*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.
9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
9:21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? 9:22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
9:23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 9:24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
9:25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
9:26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
9:28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
9:29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
9:30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.