9:28
So, due to the intervention of Barnabas, Saul went around preaching in Jerusalem. Consider the effect of this, and also how, in human terms, difficult it must have been for Saul. He was preaching Christ right amongst those with whom he had previously been working against Christ. And Saul preached boldly. Preaching is meant to be bold. Not necessarily loud, but always clear and direct.
9:29
Saul also got involved in direct arguments. If we look at Acts we see all sorts of preaching. Sometimes it is directly linked with spiritual gifts, at other times it presenting things in an apologetic manner (proving from the Scriptures), at other times there is direct confrontation. We are to present the gospel in all sorts of ways, and should be wary of criticising someone else who presents it in a different style to the one we, or our church, uses. Of course, if they are presenting a “different gospel” that is another matter altogether. The Hellenists were Greek speaking Jews. They followed the tradition of the Jerusalem Jews in wanting to kill Saul.
9:30
The brothers learnt about the plot and so got Saul out of the way, first bringing him down to Caesarea, and then to Tarsus. Caesarea was a mixed Jewish and Syrian city, and was used by the Romans as their administrative centre for the region. So the Jews would be less likely to be able to carry out their plan there. Tarsus was a very Hellenized place, and was highly educated. It was also very commercial and prosperous. There was a significant Jewish presence in the place. It was also known for sexual vice.
9:31
So a time of peace reigned for the church in Judea, Galilee and Samaria. So we see that the church goes through periodic times of growth and peace, and then trouble and persecution. Summary sections, such as this verse, are used to signify the end of one section, and the beginning of another.
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