*Acts 9:20-31
Saul starts preaching about Jesus in synagogues, confounding his opponents but facing threats, leading to his escape and the church’s growth.
- Saul Begins to Preach:
- Soon after his conversion, Saul begins to preach in the synagogues of Damascus, proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God.
- All who hear him are astonished and question how he, known for his fierce persecution of Jesus’ followers, is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.
- Saul grows increasingly powerful in his preaching, confounding the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
- The Plot Against Saul:
- After many days, the Jews conspire to kill Saul, but their plot becomes known to him.
- They watch the city gates day and night to kill him.
- Saul’s disciples help him escape by lowering him in a basket through an opening in the city wall.
- Saul in Jerusalem:
- Saul goes to Jerusalem and tries to join the disciples, but they are all afraid of him, not believing that he is truly a disciple.
- Barnabas, however, takes him and brings him to the apostles, explaining how Saul saw the Lord on the road, and that the Lord spoke to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.
- Saul stays with them, moving freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
- He debates with the Hellenistic Jews, but they attempt to kill him.
- When the brothers learn of this, they take him down to Caesarea and send him off to Tarsus.
- The Church Throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria:
- The church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoys a time of peace and is strengthened.
- Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increases in numbers.
Acts 9:20-31 teaches us that following Jesus brings both challenges and support. After Saul’s life changed, he boldly shared about Jesus, but he also faced opposition. This reminds us that living out our faith may not always be easy, but God places people in our lives—like Barnabas and the other believers—to encourage and help us. We can apply this by standing firm in our faith, even when it’s difficult, and by being a source of support and encouragement to others who are growing in their walk with God.
Acts 9:20-31 (WEB)
9:20 Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God. 21 All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!”22 But Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ. 23 When many days were fulfilled, the Jews conspired together to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.26 When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 He was with them entering into Jerusalem, 29 preaching boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists, but they were seeking to kill him. 30 When the brothers knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.31 So the assemblies throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.