Although some of his relatives may already have become Christians, he said of his own attitude toward Christ’s followers: “Since I was extremely mad against them, I went so far as to persecuting them even in outside cities. ”
(‏ ۱تیموتاؤس ۱ :‏ ۱۳‏ ،‏ ا ش ‏ )‏ حتی با اینکه شماری از خویشاوندان او مسیحی شده بودند ،‏ در مورد احساس خود نسبت به مسیحیان نوشت :‏ « بر ایشان به شدّت دیوانه گشته تا شهرهای بعید تعاقب می‌کردم .‏ »