He
was with them entering into Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists, but they were seeking to kill him. When the brothers knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him off to Tarsus.
Acts 9:28-30
Acts 9 [17.] Ananias departed, and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me, that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized. He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus. Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God. All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!”
Acts 9 [22.] But Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ. When many days were fulfilled, the Jews conspired together to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him, but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket. When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. He was with them entering into Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists, but they were seeking to kill him.
Acts 9 [30.] When the brothers knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him off to Tarsus. So the assemblies throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 9 [32.] As Peter went throughout all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, because he was paralyzed. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Immediately he arose. All who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
Meaning:
When Saul first came to Jerusalem after his conversion, the disciples were afraid of him. Barnabas took him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord and preached boldly in Damascus (Acts 9:26-27). These verses describe Saul’s short stay in Jerusalem, the danger that followed, and how the believers sent him home to Tarsus.
- “He was with them entering into Jerusalem”
Thanks to Barnabas, Saul was now accepted and moved freely among the believers. A footnote notes that the TR and NU Greek texts add “and going out,” a common way of saying that someone lived and worked openly among others. Paul later says that on this visit he stayed with Peter for fifteen days and also met James, the Lord’s brother (Galatians 1:18-19).
- “preaching boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus”
Boldness is a mark of the witnesses in Acts. The council had marvelled at “the boldness of Peter and John” (Acts 4:13), and the believers had prayed for and received boldness to speak the word (Acts 4:31). Saul showed the same courage in the city where he had once hunted Christians. A footnote records that the TR and NU texts omit the name “Jesus” here and order these two verses differently, a difference that does not change the meaning.
- “He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists”
The Hellenists were Greek-speaking Jews. Among them were members of synagogues “of Cilicia and Asia” who had disputed with Stephen and stirred up the people against him (Acts 6:9). Saul, himself from Cilicia, now took Stephen’s place in the debate, and he received the same response: “they were seeking to kill him.” Paul later recalled that while he was praying in the temple at this time the Lord told him, “Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you” (Acts 22:18).
- “When the brothers knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea”
The believers acted to protect him. The word “brothers” may also be translated “brothers and sisters,” as the footnote notes. They took him to the port of Caesarea on the coast, from where he could travel by sea. Jesus had told his disciples, “when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next” (Matthew 10:23). Leaving was not cowardice but wisdom, so that his work could continue.
- “and sent him off to Tarsus”
Saul returned to his home city in Cilicia. Paul writes that he then “came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia” (Galatians 1:21), and later Acts mentions assemblies in Syria and Cilicia (Acts 15:41). Several years passed before Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul and brought him to Antioch (Acts 11:25-26). Immediately after his departure Luke reports that the assemblies throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria had peace (Acts 9:31).
The Significance of Acts 9:28-30
- The church’s care for its members
The believers who once feared Saul now protected him. Christian community means watching over one another, especially those in danger.
- Hidden years of preparation
After his dramatic beginning, Saul spent years away from the spotlight in Tarsus. God often prepares his servants in quiet seasons before he sends them into wider work.
Cross-References:
Galatians 1:18: “Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days.” Paul’s account of this visit.
Acts 22:18: “Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you.” The Lord’s warning in the temple.
Matthew 10:23: “But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next.” Jesus’ instruction to his messengers.
Acts 11:25: “Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul.” The next stage of Saul’s ministry.
Conclusion: Accepted by the apostles through Barnabas, Saul preached boldly in Jerusalem and debated with the Greek-speaking Jews, who then plotted to kill him as they had killed Stephen. The believers brought him to Caesarea and sent him home to Tarsus. His departure protected his life and began years of quiet preparation before his great missionary work.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible