| Scripture: Acts 9:26–31 (NKJV) |
| Highlight 26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. 29And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. 30When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus. 31Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. |
| Explain Saul is converted by a powerful encounter with the risen Christ. He is changed from a Jewish terrorist to a Christian apologist. The only problem is that the people he was terrorizing do not trust him. In his zeal to preach the gospel he brings great danger to himself (and probably to the very people of gospel he sought to help). Finally, v30 says that the brothers send him away to Tarsus. The result is v 31: Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. |
| Apply Sometimes our efforts to preach or serve are blocked by the Holy Spirit at every turn, it seems. In those moments we may get frustrated with God or with one another. I am sure that Paul was probably frustrated that people were turning on him and, in many cases, rejecting his message. I am also sure that the other Christ-followers may have resented this former persecutor turned preacher. Yet, I believe God was at work through ALL of these circumstances to achieve His purpose. He was also moving Paul out of the limelight until He could teach him the powerful gospel message he would write in the 13 letters of the New Testament He authored. My job as a disciple is not to succeed it is to obey, no matter how unorthodox God’s leading may seem. |
| Respond I will seek to follow Christ today! |
Rusty Russell
