Biblical Wisdom
Barnabas Brought Him In
Saul was changed, but Jerusalem had reason to fear him. Barnabas used his own voice to tell the apostles what the Lord had done in Saul.
Scripture Acts 9:26–28 · Acts 9:1
When Saul reached Jerusalem, no welcome waited. “When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.”
Their fear made sense. The chapter began with Saul “still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord.” Grace had changed him; they did not know it yet.
Barnabas does not shame them for caution or let suspicion have the final word. “Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.”
Barnabas put his own judgment beside Saul’s story. He brought him to the apostles and told them what the Lord had done. The next line says, “So Saul stayed with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.” Sometimes a door opens through truthful witness.
Sources and notes
Consulted while writing this piece. Nothing is listed here that was not used.
- Berean Standard Bible, Acts 9:26–28 primary text
Scripture in English is from the Berean Standard Bible, placed in the public domain by its publisher on 30 April 2023.