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Still in chapter 9 for Day 17 of 31 Days in Acts in the passage from verse 20 to 31
What stands out to us today?
Certain words stand out in Verses 20-22
Immediately
Still in Damascus the first thing he did after he had learned from the other disciples was to get out and preach the Gospel.
Amazed
Those who heard knew who he was but what he was now doing did not match up to what they had heard about him.
Increased
As he preached he grew stronger in his faith.
Confounded
The Jews could not understand because he was standing up for Jesus and proving who Jesus really was.
Result
He had done an about turn in his beliefs and was not scared to show this.
A Certain group of people & their actions stand out in Verses 23-25
The Jews plotted and watched
It was the Jews versus the disciples here because as the Jews tried to find the opportunity to take Saul and kill him, Saul and the disciples made their plans and he escaped the clutch of the Jews.
God's hand was obviously at work in the safety of Saul and the ideas of the disciples.
I feel like both sides were cunning in this event one for evil and one for good but we don't use the word cunning in a good way normally so perhaps I should say the Jews were cunning but the disciples were canny ( having or showing shrewdness and good judgement - remember I'm a Northern Ireland girl!).
A Certain person & his actions stand out in Verses 26-30
This is not our first mention of Barnabas because we were introduced to him by his other name Jonas in Acts ch.4 v 36 which linked in with the story of Ananias Because of a Lie.
Saul had escaped to Jerusalem but the disciples there did not accept him thinking of what he had been like. Barnabas however stood as a reference for him and gave a good report of his preaching.
With a good recommendation from Barnabas, Saul was now part of the fellowship in Jerusalem and was proclaiming the gospel until again evil was purposed against him. The disciples in Jerusalem did the same as those in Damascus, they got him out of the city.
Obviously Saul after having had one type of influence when we meet him at first, now had the opposite type of influence.
Result in Verse 31
The church was growing in a large area and peace was evident there.
I'm trying to read and write about the Book of Acts for 31 Days so please come back and join me for some notes & some thoughts each day.
As the month goes on each Day's Link will be added in
Interested to know more about the Book of Acts?
Then Try these commentaries
Or this Bible Study
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