Is not this he that destroyed them - Ὁ πορθησας . The verb πορθειν has three acceptations in the Greek writers:
- To treat one as an enemy, to spoil him of his goods.
To lead away captive, to imprison. To slay. Paul was properly
πορθων , a destroyer, in all these senses.
- He acted as the most determined enemy of the Christians: Being exceedingly mad against them, he persecuted them to strange cities, Acts 26:11 .
He shut up many of the saints in prison, Acts 8:3 ; Acts 9:14 ; Acts 26:10 . He persecuted them unto death - gave his voice against them that they might be destroyed, and was a principal instrument in the martyrdom of Stephen. He breathed threatenings and slaughter. See Acts 7:58 ; Acts 8:1 ; Acts 9:1 ; Acts 26:10 , Acts 26:11 . Therefore these three meanings of the original word are all exemplified in the conduct of Saul.
