21
All the people who heard him were amazed. They said, "This is the man who was in Jerusalem trying to destroy those who trust in this name! He came here to arrest the followers of Jesus and take them back to the leading priests."
22
But Saul grew more powerful. His proofs that Jesus is the Christ were so strong that the Jewish people in Damascus could not argue with him.
23
After many days, some Jewish people made plans to kill Saul.
24
They were watching the city gates day and night, but Saul learned about their plan.
25
One night some followers of Saul helped him leave the city by lowering him in a basket through an opening in the city wall.
26
When Saul went to Jerusalem, he tried to join the group of followers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he was really a follower.
27
But Barnabas accepted Saul and took him to the apostles. Barnabas explained to them that Saul had seen the Lord on the road and the Lord had spoken to Saul. Then he told them how boldly Saul had preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus.
28
And so Saul stayed with the followers, going everywhere in Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.
29
He would often talk and argue with the Jewish people who spoke Greek, but they were trying to kill him.
30
When the followers learned about this, they took Saul to Caesarea and from there sent him to Tarsus.
31
The church everywhere in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had a time of peace and became stronger. Respecting the Lord by the way they lived, and being encouraged by the Holy Spirit, the group of believers continued to grow.