Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN.
Hey, if any of you have special prayers please email me and we can
start a pray chain, oh, I know, no another one. This would be one of
our family and friends.
Okay, let us get back to Saul of
Tarsus. He escaped being killed in Damascus by being lowered in a
basket on the outside of the wall. Now he is in Jerusalem and goes to
the disciples. But, wait, caution on the side of the disciples.
26 And
when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the
disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was
a disciple.
Why are they afraid? Because he was the main
persecutor of the members of The Way, Christians. This man, how could you believe
him; it is a trick. Now understand, here walks a man, Saul of Tarsus, a
man of whom The Way (Christians) are fearful. Saul tends to be a loner
in his mission for God, however, whenever a friend was needed God
provided this man. In this case, the cause for fear and hesitation on
the part of the disciples, God steps in sending a man named Barnabas. Acts 9:
27 But
Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto
them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him,
and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Exactly who is Barnabas?
“Barnabas” wasn’t his birth name (Joseph was), it was his nickname
meaning “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36).
He was always encouraging, thus his name. Wow! What a legacy to leave.
Anyway, Barnabas presented Saul to the disciples as one who had truly
been saved and did preach the word of Jesus the Messiah. Acts 9:
28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
When we speak of boldness we must think of Saul. Why?
He left Jerusalem with papers from the High Priest to gather and
imprison all the Christians. Now, he is back in Jerusalem, not
triumphantly with Christians going to prison; but preaching the good
news of Jesus Christ the Messiah. Yeah, he was not well received by the
powers in the synagogue. Saul speaks out boldly against the Grecian
Jews and they plotted to have him slayed.
Saul, a new Christian, seems to jump from one hot bed of coals to another. Acts 9:
29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
Now, the disciples heard of the rumors and took action. Acts 9:
30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
Now Saul is going back to his native Tarsus. The
churches probably heard Saul was coming, but something was different.
Huh? What is going on here? Acts 9:
31 Then
had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria,
and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the
comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
When this says the churches rest throughout all Judaea,
Galilee and Samaria it simply means they were not going through the
persecution that Saul had once brought on them. Jerusalem had not
replaced him at this time.
The churches had weathered this
storm (others would follow) and they were edified. Edify means to
improve morally and/or intellectually. Soooo, these churches were
growing, they feared the LORD, and had the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Wow!! What a change! We'll keep an eye on Saul (who doesn't become
Paul until Acts 13) while watching another bold believer named Peter.
(Yes, the one who denied Christ 3 times before the crucifixion)
Hope you are enjoying the study. I am lovin' it! Let me know your thoughts. Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny
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