Saul has regained his sight and recovered physically from his ordeal on the road to Damascus:
“For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the Synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’ And all who heard him were amazed, saying, ‘Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ” (Ac 9:19b-22).
Imagine Kim Jon-un walking into your underground church in North Korea on Sunday morning, asking to be baptized in the name of Jesus.
It’s a trap!
This is the closest modern parallel I can think of to compare the disciples in Damascus when Saul joins them.
Yet the words of Saul are strong and consistent. The disciples listen, recognize truth, are astounded that such a man can preach this way, and warily welcome him into their fellowship.
“When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket” (Ac 9:23-25).
We must refer here to Galatians 1:11-18 to learn several things that are not reported in the Four Gospels or in Acts. First, “many days” is actually Saul’s three-year sojourn to Arabia. Second, Saul does not study under the disciples in Damascus to learn what to preach about Jesus – it comes to him personally from God in direct revelation. And third, he has gathered his own disciples by the time he returns to Jerusalem.
“And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord , who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed among the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied” (Ac 9:26-31).
Without knowing about the three-year absence in Arabia before returning to Jerusalem, we might think that Saul has fit in seamlessly – dare I say in perfect unity? – with the disciples in Jerusalem. But this is far from the case, as we see that upon Saul’s return to Jerusalem, the disciples are terrified of Saul! They do not trust a word he says.
However, a stalwart Barnabas, who has been with Saul on his travels, stands up for him, acknowledging to the disciples that Saul’s encounter with God on the road to Damascus was very true and effective, having convinced Saul that Jesus is the Christ. Barnabas also testifies that Saul preached boldly and fearlessly in the name of Jesus, so much so that the Hellenists with whom he disputed on behalf of Jesus now want to kill him.
This puts Saul under the same threat as all the disciples. Now they are in perfect unity, and they take action to protect Saul. They conclude that the best plan is to send him away from Jerusalem to his home at Tarsus. The result?
The church in the entire region has peace. Why?
Because it walks in a common denominator of perfect unity by deeply respecting God and in the priceless comfort of the Holy Spirit.