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.
Parallel translations
- WEB When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
- BSB When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
- NKJV And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
- NASB When he came to Jerusalem, he tried repeatedly to associate with the disciples; and yet they were all afraid of him, as they did not believe that he was a disciple.
- NLT When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
In Jerusalem the disciples feared Saul, doubting his conversion. His past reputation made trust difficult.
Overview
The believers' wariness is understandable, given Saul's history of violence against the church. Their hesitation shows the real challenge of accepting a former enemy as a brother. It sets the stage for Barnabas's intervention and reminds us that genuine reconciliation sometimes requires a trusted mediator.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Acts 26:20But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
- Gal 1:17–19Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
- Acts 4:23And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
- Acts 9:19And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
- Acts 22:17–20And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;
- Matt 10:17–19But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
- Gal 2:4And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
- Matt 24:10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 9:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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