After Saul escaped from Damascus, he went to Jerusalem. Not surprisingly, the disciples there don't trust him, since they knew he was part of the persecution that drove many of their friends away. Fortunately, Barnabas (we read chapters ago about how he sold a field and gave the proceeds to the church) speaks up for Saul. It's amazing that God turned a violent persecutor into one of the most effective evangelists for Christ. Along the way, many lesser known characters have a role to play. We never learn our full potential unless we're willing to take some risks, in this case, the risk of trusting a former enemy.
God bless,
Sam
Acts 9:26-31
26When he had
come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples; and they were all afraid
of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27But
Barnabas took him, brought him to the apostles, and described for them how on
the road he had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he
had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. 28So he went in and out
among them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
29He spoke and
argued with the Hellenists; but they were attempting to kill him. 30When
the believers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off
to Tarsus. 31Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and
Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the
comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
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