Acts 9:22-30: a reflection

22But Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ. 23When many days were fulfilled, the Jews conspired together to kill him, 24but their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him, 25but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket. 26When 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. 27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28He was with them entering into Jerusalem, 29preaching boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists, but they were seeking to kill him. 30When the brothers knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

Saul, newly converted from being the church's fierce persecutor, comes to Jerusalem and tries to join the disciples; but they are all afraid of him, not believing he is really a disciple. And no wonder: he had ravaged the church, and now claimed to be one of them. It is Barnabas who takes the risk. He takes Saul, brings him to the apostles, and vouches for him, telling them how Saul had met the Lord and preached boldly. When everyone else held back in fear, Barnabas extended trust to the changed man.

Notice what Barnabas did that the others would not: he extended trust to the former enemy. The disciples' fear was understandable; Saul had persecuted them, and their caution was natural. But Barnabas took the risk of believing that Saul had truly changed, and vouched for him, opening the door for him into the fellowship. He was willing to trust the changed man when others held back in fear, and his willingness made a way for Saul into the church.

That willingness to extend trust to a changed person, when others hold back, is a grace worth imitating. When someone who has done wrong claims to have changed, caution is natural, and we can hold back in fear or suspicion, unwilling to trust. But Barnabas took the risk of believing and vouching for Saul, and it opened the way for one who would become a great servant of God. When someone who has wronged you or others claims to have changed, do not always hold back in suspicion; consider, like Barnabas, whether to extend trust to the changed person, and to make a way for them. Grace is willing to believe that people can change, and to take the risk of welcoming them, as Barnabas welcomed Saul when others were afraid. Be, like Barnabas, one who is willing to extend trust and open the door to the changed, rather than only holding back in fear.

Lord, Saul, newly converted from persecuting the church, came to Jerusalem, and the disciples were all afraid of him; but Barnabas took the risk of believing he had changed, brought him to the apostles, and vouched for him, opening the way into the fellowship when others held back in fear. Let that willingness to extend trust to a changed person be a grace I imitate. When someone who has done wrong claims to have changed, caution is natural, and I can hold back in fear or suspicion, unwilling to trust. But Barnabas took the risk of believing and vouching for Saul, and it opened the way for one who would become a great servant of you. When someone who has wronged me or others claims to have changed, keep me from always holding back in suspicion; help me consider, like Barnabas, whether to extend trust to the changed person, and to make a way for them. Grace is willing to believe that people can change, and to take the risk of welcoming them, as Barnabas welcomed Saul when others were afraid. Make me, like Barnabas, one willing to extend trust and open the door to the changed, Lord, rather than only holding back in fear.