You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. (Galatians 1: 13-14)

According to the Acts of Apostles, Paul was born in Tarsus in modern Turkey, as is Galatia. Most place his birth at around year 10. Acts also reports he studied with Gamaliel (Acts 22:3).

Gamaliel was, perhaps, the leading Jewish scholar of his era. In the Mishnah (a compendium of the Oral Law) it is said, "When he died the honor of the Torah ceased, and purity and piety became extinct." (Sotah xv 18) Gamaliel served on and was for many years head of the Sanhedrin.

Gamaliel was the grandson of Hillel and advanced the more tolerant legal interpretations of the school of Hillel. Many early Christian documents refer positively to Gamaliel.

Paul would have studied with Gamaliel in his late teens and early twenties. But Paul did not follow in the tolerance of his teacher. He strongly opposed the Christian "reformers" of Judaism until his conversion sometime in his mid to late twenties.

We can see in Paul's early life the confidence - and danger - of precocious intelligence and talent. Even with the benefit of tolerant and wise teachers, the young can be drawn to extremes.

Above is the Stoning of St. Stephen by Rembrandt. According to Acts 8:1 Paul (before his conversion) approved of, and may have encouraged, the killing of Stephen.