Acts 9:20-30
More Saul activity today… When many days had passed… (v. 23a) Luke writes “many days”, but to learn more we have to go to Paul’s own writings. He tells his story in Galatians 1:13 ff, and his “many days” turns out to be three years. So he was in Damascus and the neighboring Arabian desert for these three years before he ever went up to Jerusalem. During that time in the desert he apparently spoke regularly with either Jesus or the Holy Spirit. A good bit of Internet searching yielded this statement regarding the Galatians 1:13, ff. text: “The point Paul is making to the Galatians is that there has never been any question about the content of the Gospel. The same Christ taught Peter and Paul, and both men were in complete agreement.” The source of this statement goes into greater detail and is worth reading: https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/the-preparation-of-paul/.
More on Saul… Many are fond of saying that “Paul became a basket case.” (v. 25) One item that I always like to point out is the role of Barnabas, one of my favorite Bible characters. When even after three years the disciples in Jerusalem were afraid to meet with Saul, it was trustworthy Barnabas who brought him forward and defended him. (v. 27) We had earlier met Barnabas in Acts 4:36 when he sold land and gave the money to the apostles. We will see him again at length in Acts 12:25, ff.
We have often heard that Paul on his missionary journeys would begin in the local synagogues. Here in verse 20 we see the beginning of that activity. Ironically Saul was on safe ground in the synagogues. After all, he had come to Damascus to arrest followers of “the Way”, so to faithful Jews Paul was a friend and would have been freely admitted. However, once in their midst he began preaching Jesus – that must have been a shocker to the Jews!! I remember in my own early “born again” days how excited I was in my new faith – how I got the local (campus) Catholic Church to begin a Bible Study on Mark; how I visited the Christian bookstore in my hometown and connected with some of the churches there; and how I met up with a former girlfriend to tell her of my new life in Christ. I’m still excited about Jesus – come to Avanza and see!!
Slava Bohu!
Barnabas was such a great supporter. At that point, Paul had a very bad reputation with the early Christians. But Barnabas was his sponsor, vouching for him and helping to change that reputation. Who are individuals that we may need to sponsor, Christians with drug problems, prison records, etc.?
Also there was a difference between waiting and learning for 3 years before starting a ministry, vs. immediately sharing what God has done for you, witnessing.
Good point, Debbie.
Paul clearly spent years learning and praying before he went—was sent—to preach.
And I suppose you could say he was vouched for by Barnabas and then vetted by the apostles before his ministry took off.