the church of God. I tried to destroy it.

你们听见我从前在犹太教中所行的事，怎样极力逼迫残害神的教会。

你们听说过从前我在犹太教中的行径，我怎样竭力压迫残害上帝的教会。

你们听说过从前我在犹太教中的行径，我怎样竭力压迫残害神的教会。

你们都听说过我信奉犹太教时的所作所为，我怎样残酷地迫害上帝的教会，试图摧毁它。

你们听过我从前在犹太教中所行的：怎样极力逼迫残害神的教会，

你们听说过我以前在犹太教中的行事为人：我曾极力地逼迫神的教会，残害她。

你們聽見我從前在猶太教中所行的事，怎樣極力逼迫殘害神的教會。

你們聽說過從前我在猶太教中的行徑，我怎樣竭力壓迫殘害上帝的教會。

你們聽說過從前我在猶太教中的行徑，我怎樣竭力壓迫殘害神的教會。

你們都聽說過我信奉猶太教時的所作所為，我怎樣殘酷地迫害上帝的教會，試圖摧毀它。

你們聽過我從前在猶太教中所行的：怎樣極力逼迫殘害神的教會，

你們曾聽說我從前在猶太教中的起居為人、怎樣極力逼迫上帝的教會而殘害她，

你們聽說過我以前在猶太教中的行事為人：我曾極力地逼迫神的教會，殘害她。

爾聞我昔在猶太教所行者、窘逐上帝會實甚、而殘賊之、

爾聞我素從猶太人教、所為之事、即窘逐上帝會特甚、而殘賊之、

爾已聞我昔在猶太人教所行之事、即極力窘逐天主教會而殘害之、

吾舊日在猶太教中之生活、固爾等所夙聞也。當時吾於天主之教會、迫辱摧殘、無所不用其極；

For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.

For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.

You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion— how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it.

For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I intensely persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it.

For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it;

For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.

For ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it:

For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I persecuted God’s church to an extreme degree and tried to destroy it.

For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I was savagely persecuting the church of God and trying to destroy it.

For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God and ravaged it.

But Saul began to destroy the church. He went from house to house. He dragged away men and women and put them in prison.

“ I am a Jew. I was born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but I grew up here in Jerusalem. I studied with Gamaliel. I was well trained by him in the law given to our people long ago. I wanted to serve God as much as any of you do today.I hurt the followers of the Way of Jesus. I sent many of them to their death. I arrested men and women. I threw them into prison.The high priest and the whole Council can be witnesses of this themselves. I even had some official letters they had written to their friends in Damascus. So I went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.

I am the least important of the apostles. I’m not even fit to be called an apostle. I tried to destroy God’s church.

When Saul came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the believers. But they were all afraid of him. They didn’t believe he was really one of Jesus’ followers.

All who heard him were amazed. They asked,“ Isn’t he the man who caused great trouble in Jerusalem? Didn’t he make trouble for those who worship Jesus? Hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”

“ The Jewish people all know how I have lived ever since I was a child. They know all about me from the beginning of my life. They know how I lived in my own country and in Jerusalem.They have known me for a long time. So if they wanted to, they could tell you how I have lived. I have lived by the rules of the Pharisees. Those rules are harder to obey than those of any other Jewish group.

Meanwhile, Saul continued to oppose the Lord’s followers. He said they would be put to death. He went to the high priest.He asked the priest for letters to the synagogues in Damascus. He wanted to find men and women who belonged to the Way of Jesus. The letters would allow him to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

“ I believed that I should oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. So I did everything I could to oppose his name.That’s just what I was doing in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests, I put many of the Lord’s people in prison. I agreed that they should die.I often went from one synagogue to another to have them punished. I tried to force them to speak evil things against Jesus. All I wanted to do was hurt them. I even went looking for them in the cities of other lands.

“ Lord,” Ananias answered,“ I’ve heard many reports about this man. They say he has done great harm to your holy people in Jerusalem.Now he has come here to arrest all those who worship you. The chief priests have given him authority to do this.”

I used to speak evil things against Jesus. I tried to hurt his followers. I really pushed them around. But God showed me mercy anyway. I did those things without knowing any better. I wasn’t a believer.

As far as being committed is concerned, I opposed and attacked the church. As far as keeping the law is concerned, I kept it perfectly.

And Saul had agreed with the Sanhedrin that Stephen should die. On that day the church in Jerusalem began to be attacked and treated badly. All except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.