Acts 9:26 - When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
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What does "Acts 9:26" mean?
Acts 9:26 tells us about the initial reaction of the Jerusalem disciples to Saul's (later known as Paul) arrival in the city after his conversion. Let's break down the meaning:
"When Saul had come to Jerusalem...": This establishes the setting. Saul, the notorious persecutor of Christians, is now in Jerusalem.
"...he tried to join himself to the disciples...": Saul, now a believer, wants to associate with the Christian community in Jerusalem. He desires fellowship and acceptance.
"...but they were all afraid of him...": This highlights the core issue. The disciples' fear is understandable. Saul was, until very recently, their greatest enemy. He had actively hunted them, imprisoned them, and even participated in the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7).
"...not believing that he was a disciple.": This explains the reason for their fear. They found it hard to believe that Saul's conversion was genuine. His reputation as a persecutor was so strong that they suspected a trick or trap. They likely thought he was trying to infiltrate their ranks to gather information or cause further harm.
In summary, this verse shows the deep-seated distrust and skepticism that Saul faced after his dramatic conversion. The disciples in Jerusalem found it almost impossible to accept that the man who had been persecuting them was now one of them. This verse sets the stage for the rest of the narrative, where the disciples would need assurance and help to believe Saul's transformation was real.
Acts 9:26 - When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
What does "Acts 9:26" mean?
Acts 9:26 tells us about the initial reaction of the Jerusalem disciples to Saul's (later known as Paul) arrival in the city after his conversion. Let's break down the meaning:
"When Saul had come to Jerusalem...": This establishes the setting. Saul, the notorious persecutor of Christians, is now in Jerusalem.
"...he tried to join himself to the disciples...": Saul, now a believer, wants to associate with the Christian community in Jerusalem. He desires fellowship and acceptance.
"...but they were all afraid of him...": This highlights the core issue. The disciples' fear is understandable. Saul was, until very recently, their greatest enemy. He had actively hunted them, imprisoned them, and even participated in the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7).
"...not believing that he was a disciple.": This explains the reason for their fear. They found it hard to believe that Saul's conversion was genuine. His reputation as a persecutor was so strong that they suspected a trick or trap. They likely thought he was trying to infiltrate their ranks to gather information or cause further harm.
In summary, this verse shows the deep-seated distrust and skepticism that Saul faced after his dramatic conversion. The disciples in Jerusalem found it almost impossible to accept that the man who had been persecuting them was now one of them. This verse sets the stage for the rest of the narrative, where the disciples would need assurance and help to believe Saul's transformation was real.