Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who spoke to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.
Parallel translations
- WEB But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
- KJV 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.
- NKJV But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
- NASB But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus at Damascus.
- NLT Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus.
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
Barnabas vouched for Saul, telling the apostles of his conversion and bold preaching. An encourager bridges the gap of distrust.
Overview
True to his name as son of encouragement, Barnabas takes the risk of advocating for Saul. By recounting Saul's vision of the Lord and his fearless witness, he secures Saul's acceptance among the apostles. His mediation models the grace of welcoming the repentant and building unity in the church.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Acts 4:36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),
- Acts 4:29And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness,
- Eph 6:19–20Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,
- Acts 4:13When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.
- Acts 15:25–26So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
- Acts 11:25Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
- Acts 9:20–22Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”
- Acts 13:2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
- Acts 15:35–39But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.
- 1 Cor 15:8And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth.
- Acts 12:25When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, bringing with them John, also called Mark.
- Acts 11:22When news of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
- Gal 1:18–19Only after three years did I go up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days.
- Acts 9:3–6As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
- Acts 15:2And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
- Gal 2:9And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas, and John—those reputed to be pillars—gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.
- 1 Cor 9:6Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living?
- Acts 9:17So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
- Gal 2:13The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
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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.
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