Acts 9:23-31

     After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him, but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.

 

    When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas 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, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him. When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

 

     Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.

 

As faithful as Saul had been in persecuting the church while he believed the church promoted heresy, he was at least as faithful – probably more – in promoting Christ and building up the church once he met Jesus Christ and found that He is Lord and Savior.

 

And Saul’s faithfulness earned him the same reward he had formerly offered to believers: persecution. He had to flee Damascus for Jerusalem. And in Jerusalem, he had a hard time for a while finding friends among the believers. But Barnabas stood up for him and brought him into their fellowship. And Saul continued to preach Jesus Christ – earning himself some more persecution.

 

Apparently, the heavy persecution that had previously been directed toward anyone in the church was now directed almost exclusively toward Saul, because when he was gone the church enjoyed “a time of peace.” There was peace between the church and Saul, their persecutor. There was peace between Christ and Saul. And the church was strengthened. It was comforted and encouraged by the Holy Spirit – even their most vehement persecutor, Saul, could be transformed by Jesus Christ, so what did they have to fear? And the church continued to increase.

 

Father, thank You that You can take even such a man as Saul and make peace with him. Thank You that You can make the church’s enemies into friends. Thank You for making persecutors into co-persecutees. Deliver all Your people from persecution, but more importantly, deliver us all from unfaithful hearts. May we be completely devoted, as Saul was, to our King Jesus – willing to face anything for Him! And may our devotion even in the face of persecution encourage one another and build up Your church. Help us not to wimp out when people mock us, but to proclaim Jesus all the more. People need Him!