Barnabas Stands Up for Saul

Called by Jesus · Jerusalem

2 accounts of this passage

Acts 9:26–30

²⁶When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. ²⁷But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly in Damascus in the name of Jesus. ²⁸So he was with them, going in and out at Jerusalem. ²⁹He spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and debated with the Greek-speaking Jews, but they were trying to kill him. ³⁰When the brothers found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

Read Acts 9

Up nextTeaching at AntiochActs 11:25–30

About this event

What happened?

In Jerusalem, Saul tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and preached boldly in Damascus. Saul stayed with them and spoke boldly in the name of the Lord. When some Greek-speaking Jews tried to kill him, the believers took him to Caesarea and sent him home to Tarsus.

Who is here?

Barnabas
Peter (Cephas)
James, the Lord's brother
Greek-speaking Jews

Where did this happen?

Jerusalem

The city David made Israel's capital, where the temple stood.

Where this fits

Event 4 of 5 in Called by Jesus: Jesus stops Saul on the road to Damascus, and Saul begins to preach the faith he fought.

Good to know

In Galatians 1:18-19, Paul says he stayed 15 days with Cephas (Peter) and saw no other apostle except James, the Lord's brother. Readers explain how this fits with Acts in different ways.

Keep exploring

Before thisEscape in a BasketActs 9:19–25 After thisTeaching at AntiochActs 11:25–30

Paul's Story