Acts 9:20-31 New International Version (NIV)
20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,[a] but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
In verses 20-21, Look how Saul had changed! He was telling the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. Saul had hated Christians because they believed this. So, it should not surprise us that people were confused. But Saul had met Jesus himself. Now he was certain that Jesus was the Messiah.
Saul was a Pharisee. At school, he had learned how to speak well in public. What he said about Jesus was true. And he had the Holy Spirit to help him. So, his words ‘grew more powerful all the time’. He gave evidence to people that Jesus was the Messiah. And the Jews who opposed him could not deny this proof.
The Jews became angry. Once, Saul had opposed Christians, as these Jews did. Now, suddenly, he was opposing the Jews! So, they wanted to kill him. But Saul escaped. His disciples helped him. Rabbis usually had disciples. Disciples followed their rabbi and they learned from him.
In verse 23, we read ‘after many days’. We know that Saul went to Arabia for three years (Galatians 1:17). But we do not know exactly when he went. Perhaps it was at this time. The north-west part of Arabia was very near to Damascus.
Saul had been away from Jerusalem for about three years (Galatians 1:17-18). But the believers had not forgotten him. They were afraid. They did not trust him.
The name ‘Barnabas’ means a person who encourages. People called this Jewish Christian from Cyprus ‘Barnabas’. He was generous and he was helpful (Acts 4:36-37). That is why they called him Barnabas. Perhaps he already knew Saul. So, he knew that Saul was a real disciple. Or perhaps he just decided to trust Saul. The two men became very good friends.
‘He took Saul to the disciples.’ Saul met Peter and James, who was Jesus’ brother (Galatians 1:18-20). They were two leaders of the church in Jerusalem.
The believers in Jerusalem accepted Saul. So, he continued to preach about Jesus.
‘He talked with the Jews who spoke Greek. And he debated with them.’ These were probably the Jews who had wanted to kill Stephen. Luke used the same Greek word for ‘debated’ here as in Acts 6:9. In that verse, the foreign Jews debated with Stephen. Luke did not use this word anywhere else in Acts. Saul’s preaching had the same effect on them as Stephen’s preaching. They had killed Stephen and now they wanted to kill Saul.
Again, Saul had to escape because people wanted to kill him. He was born in Tarsus and he had lived there. So, he went there. First, he went with the believers to Caesarea. Then he sailed in a boat to Tarsus. Tarsus was an important place for culture and education.
The last verse is where the second part of Acts ends. Saul was now a disciple. So, the church was safer. Saul had been the main leader that persecuted believers. Now the church was able to grow and the good news could spread.