19-21 Saul spent a few days getting acquainted with the Damascus disciples, but then went right to work, wasting no time, preaching in the meeting places that this Jesus was the Son of God. They were caught off guard by this and, not at all sure they could trust him, they kept saying, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem among the believers? And didn’t he come here to do the same thing—arrest us and drag us off to jail in Jerusalem for sentencing by the high priests?”
22 But their suspicions didn’t slow Saul down for even a minute. His momentum was up now and he plowed straight into the opposition, disarming the Damascus Jews and trying to show them that this Jesus was the Messiah.
23-25 After this had gone on quite a long time, some Jews conspired to kill him, but Saul got wind of it. They were watching the city gates around the clock so they could kill him. Then one night the disciples engineered his escape by lowering him over the wall in a basket.
26-27 Back in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They didn’t trust him one bit. Then Barnabas took him under his wing. He introduced him to the apostles and stood up for him, told them how Saul had seen and spoken to the Master on the Damascus Road and how in Damascus itself he had laid his life on the line with his bold preaching in Jesus’ name.
28-30 After that he was accepted as one of them, going in and out of Jerusalem with no questions asked, uninhibited as he preached in the Master’s name. But then he ran afoul of a group called Hellenists—he had been engaged in a running argument with them—who plotted his murder. When his friends learned of the plot, they got him out of town, took him to Caesarea, and then shipped him off to Tarsus.
31 Things calmed down after that and the church had smooth sailing for a while. All over the country—Judea, Samaria, Galilee—the church grew. They were permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God. The Holy Spirit was with them, strengthening them. They prospered wonderfully.
Saul was converted and passionate to preach that Jesus was the Messiah. Initially, disciples were afraid to receive Saul but Barnabas took care of this new believer Saul and sponsored and referred him to the apostles that Saul became accepted in the primary church community in Jerusalem. Saul continued his preaching ministry but later was forced to leave Jerusalem because of the opposition by the Jews. Nevertheless, the church continued to prosper as the Holy Spirit was with them.
Dear Holy Spirit, conversion stories occurs in your church as the Holy Spirit works and empowers in His people's lives. The Holy Spirit empowers Saul that he preached Jesus with boldness; the Holy Spirit filled up with Barnabas that he mentored new believer Saul with wisdom and love of Jesus; all other disciples were strengthened by the Spirit to continue witnessing the Name of Jesus. The church grew and prospered. May the Holy Spirit continue to work in your church that we can see people's conversion, lives changed, Jesus' Name be exalted. Amen.
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