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 at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus"But Barnabas took him" "He may have sought an interview with Saul, or the latter, having some knowledge of Barnabas, may have approached him as the one most likely to grant him. candid hearing" (McGarvey p. 188). "When Saul desperately needed. true friend in Damascus, Ananias played that part to him; now, when he stood in equal need of one in Jerusalem, he found. friend in Barnabas" (Bruce pp. 205-206). Some speculate that Barnabas may have known Saul, prior to his (Barnabas) conversion. "It seems likely that Barnabas was already acquainted with Saul, knew his integrity of character, and was convinced of the genuineness of his conversion" (Bruce p. 205). Consider how one man made. great difference. One act of courage on the part of Barnabas will give the church one of its greatest personal workers and preachers. Barclay notes, "The world is largely divided into people who think of the best of others and people who think the worst. It is one of the curious facts of life that ordinarily we see our own reflection in others, and we make them what we believe them to be" (p. 78)."Brought him to the apostles" According to Galatians 1:18. Saul only saw Peter and James the Lord's brother during this stay. Grammarians call this. generalizing plural. Evidently the rest of the Apostles were out preaching. "Declared" This Greek word indicates that Barnabas gave. very thorough and detailed account of Saul's conversion and his early preaching. This infers that Barnabas had thoroughly examined Saul's story as well as the evidence. What could have destroyed the church in Jerusalem (division caused by the acceptance of Saul), turned out to be. great shot in the arm for the cause of Christ. "It would take no little amount of forgiveness on the part of many who had lost loved ones to his persecutions to welcome this one into their fellowship" (Reese p. 367). Notice how the early church overcame one obstacle after another---because of their determination to think and act in harmony with the will of God.