Question

Why was the Christian community in Jerusalem suspicious of Paul?

Paul had previously persecuted Christians.
Paul carried a sword and arrived with troops.
Paul was Jewish. Paul was a new Jesus follower.
Paul had strange ideas.

Answer 1

Main reasons: 1) and 4).

- True: Paul (formerly Saul) had a well‑known reputation for persecuting Christians (Acts 8:1–3; 9:1–2; 22:4–5). That past made people in Jerusalem wary of him.
- True: His teachings were different from what many in the Jerusalem church expected (e.g., his insistence that Gentile converts need not keep the full Mosaic law/circumcision), so some thought his ideas were “strange” or dangerous (see Acts 15; Acts 21:20–25; Acts 21:21).

Not correct or not a main reason:
- “Paul carried a sword and arrived with troops.” False — Paul was not a military leader and did not come with troops.
- “Paul was Jewish.” Being Jewish was not a reason for suspicion (most Jerusalem Christians were Jewish). That he was a recent convert, however, did contribute to mistrust until leaders could verify him (Acts 9, 21).