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King James Bible - Acts 9:27

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SEV Biblia, Chapter 9:27

Entonces Bernab�, tom�ndole, lo trajo a los ap�stoles, y les cont� c�mo había visto al Se�or en el camino, y que le había hablado, y c�mo en Damasco había hablado confiadamente en el Nombre de Jesus.

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Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 9:27

Verse 27. Barnabas-brought him to the apostles] That is, to Peter and James; for others of the apostles he saw none, Gal. i. 19. It appears that he went up at this time to Jerusalem merely to see Peter, with whom he abode fifteen days, Gal. i. 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; 1. It is certain that intelligence did not travel speedily in those primitive times; there were few open roads, and no regular posts, except those between military stations. 2. Though there were many Jews in Damascus, and several Christians, yet the city was heathen, and under a heathen king, with whom the Jews at Jerusalem could have little commerce. 3. Though Herod had married the daughter of Aretas, yet, as he had put her away, there were great animosities between the two courts, which at last broke out into an open war; this must have prevented all social and commercial intercourse. 4. The Christians were at that time greatly persecuted by the Jews, and therefore the few that dwelt at Damascus could have little connection, if any, with their brethren at Jerusalem. 5. It might be the interest of the Jews at Jerusalem, supposing they had heard of it, to keep the fact of Saul's conversion as quiet as possible, that the Christian cause might not gain credit by it. 6. They might have heard of his conversion; but either did not fully credit what they had heard, or were not satisfied that the person who now presented himself was the man; for it is not likely that all the Christians at Jerusalem had been personally acquainted with Saul.

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John Gill's Bible Commentary

Ver. 27. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles , etc.] To Peter and James, the brother of our Lord, for no other apostles did he see at this time, (Gal 1:18,19). 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 had appeared to him in person, as he was on his way to Damascus: and that he had spoken to him ; and expostulated with him about his persecution of him in his members, and bid him go into the city, where it should be told him what he should do: and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus ; that he had used great freedom of speech, and had shown courage and greatness of mind in preaching Christ at Damascus, both as soon as he was converted, and now upon his return thither. Hence it is manifest, that previous to admission into a church of Christ, and in order to satisfy the members of it, and gain their assent to such an admission, there ought to be a declaration made of the work of grace upon the souls of such, who propose to be joined to it; as how the Lord has met with them, and shown them the evil of their ways, and given them repentance unto life; and how they have had a sight of him by faith, and have looked to Christ and believed in him for the salvation of their souls; and how they have embraced the doctrines of the Gospel, and have found much sweetness and comfort in them; and that from a principle of love to him, and faith in him, and with a view to his glory, they are willing to submit to his ordinances, and to walk in holy fellowship with his people; and such an account of Saul being given by Barnabas, who had had it from him; and this being, no doubt, declared and attested by Saul himself, he was received into fellowship with the disciples: hence it follows, Ver. 28. And be was with them , etc.] Peter and James, and the rest of the disciples; he lived with them, conversed with them, and joined with them in all religious exercises; which is signified by his coming in and going out at Jerusalem ; no one of the apostles or disciples forbidding or hindering him.

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Matthew Henry Commentary

Verses 23-31 - When we enter into the way of God, we must look for trials; but the Lord knows how to deliver the godly, and will, with the temptation also make a way to escape. Though Saul's conversion was and is a proo of the truth of Christianity, yet it could not, of itself, convert on soul at enmity with the truth; for nothing can produce true faith, but that power which new-creates the heart. Believers are apt to be to suspicious of those against whom they have prejudices. The world i full of deceit, and it is necessary to be cautious, but we mus exercise charity, 1Co 13:5. The Lord will clear up the characters of true believers; and he will bring them to his people, and often give them opportunities of bearing testimony to his truth, before those wh once witnessed their hatred to it. Christ now appeared to Saul, an ordered him to go quickly out of Jerusalem, for he must be sent to the Gentiles: see ch. 22:21. Christ's witnesses cannot be slain till the have finished their testimony. The persecutions were stayed. The professors of the gospel walked uprightly, and enjoyed much comfor from the Holy Ghost, in the hope and peace of the gospel, and other were won over to them. They lived upon the comfort of the Holy Ghost not only in the days of trouble and affliction, but in days of rest an prosperity. Those are most likely to walk cheerfully, who wal circumspectly.

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Greek Textus Receptus

βαρναβας 921 N-NSM δε 1161 CONJ επιλαβομενος 1949 5637 V-2ADP-NSM αυτον 846 P-ASM ηγαγεν 71 5627 V-2AAI-3S προς 4314 PREP τους 3588 T-APM αποστολους 652 N-APM και 2532 CONJ διηγησατο 1334 5662 V-ADI-3S αυτοις 846 P-DPM πως 4459 ADV εν 1722 PREP τη 3588 T-DSF οδω 3598 N-DSF ειδεν 1492 5627 V-2AAI-3S τον 3588 T-ASM κυριον 2962 N-ASM και 2532 CONJ οτι 3754 CONJ ελαλησεν 2980 5656 V-AAI-3S αυτω 846 P-DSM και 2532 CONJ πως 4459 ADV εν 1722 PREP δαμασκω 1154 N-DSF επαρρησιασατο 3955 5662 V-ADI-3S εν 1722 PREP τω 3588 T-DSN ονοματι 3686 N-DSN του 3588 T-GSM ιησου 2424 N-GSM

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Vincent's NT Word Studies

27. Declared (dihghsato). Related throughout. See on Luke viii. 39; and compare on declaration, Luke i. 1.

Had preached boldly (eparrhsiasato). See on freely, ch. ii. 29.

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Robertson's NT Word Studies

9:27 {Took him} (epilabomenos). Second aorist middle (indirect) participle of epilambanw, common verb to lay hold of. Barnabas saw the situation and took Saul to himself and listened to his story and believed it. It is to the credit of Barnabas that he had the insight and the courage to stand by Saul at the crucial moment in his life when the evidence seemed to be against him. It is a pleasing hypothesis that this influential disciple from Cyprus had gone to the University of Tarsus where he met Saul. If so, he would know more of him than those who only knew his record as a persecutor of Christians. That fact Barnabas knew also, but he was convinced that Jesus had changed the heart of Saul and he used his great influence (#Ac 4:36; 11:22) to win the favor of the apostles, Peter in particular (#Ga 1:19) and James the half-brother of Jesus. The other apostles were probably out of the city as Paul says that he did not see them. {To the apostles} (pros tous apostolous). Both Barnabas and James are termed apostles in the general sense, though not belonging to the twelve, as Paul did not, though himself later a real apostle. So Barnabas introduced Saul to Peter and vouched for his story, declared it fully (diegesato, in detail) including Saul's vision of Jesus (eiden ton kurion) as the vital thing and Christ's message to Saul (elalesen autwi) and Saul's bold preaching (eparresiasato, first aorist middle indicative of parresiazw from pan--resia telling it all as in #Ac 2:29). Peter was convinced and Saul was his guest for two weeks (#Ga 1:18) with delightful fellowship (historesai). He had really come to Jerusalem mainly "to visit" (to see) Peter, but not to receive a commission from him. He had that from the Lord (#Ga 1:1f.). Both Peter and James could tell Saul of their special experiences with the Risen Christ. Furneaux thinks that Peter was himself staying at the home of Mary the mother of John Mark (#Ac 12:12) who was a cousin of Barnabas (#Col 4:10). this is quite possible. At any rate Saul is now taken into the inner circle of the disciples in Jerusalem.