Acts 9:23-31 Saul Is Changed & Preaches the Gospel Boldly

When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him,  but their plot became known to Saul.They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death;  but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.  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 at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.  And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord.  And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death.  But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

You can imagine how hard it was for the disciples in Jerusalem had made such a change from obtaining letters to put Jesus' followers to becoming the leading preacher of the Gospel in places where the gospel wasn't being preached.  In Saul's case, it took the credible testimony of Barnabas, the beloved Son of Encouragement to stand up for him, being an eye-witness to the bold proclamations of Saul, doing things that so far the disciples had not done, which is preach the gospel outside of Jerusalem boldly.  They were very suspicious of him, but in the days to come would see first hand what a changed man can look like.

Daily Prayer:  Lord Jesus, anyone who comes to know You will undergo change. Change as in the transformation of the inner man is a good thing because it results in trust in You for all things.  Let each who comes into contact with You have that change so that they may be useful to Your Kingdom.  Amen.