Excerpt of Paul's Declaration

“My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.  They knew from the first...I lived as a Pharisee.  And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers...For this hope’s sake...I am accused by the Jews.  Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?  Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.  This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them….I punished them often and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.”

Acts 26:4-11  [before King Herod]