 We know from God's word that as a young Pharisee, he had been taught by the best, by Gamaliel, none more respected in Paul's day. Through Gamaliel, Paul had become a very eager conversationalist about the law. Actually, fanatically so might be a better way to put it. His passion on steroids is what placed him on a collision course of personally meeting his Messiah, the resurrected Jesus.