Acts 9:26-30 26And when he had arrived in Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27But Barnabas, taking him, brought him to the apostles, and he described to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, and that he spoke to him, and how at Damascus he spoke boldly in the name of Jesus. 28And he was with them, going in and out of Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
Luke compresses the events surrounding the early months and years of Saul’s ministry. No time indicator is given in these verses. Rather, the focus is on the different responses Saul received when he returned to Jerusalem. In his summary and defense in his letter to the Galatians, Paul wrote that he went to Jerusalem after three years. Luke and Paul wrote for two different reasons, so their interpretation of events would be different as well. If the two events are the same, three years is a long time for the believers in Jerusalem to still think he was a persecutor. Word among the believers of his transformation would have spread quickly. So, likely, two different visits to Jerusalem are mentioned in Acts 9 and Galatians 1. Saul may have spent a few months in Damascus preaching until he had to escape, after which he would have returned to Jerusalem.
Four responses to Saul are described in these verses, two positive and two negative. Upon his return to Jerusalem, he sought out the other believers. Their response is a window into human nature: fear and a lack of faith. After experiencing all the miracles and teaching of the apostles, these believers could not accept at first the depth of God’s grace to change someone. Going through traumatic experiences can leave such a scar on our lives that we cannot see past our fears to see God’s work. Saul had caused such a problem for the believers in Jerusalem that they could not get past their fear of him. They were about to learn an important lesson about the power of the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.
Barnabas gave the second response, which was positive. He took Saul directly to the top, to the apostles, who were the authority figures. Barnabas often served as a mediator and encourager in the ongoing mission of the gospel, as his nickname indicates (see 4:36). He saw authenticity and sincerity in Saul as he heard the story of Saul’s vision. He was optimistic about God’s grace to change the worst of sinner into a powerful witness. The very essence of the gospel was on display in Saul’s life. Saul did not need any approval from the apostles for his message, but he also believed in the strength of fellowship and the importance of the unity of believers. He joined with the apostles in their ministry of preaching and teaching in Jerusalem. One of his most significant self-designations that he used throughout his letters was as an “apostle.” He saw himself as one who was sent and commissioned directly by Jesus himself.
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