24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket. 26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.
9:24
But their plot became known to Saul.
Paul later referred to this event in 2 Corinthians 11:32-33. The latter passage describes the Nabatean governor watching the gates for Paul’s escape. Evidently, both Jews and Gentiles in coalition lay in wait for him.
And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him.
Even after an extensive time away, Paul’s pursuers were still dedicated to killing him (2 Co 11:32).
9:25
Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.
A wall surrounded Damascus. Entry and egress were through the city gates. Avoiding the gates, the disciples found another exit. The idea is that they let him down through a window (2 Co 11:33).
9:26
And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
Paul was absent from Jerusalem for three years. After returning to Jerusalem from Damascus, Paul sought fellowship with believers in Christ, but the community did not believe he was a genuine convert.
9:27
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles.
For the second time, Paul needed a friend to intervene, and Barnabas stepped in to fill that need. Ananias met his need first; now Barnabas, a well-known believer (Acts 4:36-37; 11:22-24), met his need. He was also a man who encouraged others; they called him “the son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36). Barnabas brought Paul to the apostles Peter and James to authenticate his genuineness (Ga 1:18,19).
And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road,
Barnabas verified Paul’s credibility with the apostles.
and that He had spoken to him,
Paul received his commission as an apostle directly from the Lord Himself.
and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Barnabas explained how Paul spoke boldly about Jesus in Damascus. He placed his safety at risk in doing so.
9:28
So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.
Paul regularly fellowshipped with the apostles, moving throughout Jerusalem with them.
PRINCIPLE:
God calls some believers to mediate between fellow Christians.
APPLICATION:
We find Barnabas four other times in Acts:
(1) Acts 11:22-24;
(2) Acts 11:30; 12:25;
(3) Acts 13:1-2, 50; 14:12;
(4) Acts 15:2, 12, 22, 25, 27.
Barnabas mediated between Paul and the Jerusalem church. He secured acceptance among the apostles—so much so that he was “with them” in Acts 9:28. He was a constant companion with them in “going in and out among them” in Jerusalem.
