When you are not under the religious Law, expect to be persecuted. This was the example Paul lays at the feet of those which were his former Bosses.
Let’s get into it:
Paul’s primary position/occupation before his conversion was to search for those followers of Christ; whom Christ himself identified as his Way, and put them to death.
Here, he testified in his own words:
And I persecuted this Way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, “I am verily a man who am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. And I fell unto the ground and heard a voice saying unto me, ‘Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?’ And I answered, ‘Who art Thou, Lord?’ And He said unto me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.’
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts.22.4,Acts.22.3,Acts.22.7,Acts.22.8&version=KJ21
I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts.26.9,Acts.26.10,Acts.26.11&version=KJV
How do know this is true? Look at what Jesus said:
Thomas said unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest: how can we then know the way? Jesus said unto him, I am that Way, and that Truth, and that Life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John.14.5,John.14.6&version=GNV
How are we to determine whether we live by the works of the law? The believers at that time received Christ, believed in his resurrection submitted to his lordship and also recognized him as the Messiah.
In my opinion, this is the understanding they had to dispute the legalisms from the religious doctrines from the Pharisees of their day, discussed in two parts:
Part One:
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not: but a body hast thou ordained me. In burnt offerings, and sin offerings thou hast had no pleasure. Then I said, Lo, I come (in the beginning of the book it is written of me) that I should do thy will, O God. Above, when he said, Sacrifice and offering, and burnt offerings, and sin offerings, thou wouldest not have, neither hadst pleasure therein (which are offered by the Law.) Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God, he taketh away the first, that he may stablish the second.
By the which will we are sanctified, even by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once made. And every Priest standeth daily ministering, and ofttimes offereth one manner of offering, which can never take away sins: This is the Testament that I will make unto them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my Laws in their heart, and in their minds I will write them.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Heb.10.5,Heb.10.6,Heb.10.7,Heb.10.8,Heb.10.9,Heb.10.10,Heb.10.11,Heb.10.16&version=GNV
Part Two:
Now where remission of these things is, there is no more offering for sin. Seeing therefore, brethren, that by the blood of Jesus we may be bold to enter into the Holy place, By the new and living way, which he hath prepared for us, through the veil, that is, his flesh:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Heb.10.18,Heb.10.19,Heb.10.20&version=GNV
Paul’s conversion is evident:
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother. Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gal.1.13,Gal.1.14,Gal.1.15,Gal.1.16,Gal.1.17,Gal.1.18,Gal.1.19,Gal.1.20,Gal.1.21,Gal.1.22,Gal.1.23,Gal.1.24&version=KJV
There is this:
Hearken unto me ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my Law. Fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their rebukes.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa.51.7&version=GNV
So what do we know of the times to come?
And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be published among all nations. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark.13.5,Mark.13.6,Mark.13.7,Mark.13.8,Mark.13.9,Mark.13.10,Mark.13.11,Mark.13.12,Mark.13.13&version=KJV
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John.15.20,John.15.23,John.15.25&version=KJV
Paul is then persecuted as well, after his conversion:
And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts.16.36,Acts.16.19,Acts.16.20,Acts.16.21,Acts.16.22,Acts.16.23,Acts.16.24,Acts.16.25&version=KJV