::Most historians accept some of Paul's epistles as authentic (written by Paul), and also use Acts, critically, as a source for that time.  But Paul is a source for the history of early Christianity, not Jesus, as he never met Jesus (in the flesh).  Most historians also agree that Jewish authorities were critical of any Jew preaching the restoration of the Kingdom, which was a direct threat against Roman authority.  But when paul talks o persecuting Christians, he means he was persecuting another sect of Jews - not a group of non-Jews.    |