Bible Study series: Acts 9:26-30. He will soon return to his hometown. Sometimes retreat is the best option when things don’t go your way. Wait for God’s timing.
Friendly greetings and a warm welcome to this Bible study! I write to learn. Let’s learn together and apply these truths to our lives.
I also translate to learn. The translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click on this link:
At the link to the original post, next, I write more commentary and dig a little deeper into the Greek. I also offer a section titled Observations for Discipleship at the end. Check it out!
At that link, I write more commentary and dig a little deeper into the Greek.
In this post, links are provided in the commentary section for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Acts 9:26-30
26 When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to associate with the disciples, but all of them were fearing him, because they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took hold of him and led him to the apostles and narrated to them how on the road he saw the Lord and that he spoke to him and how in Damascus he boldly proclaimed, in the name of Jesus.
28 And so he went with them around Jerusalem, boldly proclaiming in the name of the Lord. 29 He was both speaking and debating with Hellenist Jews, but they were trying to arrest him to kill him. 30 When the brothers learned of this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. (Acts 9:26-30)
Comments:
Luke omits the data points about going to Arabia and then returning to Damascus. Ancient historians omitted data points all the time. Commentator Schnabel offers this table for Paul’s five visits to Jerusalem and the missionary work in between.
| Year | Occasion for Visit to Jerusalem |
| 31/32 | Conversion of Saul |
| 32-34 | Missionary work in Arabia and in Damascus |
| 33/34 | First visit (Acts 9:26-20), three years after Paul’s conversion |
| 34-44 | Missionary work in Syria and Cilicia (eleven years) |
| 44 | Second visit (Acts 11:27-30): taking gifts to the poor, eleven years after the first visit |
| 45-47 | Missionary work on Cyprus and in Galatia |
| 48 | Third visit (Acts 15:1-29): Apostles’ Council, three years after the second visit |
| 49-51 | Missionary work in Macedonia and Achaia |
| 51 | Fourth visit (Acts 18:22): three years after the third visit |
| 52-56 | Missionary work in the Province of Asia and visit to Achaia |
| 57 | Fifth visit (Acts 21:15-17): collection visit, six years after the fourth visit |
| 57-61 | Arrest in Jerusalem and imprisonment in Caesarea and in Rome |
| Schnabel, p. 455 | |
The second and third rows are relevant to the verses here. This is an excellent timeline, without being crowded with details. Focused and clear.
Keener produces this table about the parallels between Acts 9:26-39 and Gal. 1:18-19; Rom. 15:19.
| Acts 9:26-30 | Gal. 1:18-19; Rom 15:19 | |
| Paul went from Damascus to Jerusalem (25-26) | Paul went from Damascus to Jerusalem (Gal. 1:17-18) | |
| Paul met the apostles (27) | Paul met Cephas and James (Gal. 1:18-19) | |
| Paul continued in association with the apostles (28) | Paul stayed with Cephas fifteen days (Gal. 1:18) | |
| Paul evangelized in Jerusalem, early in his ministry (28-29) | Paul evangelized in Jerusalem, early in his ministry (Rom. 15:19), which fits Luke’s generalizing tendency | |
| Paul’s stay was apparently relatively brief (29-30) | Paul’s stay was brief (Gal. 1:18) | |
| Keener, p. 287, slightly edited | ||
Things look good (to me, at least).
Now Keener provides a table for Galatians 1:17-21 and Acts, particularly Chapter 9:
| Events | Acts, esp. ch. 9 | Epistles |
| Paul persecuted Christians | 7:58; 8:1-3; 9:1-2 | Gal 1:15-16; 1 Cor 15:9; Phil 3:6; 1 Tim 3:15 |
| Conversion outside Damascus | 9:3, 19 | Gal 1:17 (implied) |
| Encounters Risen Christ | 9:3-6 | Gal 1:12; cf. 1:15-16; 1 Cor 15:8 |
| In Nabatean Arabia | Gal 1:17; 2 Cor 11:32 | |
| Damascus three years later | 9:23 (“Many days later”) | Gal 1:17 |
| Escapes from Damascus, lowered in basket through hole in wall | 9:25 | 2 Cor 11:32-33 |
| In Jerusalem | 9:26-29 | Gal 1:18-19 |
| In Syro-Cilicia | 9:30 (Tarsus); 11:26; 13:1 (Syrian Antioch) | Gal 1:21 |
| Syrian Antioch Is Paul’s home base; his ministry accepted on level of Peter’s ministry | 11:26; 13:1; 14:26; 15:22-23, 30, 35; 18:22 | Cf. Gal 1:21; 2:11 (Paul is well known in Antioch) |
| Outreach to S. Galatia | 13:14-14:24 | Gal 4:13-14; cf. 1 Cor 16:1, cities in 2 Tim 3:31 |
| Judaizers in Antioch | 15:1-2 | Gal 2:11-14 (implied; events after 2:2-10) |
| Return to Jerusalem (after fourteen years) | 15:2 (or 11:30) | Gal 2:1 |
| HT: Keener, p. 283 | ||
As for Nabatean Arabia, Keener writes: “Luke either does not know about Paul’s Nabatean sojourn or does not deem it sufficiently relevant to his main account to warrant digression” (p. 283).
26-27:
Good ol’ Barnabas! He believed in Saul, though the disciples were frightened of the knocked-down persecutor.
“disciples: see v. 1 for more comments.
For a quick study about his life, go to Acts 4:36-37:
“apostles”: Recall that in Gal. 1:17-20, quoted under vv. 23-24, above, that Paul said he saw only Peter and James. Therefore, we should not overly literalize the term apostles here; Luke is speaking generically. Probably many apostles had left Jerusalem and were ministering elsewhere. Luke surely means “apostolic community.”
“boldly proclaimed”: it combines boldness and speech. Paul had been an over-zealous Pharisee, and now his zeal was channeled and tempered by the Spirit towards preaching Jesus.
Please, please, don’t shrink away when you encounter opposition. Jesus was bold when the Pharisees and teachers of the law challenged him. He answered their questions and challenged them right back (Mark 2:6; 2:16; 7:1-5; 8:31; 9:14; 10:33; 11:18, 27-28; 14:1, etc.). People over-interpret his silence before his accusers during his trial (Matt. 27:12-14; Mark 14:60-61; 15:4-5; John 19:8-9). These interpreters don’t take into account that he was destined to give up his life, although he could have asked the Father for twelve legions of angels (Matt. 26:53).
If you find yourself timid before opposition, you can pray every day for the inner strength and anointing and power to stand and not to flag or fold during satanic and broken human attacks. I pray this almost every day, and it works!
You know the Spirit is flowing through you when you have boldness. God has not given you a spirit of fear or timidity (2 Tim. 1:7).
“name”: see v. 15 for a closer look at this noun.
28:
“he went around with them” could also be translated “moving about freely.” Literally it reads, “entering and leaving Jerusalem.”
“boldly proclaiming”: it combines boldness and speech. See v. 27 for a closer look. Paul had been an over-zealous Pharisee, and now his zeal was channeled and tempered by the Spirit towards preaching the name of Jesus.
He was associating with the apostles, going about freely in Jerusalem. He was receiving training form them, and no doubt he was helping them as well.
Please, please don’t back down or get discouraged when you confront opposition. In fact, if you don’t encounter opposition in preaching the gospel, then something is missing from your gospel. You will know when you have the Spirit’s power flowing through you when you are bold. If you get easily intimidated, pray each day for the inner strength and power and anointing to stand and not to fold or flag during satanic or broken human attacks. I pray this almost every day, and it works! God did not make you timid (2 Tim. 1:7).
“name”: see v. 14 for a closer look.
29:
“debated”: It can mean “discuss, carry on a discussion,” “dispute, debate, argue.” Don’t be afraid to get into friendly discussions or even debates and disputes with skeptics and disbelievers. We should speak out of a loving concern for the lost, but also there is nothing wrong with speaking with firm convictions and resolve. However far the discussion wanders, bring them back to the resurrection of Jesus, and you can learn about the evidence for it from a variety of websites. Also, learn Messianic prophecies, for they too are effective in your witness. Here is a table for them:
Or you can share your testimony to your coworker or friend or family member. “Here is what Jesus did for me.” If you believe in the ministry of healing, you can pray for a need. Or you can pray for any need he may have. He will appreciate that.
Paul recounts that Jesus himself told him to flee Jerusalem:
17 And it happened that I returned to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, I was in a trance 18 and saw him speaking to me: “Hurry up. Leave Jerusalem quickly because they shall not receive your witness about me.” 19 And I said, “Lord, they themselves know that I was in synagogue after synagogue imprisoning and beating those believing in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen, a witness for you, was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and keeping the clothes of the ones killing him.” 21 But he said to me, “Go! I shall send you away, far to the Gentiles!” (Acts 22:17-21)
Events changed rapidly. Saul was once allowed to move about freely in Jerusalem, but now his life is threatened. As noted in vv. 23-25, in some life-settings, sharing the gospel can be dangerous, as in the Islamic world. Be careful, and don’t feel like a coward if you have to leave the area. Prudence and safety is always appropriate (see Matt. 10:23).
30:
Recall that Tarsus was Saul’s hometown. God set up a divine appointment for him to go back there so he could testify to his family. Later we learn that he had a sister, and she had a son, and his nephew helped him to escape from Jerusalem (Acts 23:16). Early on, they must have been shocked by his testimony of the lightning bolt and his 180 degrees transformation! It’s important to share the gospel with you family. Pray for open doors. It will reap eternal benefits.
Bruce says it is difficult to coordinate this passage in Acts with Paul’s words in Galatians. But Luke uses generalizing terms in his account because his source supplied him with them (Comment on vv. 28-30). Bruce further teaches us that Tarsus was a leading city of schools of philosophy, rhetoric, and law. In his younger years, no doubt Saul learned some of the ideas here, particularly the great use of Greek. But he was thoroughly Jewish in upbringing, a Pharisee and a son of a Pharisee. Don’t let anyone tell you that Paul was an uneducated nobody. He was thoroughly trained.
GrowApp for Acts 9:26-30
1. Barnabas means “son of encouragement.” Have you found someone who is unacceptable to others, yet you encouraged him or her?
2. You may not be as bold as Saul (or you may be), but how do you share your faith in your own way?
GrowApp for Acts 9:10-16
1. Ananias had a difficult assignment—to pray for an enemy of his faith. Have you ever prayed for your enemy or persecutor?
RELATED
The Historical Reliability of the Book of Acts
Book of Acts and Paul’s Epistles: Match Made in Heaven?
SOURCES
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