Acts 26:10
“This I also did in Jerusalem. I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them.”
What does Acts 26:10 mean?
Paul is recounting the dark chapter of his past when he actively persecuted Christians in Jerusalem. He's being honest about his own complicity, acknowledging that he didn't just stand by but actively participated in imprisoning believers and approving their executions. This isn't a comfortable memory for him to share, but he's telling it because it sets up the stunning reversal that's about to come in his story. What makes this confession powerful is that Paul isn't trying to minimize what he did or hide behind official authority. He's owning his actions completely, which makes his later transformation on the Damascus road all the more remarkable. If you're wrestling with your own past or feeling ashamed of who you used to be, Paul's willingness to speak plainly about his worst moments suggests that our history doesn't have to define our future.