Acts 9:26-30 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him… I. HIS ADMISSION TO CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. 1. Sought. "He essayed," i.e., endeavoured to join himself to the disciples. Amongst them was Peter — an object of special attraction (Galatians 1:18). He had heard, doubtless, of his wonderful sermon at Pentecost, and otherwise from the Christians at Damascus. James was there, too, the Lord's brother. This endeavour to get into the new fellowship indicated — (1) A wonderful change in his social character. Three years before, the disciples were the object of his indignation. (2) The law of social life. There is a craving for intercourse with those of kindred thoughts, sympathies, and alms. 2. Obstructed. "They were all afraid of him." It would seem that he had no letters of commendation from Damascus, owing to the hurried manner of his escape. So that we are not surprised at the panic here. This obstruction, however, must have been — (1) Painful to him. He had been a Christian three years, had held fellowship with the disciples at Damascus, had preached boldly there, and had studied the Christian faith and cultivated the Christian life in the Solitudes of Arabia. So he must have felt it hard, though just, to have been now suspected. (2) Natural. Purity and peace required caution, and the apostle's case was a suspicious one, with the persecution fresh upon the memory. 3. Attained. This was through the kind offices of Barnabas, a man known and honoured by them, and possibly an acquaintance of Saul's. As Cyprus was only a few hours' sail from Cilicia, Barnabas, in introducing Saul, pleads on his behalf the only sufficient qualification for Church membership (ver. 27). 4. Enjoyed (ver. 28). He would — (1) "Come in" to them with some new thought, new impressions, new deeds wrought for Christ, which would stimulate and cheer the brethren. (2) "Go out" with their prayers, counsel, love, bracing him for heroic work. Blessed the man who has a spiritual home. Such homes are where moral giants are trained. II. HIS PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL (ver. 29). 1. The subject of his ministry. "In the name of the Lord Jesus" — a subject he once hated, and which he preferred to many subjects which, as a man of genius and learning, he might have taken. He viewed everything through it, and judged the world by it. 2. Its sphere — "Grecians" — Hellenistic Jews. The same zeal which had combated Stephen now defended the cause for which he died. 3. Its style. (1) "Boldly." Nothing but an invincible courage could have enabled him to appear before such an audience on such a theme. (2) He "disputed." He did not, as a fanatic would, declaim, but submitted theses for discussion. 4. Its results. (1) Persecution to himself. (2) Increased sympathy of the Church (ver. 30). (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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