The Scripture makes a point of pointing out to us that Paul not only consented to the stoning of the first Christian martyr, but also participated by guarding the garments of Stephen’s executioners (Acts 7:58; 8:1). His serving as an accomplice in the stoning of Stephen appears to have haunted Paul’s conscience throughout his Christian life. He even confessed it to Christ when the Lord appeared to him in a vision at the temple (Acts 22:20).
Now, if Paul’s part in Stephen’s stoning was scripturally noteworthy, then how could Paul have possibly taken part in the trial of Jesus without the Scripture mentioning it? If Paul’s hand in the stoning of Stephen haunted his conscience throughout his Christian life, then how could Paul’s conscience have remained untroubled by his participation in the crucifixion of Christ? And if Paul felt the need to confess his role in Stephen’s martyrdom, why did he never feel the need to confess his role in Christ’s execution?
In light of the above, it is inconceivable to me that the Apostle Paul played any part in the trial of Jesus. While some argue that Paul may have seen Christ in “the flesh” before spiritually encountering Him on the Road to Damascus (2 Corinthians 5:16), there is no reason to believe that the great apostle had any part in the Jewish Sanhedrin’s condemning of Christ to the cross of Calvary.
