Saint Paul did not arouse a negative reaction among the Jews because of any malicious intent in his preaching, but because his personal conversion and teachings represented a radical departure from the foundations of traditional Jewish thought.

Paul’s Radical Conversion and the Challenge to Jewish Tradition

Saint Paul did not arouse a negative reaction among the Jews because of any malicious intent in his preaching, but because his personal conversion and teachings represented a radical departure from the foundations of traditional Jewish thought. Paul, who was once the strictest zealot for the law, unexpectedly turned to Christ and began preaching the idea of liberation from the need to uphold the law and traditional rituals, such as circumcision. For many Jews, this meant undermining the foundation of their identity and sacred tradition, evoking feelings of threat and rejection.

For example, one source notes:
"For the Jews could not tolerate his preaching to them and were more hostile to him than to the other apostles, since his unexpected conversion demonstrated the invincible power of Christ, who had drawn to Himself such a fierce persecutor. But therein lies the great proof of the truth of the gospel message, that Paul, the strictest zealot for the law, suddenly turned to Christ. Therefore, the Jews were strongly opposed to him and could not even listen to his voice. Moreover, even among the Jews who had come to faith, there was not complete attention to him, as he completely diverted them from the law and freed them from circumcision." (source: link txt, page: 1).

Thus, the primary reason for the negative attitude was not the malice in his words, but that his teachings challenged the tenets of the Jewish faith, which was seen as a threat to the integrity of the religious community. This divergence in principles and values meant that even if his words were not malicious, they still elicited a deep emotional reaction and resistance from his contemporaneous Jewish audience.

Supporting citation(s):
"For the Jews could not tolerate his preaching to them and were more hostile to him than to the other apostles, since his unexpected conversion demonstrated the invincible power of Christ, who had drawn to Himself such a fierce persecutor. But therein lies the great proof of the truth of the gospel message, that Paul, the strictest zealot for the law, suddenly turned to Christ. Therefore, the Jews were strongly opposed to him and could not even listen to his voice. Moreover, even among the Jews who had come to faith, there was not complete attention to him, as he completely diverted them from the law and freed them from circumcision." (source: link txt, page: 1).