Verse 23: “As many days were fulfilled the Judeans took counsel to kill him.”

Saul correctly taught the Word of God and people were receiving it. The teachings of the Judeans, the leaders of the synagogue, could not match the truth and their interpretations were not convincing. As a result, they wanted to kill Saul.

Verse 24: “Their plot was made known to Saul and they (the Judeans) were watching the gate both day and also night so that they could kill him.”

watching (guarding) the gate: They wanted to ambush and kill Saul when he left Damascus to go back to Jerusalem (Matthew 24v9).

Verse 25: “The disciples took him by night, and they let him down through the wall and lowered him in a basket.”

Verse 26: “Saul, arriving in Jerusalem, attempted to join with the disciples and all (of the disciples in Jerusalem) were fearful of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.”

They did not believe: They did not think that Saul was sincere because of his reputation that he had been against the believing community. They did not accept Saul’s profession of faith.

Verse 27: “But Barnabas received him (Saul) and he brought (him) to the Apostles. He related to them how he (Saul) saw the L-rd and that he spoke to Him, and how in Damascus he boldly (confidently) proclaimed in the name of Yeshua.”

Barnabas: His name means “The son of encouragement” and that is what he was – an encourager of others. Barnabas was courageous and got involved in situations where most other people would not.

He spoke to Him: Saul spoke to Yeshua.


Verse 28: “He was with them, entering in and exiting Jerusalem, proclaiming boldly in the nam of the L-rd Yeshua.”

Was with them: He (Saul) joined himself to the leadership group of the Apostles in Jerusalem.

In the name of the L-rd: It is not enough to know Yeshua is Messiah, but it is also important that we acknowledge him as L-rd.

Verse 29: “Speaking and also debating with the Greeks; they were attempting, likewise, to put him to death.”

To put him to death: First the Judeans wanted to put Saul to death and now the Greeks want to do the same thing. The Judeans did not think that they had anything in common with the Greeks. But this text tells us that they were united in their desire to kill Saul. They had the same desire because they too, like the Greeks, were walking in spiritual darkness.

Verse 30: “The brethren, knowing this plan, brought him down to Caesarea and sent him to Tarsus.”

When someone is chosen by God, for a purpose, the enemy does not like it and he moves in his (satanic) disciples to oppose it. If we are not serving God then, by default, we are serving satan.

Sent him to Tarsus: God was repositioning Saul.

Verse 31: “And the congregations throughout all of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and they were being edified. They went in the fear of the L-rd and the comfort of the Holy Spirit, and increased in numbers.”

Congregations: Those who are called out of this world, called out of wrong thinking.

Peace: Saul, the most ardent enemy of the church, had come to faith.

Galilee: Galilee is an interruption to the text – we usually read about Judea and Samaria, absent of Galilee. Galilee is a term of revelation and what the text is revealing to us is that in the heartland of Israel (Judah and Samaria) there was revelation.

Edified: Built up or strengthened. Made more powerful.

The fear of the L-rd: When we are spiritually mature we are going to walk in the fear of the L-rd. The fear of the L-rd is demonstrating God’s priority in our lives. Every aspect of our lives is subjected to Him and He is our chief priority in all things.

Comfort of the Holy Spirit: The word comfort has to do with restoring things back to God’s purposes so that the outcome of God’s purposes (His blessings and promises) can be revealed and received.

Increased in numbers: Congregations grow when the people are strengthened, have a fear of the L-rd and receive comfort from the Holy Spirit.