“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.”
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.—Barnabas ('Son of Encouragement,' Greek: Barnabas = hyios paraklēseōs) becomes Saul's advocate and mediator, a role he will play throughout Acts (his endorsement carries weight with the apostles). The recitation of Saul's conversion journey to the apostles functions as oral testimony and communal discernment. Barnabas's credibility bridges the trust gap between the apostles and the former persecutor.
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
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