Act 9:19-30 | TNotes

Summary for Acts 9:20-21: 9:20-21 ^a immediately he began preaching about Jesus: The genuineness of Saul’s encounter with the risen Christ is attested by the enthusiasm and boldness of his preaching. Saul’s outspoken declaration provoked astonishment, for he was the very man who had created such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem.
Summary for Acts 9:22-25: 9:22-25 ^b Despite the bewilderment of his hearers, Saul so compellingly presented the evidence for the claims of Jesus as Messiah that the non-believing Jews in Damascus found themselves unable to refute it. Apparently this went on for some time (see Gal 1:18 ^c), so some of the non-believing Jews launched a plot on his life, but he was spared when some believers let him down out of the city in a large basket. Paul recounts this incident in 2 Cor 11:32-33 ^d.
Summary for Acts 9:26-28: 9:26-28 ^e When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, the Christian community understandably did not immediately trust him, given his recent history of violently persecuting Christians (8:3 ^f; 9:1 ^g, 13 ^h; 22:3 ⁱ, 4 ^j; 26:9-11 ^k). Fortunately, Barnabas, the “Son of Encouragement” (4:36 ^l), introduced the changed man to the apostles and explained his encounter with the Lord at Damascus, his sense of calling, and his subsequent boldness in preaching in the name of Jesus in Damascus. Barnabas was able to convince the apostles that Saul’s conversion was genuine, so Saul remained with the apostles in Jerusalem, where he preached boldly for his Lord. Paul recalls this visit in Gal 1:18-19 ^m.
9:29 ⁿ Again Saul debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, and again an assassination was planned (cp. 9:22-24 ^o).
9:30 ^p After the believers heard about the plot, Saul was once again sent away (cp. 9:25 ^q), this time to Tarsus, his hometown, the capital of Cilicia (see 21:39 ^r; 22:3 ^s; 23:34 ^t; cp. Gal 1:21 ^u).