Where was Saul?

There were a lot of people in Jerusalem the week that Jesus was arrested and killed. It was Passover; faithful Jews had come to the city for the holiday. That’s why the disciples were there. We often remember the Twelve because of images of the Last Supper. But there were sedars taking place in rooms all across the city. It was a bustling outpost of the Empire. There were other followers of Jesus hanging around. There were the everyday folks who may have woven palms that Sunday, hoping for some excitement, but who weren’t paying too much attention. There were leaders trying to maintain the status quo. There were Romans waiting for the holiday to end and the city to calm back down again.

In all of this, somewhere, was Saul. He was a devoted Jew, a Pharisee. Although he was from Taurus, he was likely in Jerusalem for Passover (he had gone to school there, and had family there). He had to be aware of the people following this Jesus fellow, claims of the Messiah. But where was he? Was he dismissive of the local gossip, focused on his family and friends? Was in the crowd calling for Christ’s crucifixion?

The New Testament has several of his letters to churches post-conversion. We follow along as he travels from place to place spreading the Gospel with great zeal. He’s here, he’s there, he’s everywhere. The letters focus on the message of God’s grace. He acknowledges his own sinful past, but he never takes us back to that Passover. Where was he? How much did he know? How did he feel then?

Saul was in Jerusalem in 34, and he was well aware of the Christians then. He took an active part in the stoning of St. Stephan, deacon and first martyr. He writes in his letters that he persecuted the Church. Clearly he thought that the Christians were corrupting Judaism. And then that all changed. He had a sudden, overwhelming moment of conversion. His life turned upside down and he didn’t look back.

And I suppose that’s the point. Someone like Saul, who persecuted Christians, could become a great Christian himself. He repents and looks forward. It’s just my own curiosity that wants to know where he was that Holy Week, what he knew, what he saw. I want the other side of the story; while the disciples were thrown into fear and sorrow, others went about their holiday.