Acts 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. 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.
Barnabas took Saul, whom the other believers distrusted, to the apostles and told them how Jesus had appeared and spoken to him on the road to Damascus and how he had then preached boldly in Jesus' name in that city. The disciples in Jerusalem were afraid of him and did not believe he was truly a disciple, doubting his conversion because he had persecuted the church. Barnabas, who had known Saul before and had himself given freely to sustain the cause, sought him out, heard his account of his miraculous change and his experience since, fully believed him and took him by the hand. His testimony broke down the fear and unbelief, so that Peter and James, the only apostles then in Jerusalem, received the former persecutor into fellowship and he became as beloved as he had been feared. What Saul had preached so boldly was that Jesus is the promised Messiah and the Son of God, who died for sins and rose again according to the Scriptures, and his persecuting power was thus turned into strength for the church he had once opposed.
Barnabas Vouches for Saul
When Saul came to Jerusalem the disciples were afraid of him and would not believe he was a disciple, doubting both his conversion and his fitness for the work because he had persecuted the church. Their fear and disbelief had to be overcome before they could receive him.
Barnabas had known Saul while Saul opposed the believers, and he himself had freely given his money to sustain the cause of Christ and relieve the necessities of the poor. He renewed acquaintance with Saul, heard his testimony of miraculous conversion and his experience since that time, fully believed and received him, and took him by the hand and led him to the apostles. Barnabas was the first to extend the right hand of fellowship to the once fierce persecutor.
He brought Saul to the apostles and declared that Saul had seen the Lord on the road to Damascus and that the Lord had spoken to him, and that Saul had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. He told them that Jesus had personally appeared to Saul on his way to Damascus and had talked with him. He further reported that Saul had recovered his sight in answer to the prayers of Ananias and had afterward maintained in the synagogues of Damascus that Jesus is the Son of God.
His testimony helped overcome fear and disbelief so the apostles received Saul as a fellow believer and welcomed the former persecutor into fellowship. Peter and James, the only apostles then in Jerusalem, no longer hesitated because they could not withstand God, and gave the right hand of fellowship. Saul became as much beloved and respected as he had formerly been feared and avoided, and the disciples soon saw further evidence that his Christian experience was genuine.
That meeting joined the two grand characters of the new faith, Peter, one of the chosen companions of Christ on earth, and Paul the Pharisee, who since the ascension of Jesus had met Him face to face and talked with Him and had also seen Him in vision and the nature of His work in heaven.
Saul's Transformed Message and Mission
Saul's conversion turned a prominent persecutor into a courageous preacher of Jesus, so that the one who had opposed the believers now strengthened them and brought new converts to the faith, and his abilities and influence once used against the church became a strength for it. What he boldly proclaimed was that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah and the Son of God, whose death for sins and resurrection were according to Scripture. He testified that the risen Jesus had appeared to him and presented evidence from prophecy as Stephen had done.
He came to Jerusalem after his escape from Damascus and shortly after his conversion, because he desired with a yearning heart to become acquainted with the apostles there. He was especially anxious to meet Peter as chief of the apostles, along with the Galilean fishermen and other disciples who had lived and prayed and conversed with Christ on earth. When he entered Jerusalem he looked on the city and the temple with changed views, knowing that God's retributive judgment was hanging over them.
His first interview with the apostles in Jerusalem was short because he was eager to get about his Master's business, yet it was of great consequence to both him and them. Soon after, in the same synagogue where he had disputed with Stephen, he fearlessly proclaimed Jesus with a heart filled with yearning for his brethren and former associates. There he advocated the same cause Stephen had died to vindicate, relating his own wonderful experience and presenting evidences from prophecy that Jesus who had been crucified was the Son of God. His preaching of Jesus and telling of his miraculous conversion, accompanied by miracles, led many to turn from their traditions.
That success angered the priests and rulers so that they sought to kill him. Jesus then told him in a vision that the people would not accept his testimony and sent him to preach to the Gentiles. The chapter is a lesson to all about the need for conversion, for before conversion Saul was used by Satan to hunt up souls to be persecuted, and unless God's converting power comes to the soul men will be used the same way. Those who are not converted will work with all their power against God, as the satanic agencies in Christ's day crucified Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God. History is to be repeated, for Lucifer's act to exalt himself will still exercise power over men of great education and experience who do not use their knowledge to exalt Jehovah and His only begotten Son Jesus Christ.