Acts 9:26-27 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 9:23-31

Luke here makes no mention of Paul's journey into Arabia, which he tells us himself was immediately after his conversion, Gal. 1:16, 17. As soon as God had revealed his Son in him, that he might preach him, he went not up to Jerusalem, to receive instructions from the apostles (as any other convert would have done, that was designed for the ministry), but he went to Arabia, where there was new ground to break up, and where he would have opportunity of teaching, but not learning; thence he... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 9:26-31

9:26-31 When he arrived in Jerusalem he tried to make contact with the disciples. They were all afraid of him because they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and told them the story of how, upon the road, he had seen the Lord and that he had spoken with him, and that in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. He went in and out with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He talked and debated with the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 9:26

And when Saul was come to Jerusalem ,.... After he had escaped out of Damascus, in the manner before related, and which was three years after his conversion: he assayed to join himself to the disciples ; not to the private members of the church, or ordinary disciples, as distinct from the apostles, but to the whole society, as consisting of apostles and private Christians; for his chief view in going to Jerusalem was to see Peter; and the Ethiopic version reads, "to the apostles": the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 9:27

But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles ,.... To Peter and James, the brother of our Lord, for no other apostles did he see at this time, Galatians 1:18 . It is probable that Barnabas had been at Damascus, and had there related to him, the whole account of Saul's conversion and entrance on the ministry, which he gives a particular relation of, as follows: and declared unto them, how he had seen the Lord in the way ; he told the apostles, Peter and James, how that Christ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 9:26

He assayed to join himself to the disciples - Επειρατο κολλασθαι , He endeavored to get closely united to them, to be in religious fellowship with them. Believed not that he was a disciple - They did not suppose it possible that such a person could be converted to the faith of Christ. The full power of Divine grace, in the conversion of the soul, was not yet completely known. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 9:27

Barnabas - brought him to the apostles - That is, to Peter and James; for others of the apostles he saw none, Galatians 1:19 . It appears that he went up at this time to Jerusalem merely to see Peter, with whom he abode fifteen days, Galatians 1:18 . How it came that the apostles and Church at Jerusalem had not heard of Saul's conversion, which had taken place three years before, is not easy to be accounted for. The following considerations may help; It is certain that intelligence did... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 9:26

Verse 26 26.When Saul was. These were yet hard entrances (617) for Paul, who was as yet but a freshwater soldier, in that, when he had hardly escaped the hands of the enemies, the disciples would not receive him. For he might have seemed to have been so tossed to and fro, as it were, in mockery, that he could have no resting place. All his own nation was set against him for Christ’s cause. The Christians refuse him. Might he not have been quite discouraged and out of hope as one expelled out of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 9:27

Verse 27 27.When Barnabas had taken him. Whereas the disciples fled so fast from Paul, that was, peradventure, a point of too great fearfulness, (621) and yet he speaketh of none of the common sort, but of the apostles themselves. But he doth either extenuate or lighten their fault, because they suspected him for just causes, whom they had found and tried (622) to be such a deadly enemy; and, it was to be feared, lest they should rashly endanger themselves if they should have showed themselves... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 9:1-31

The Ethiopian changes his skin. Of all the remarkable events in the history of human psychology, probably the most remarkable is the conversion of St. Paul, the memory of which is continually celebrated in the Church on the 25th of January. It may be viewed— I. AS AN EVIDENCE OF THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY . St. Paul lived. He preached the gospel with astonishing vigor and success. Numerous Churches were founded by him in Asia and Europe. These are facts as certain as... read more