Acts chapter 9:27-35:

Acts chapter 9:27-35:

V27: But the Jerusalem Christians – even it seems the Apostles, are fearful of a trap, doubting the reality of his conversion. How it must have cast his heart down – until we read the lovely words ” but Barnabas took him” – that great encourager we met in chapter 4 v36 – who listens to Saul, discerns and trusts what the Lord has done, and brings him to the Apostles, standing we might say as his mentor.

V28:  With Barnabas’ support, Saul is now accepted, and is soon preaching boldly in the Name of Jesus here at Jerusalem, just as he had at Damascus.

V29:  He disputes with the ” Hellenists” – the Greek speaking Jews, remember – who soon seek his life. Might these include the very men who had been instrumental in Stephen’s death, with whom Saul had once stood? ( ch 6  v 9ff ; 7 v58.) 

V30:  So the believers, truly Saul’s “brothers” now, get him out of Jerusalem for his own protection, first to Caesarea, then to his own home city of Tarsus.

V31:   A period of peace is then granted to the churches in Judea and the surrounding areas – seemingly the one time persecutor had become the focus of persecution at this time – and those churches know a time of blessing and growth. Their lives are summed up in the lovely phrase ” walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit”. May it be true of our lives, by God’s grace.  

V32-33:  The focus changes back to Peter for a while. We learn he is in a town called Lydda, witnessing and encouraging the believers there He meets a paralysed man, bed-ridden for 8 years.

V34-35:  Peter heals him in the power and by the Name of Jesus, telling him to get up and take up his bed ( just as Jesus had done himself, in Mark 2:1-12.)  This has a great effect on many people, not just exciting their wonder, but turning them gto the Lord, whose power is seen at work in such a way.