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Luke tells us the famous story of Paul's conversion. Paul, still called Saul at this point, has taken an active part in the persecution of the Christian movement after the murder of Stephen, and although he has some official support, it does sound as though his vendetta is personally chosen -
t due to a complex mix of religious disagreements and political conflicts. One of the many religious disagreements between the western (Roman) and eastern (Byzantine) branches of the church had to do with whether or not it was acceptable to use unleavened bread for the sacrament of communion. -
His formal conversion in 312 is almost universally acknowledged among historians, -
Persecution of the early church occurred sporadically and in localized areas from the start. The first persecution of Christians organized by the Roman government was under the emperor Nero in 64 CE after the Great Fire of Rome and took place entirely within the city of Rome>