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23 After some time had passed, the Jews devised a plan to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were keeping watch on the city gates day and night so that they might kill him, 25 but his disciples took him one night and let him down in a basket over the wall.

26 Saul in Jerusalem and Tarsus. When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him because they did not believe that he had become a disciple. 27 However, Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He related to them how on his journey Saul had seen the Lord who had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

28 Saul then moved about with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He also engaged in debate with the Hellenists[a] but they began planning to kill him. 30 When the brethren learned of this, they brought him to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.[b]

31 Period of Peace for the Church.[c]Meanwhile, the Church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed peace, building up strength and living in the fear of the Lord. Encouraged by the Holy Spirit,[d] the Church grew in numbers.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 9:29 Hellenists: see note on Acts 6:1.
  2. Acts 9:30 Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia (in Asia Minor), was Paul’s native place (Acts 22:3); it is there that Barnabas will go looking for him (Acts 11:25).
  3. Acts 9:31 Luke gives us a new panoramic picture in which the themes of fervor and growth are stressed. A precarious peace is established, providing the time to contemplate the Church living and animated by the Spirit and planted in the whole land of ancient Israel. In verse 31, Church refers, not to a single Church, as it usually does in Scripture, but to all the communities. Peter visits the various centers, especially those in the area of present-day Tel Aviv. His miracles are recounted in the manner of pages in the Gospels.
  4. Acts 9:31 Encouraged by the Holy Spirit: this Book stresses the work of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 13:2). Hence, it is sometimes called “The Acts of the Holy Spirit.”

23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him,(A) 24 but Saul learned of their plan.(B) Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.(C)

26 When he came to Jerusalem,(D) he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas(E) took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him,(F) and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.(G) 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,[a](H) but they tried to kill him.(I) 30 When the believers(J) learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea(K) and sent him off to Tarsus.(L)

31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria(M) enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.(N)

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 9:29 That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture