Saul Joins the Church

And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 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 he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. - Acts 9:23-31

    After his conversion Saul took a journey into Arabia (Gal. 1:16-18), which Luke does not mention. He did not go up to Jerusalem to receive instruction from the apostles there. Being chosen as an apostle, he had to be taught the gospel by direct revelation by Christ himself. Therefore the Lord sent Saul into Arabia where he went to school with Christ himself as his Teacher! While in Arabia he preached the gospel among the heathen. 'And after that many days were fulfilled,' Saul returned to Damascus where 'The Jews took counsel to kill him.' This is where Luke was directed by the Holy Spirit to take up his narrative. In verse 23 Saul is back in Damascus three years after his conversion on the Damascus Road.

    1. Danger at Damascus (9:23-25)

    As soon as Paul returned to Damascus preaching the gospel, he was in grave danger. 'The Jews took counsel to kill him' (9:23-24). Enraged by the gospel Saul preached, they persuaded the governor in Damascus that he was a dangerous man, one that should be arrested and put to death (2 Cor. 11:32). Thus the word of God by Ananias three years earlier began to be fulfilled, regarding the great things Saul would be required to suffer for Christ (9:16). As Matthew Henry says, 'Where God gives great grace, he commonly exercises it with great trials.' This persecution of God's servant at Damascus is instructive.

    All who follow Christ walk in a path of certain trouble, affliction and sorrow. 'In the world, ye shall have tribulation (John 16:33). 'Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution' (2 Tim. 3:12). 'We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God' (Acts 14:22). There are none who are honoured by God who are not reviled by the world. Reproach, slander, abuse and scorn from men are the common lot of God's saints in this world (Matt. 5:10-12). Saul had done nothing to arouse their malice, except trust Christ, follow Christ and preach Christ. For that they tried to kill him!

    The gospel of Christ, the message of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, is offensive to lost, self righteous men and women (1 Cor. 1:23-24; Gal. 5:11). It offends man's pride, because it declares the total depravity and utter inability of Adam's fallen race regarding all things spiritual (Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 5:12). The gospel of Christ offends man's sense of supremacy and self-determination, because it declares the absolute, universal sovereignty of God (Rom. 9:15-18). It offends man's wisdom, because it declares salvation to be through the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ alone (Rom. 3:24-26; 1Cor. 1:21-31). And it offends man's self-righteousness, because it declares his works of righteousness to be nothing but dung and filthy rags (Phil. 3:8; Isa. 64:6) and makes salvation to be entirely the work of God's sovereign grace (Eph. 2:8-9; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 3:5-6).

    But God is faithful! He graciously delivered Saul from his persecutors (9:24-25). Saul escaped out of their hands by the good providence of God (2 Cor. 11:33). The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation. With every trial, he makes a way to escape, that we may be able to bear it (1 Cor. 10:13).

    2. Difficulty at Jerusalem (9:26-30)

    When he fled from Damascus, Saul went to Jerusalem. He had escaped his persecutors only to find difficulty among God's saints! They did not persecute him, but neither did they trust him. God's people are not without their faults. Sometimes true believers say and do things that hurt and hinder one another. They have no malicious designs against one another, but they are still in this body of flesh and sometimes their fleshly nature is sadly evident.

    When he arrived at Jerusalem Saul sought a place among the Lord's people (9:26). His first concern was to find the congregation of God's saints. Where they were, he would be found. 'He assayed to join himself to the disciples.' That means, Paul applied for membership in the local church at Jerusalem. He was not recruited by the church in a 'membership drive'. He asked for membership voluntarily. He loved Christ and his people and wanted to be identified with them.

    John Gill wrote, 'It is the duty and interest of every gracious soul to join himself to a church of Christ, which consists of the disciples of Christ, who have learned Christ and the way of life and salvation by him... To be joined to a church is to become an open subject of Christ's kingdom, a citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem, one of the family of God, and a member of the body of Christ visibly.'

    At first the disciples were suspicious of Saul (9:26). He was not offended by their error. He understood it and forgave it. He was a gracious man. Later, he gave us instruction about receiving brethren with baseless suspicions (Rom. 14:1). Believers are to receive one another upon the basis of their profession of faith in Christ, as we would receive Christ himself. We are to treat one another as we would treat Christ, because every believer is truly one with Christ. After Barnabas recommended him, Saul was received into the church (9:27). It is evident from this passage that only two things are to be regarded as qualifications for church membership: faith in Christ and believer's baptism. Nowhere in the New Testament is anything more required or anything less accepted.

    While at Jerusalem Saul gained a reputation as a faithful servant of Christ (9:28-30). He spent his time in the company of God's saints and faithfully bore witness to the person and work of Christ. Yet his bold confession of Christ stirred up the wrath of the Grecians. When they tried to kill him, Saul escaped out of Jerusalem and fled to Tarsus. We learn two things from this. First, God's sovereign providence overrules even the wicked deeds of men in the accomplishment of his purpose (Ps. 76:10). By the wrath of these men God sent Saul to preach among the Gentiles (Acts 22:17-21).

    Secondly, God's servants are safe until their work is done. 'Mortals are immortal here until their work is done!'

    3. Delight in the churches (9:31)

    The churches of Christ had endured a long season of persecution. Then God saved the persecutor! The lion who once roared against God's little flock was made to lie down with the lambs. 'Then had the churches rest ...and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.' The churches of Christ will have times of trouble in this world; but our troubles will not last for ever. Our God will make us triumphant in his time (Matt. 16:18). During these days of relative rest the people of God should be more fully employed than ever in the furtherance of the gospel, as we walk in the fear of the Lord, enjoying the comfort of the Holy Spirit.