(February 7, 2018 at 10:37 am)Khemikal Wrote: Rome isn't exactly famous for treating jewish zealots causing trouble in their provinces with gratitude.
The Romans arrested and often executed ANYONE who was causing trouble within the Empire; the local authorities were free to do the same, as long as they were obedient to Rome (hence, federalism). If Paul did arrest individuals on his own, such would have been an affront to both the local authorities as well as their Roman overlords, but if he was only making such outlandish claims as part of his story, then the Romans and local governors may have written him off as just being a crank, at least for awhile. But, as his stories spread, they may have taken him to task over it; as such, he may have been arrested, tried and executed, not for his religious beliefs, but for having spread political and false rumors throughout the Empire.
