Saul was a bully. JEsus asked him why do you persecute me?
Saul couldnt give an answer.
Interestingly I asked this on another christian forum which turns out several bullies came out of the woodwork and said why they bully people. And also when people tried to bully them they just punched them back. They claimed that this stopped the bullying but..anyone can see it just turned them into bullies themselves.
I thought about this for a bit and wondered if they ever prayed for their enemies isntead of punching them. Jesus was mocked and cursed and people were wanting to fight him to death but he never engaged in that. Even his disciples said why dont you just call fire down from heaven. But Jesus said you dont know what spirit you speak of. Jesus did rebuke and simply told them to get lost but never laid a hand on them.
Im very dismayed that some christians think to deal with bullies they need to fight back.
Saul was not really a bully when he persecuted the Church but he thought he was doing the will of God and did not believe Jesus was the Messiah.
He said he was a Pharisee of Pharisees and that he was more zealous of the traditions of the fathers.
Pro 24:29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
1Th 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
If a Christian is verbally or physically assaulted they are not to fight back with the same method but by the word of God.
If they fight back then they are acting like the people that attacked them so then how are they separated from the world, and a Christian.
Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
When the world persecutes the Christians they should not fight back for however they fight back will come back on them.
This is the patience and faith of the saints to endure the persecution.
If they fight back then they are not better than the world that fights physically for what they believe.