Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. Acts 9:19b-20
“Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.” It would be easy for us to read that and think nothing of it. But those few words say a lot! You see, Saul was a brand-new believer, fresh off the road where he’d met Jesus face-to-face. He didn’t yet know much about what it meant to follow Christ, but he knew he couldn’t do it alone.
New believers need fellowship. It’s one of the first things that helps faith grow some roots! Saul found fellowship right where it’s supposed to happen – among other believers. The church isn’t just a building or a Sunday service. It’s a community of people walking together, doing life together, encouraging one another, and helping each other stay pointed toward Jesus.
Think about how hard that must’ve been for Saul, though! The same man who once hunted Christians now wanted to sit beside them. And yet, somehow, the disciples welcomed him. He felt a sense of acceptance and belonging that he’d never known before. That’s what grace does – it gives people a second chance.
Saul’s transformation was nothing short of radical… one minute he’s an enemy of Christ; the next, he’s baptized and preaching that Jesus is the Son of God! When the gospel truly changes a person, there’s action right away. It’s not just talk – it shows up in how we live.
Through his new church family, Saul’s life crossed paths with Barnabas. Barnabas took a chance on him when others wouldn’t. He stood up for Saul, telling everyone that his conversion was real. That’s another fruit of Christian fellowship – God uses others to open doors that we could never open ourselves.
Of course, forgiveness and trust take time. Not everyone believed Saul’s story at first, and that’s understandable. But in time, he was accepted in ministry and God used him in ways no one thought possible. That’s the power of the gospel. It turns enemies into brothers. It replaces fear with faith. It rewrites the worst stories into testimonies of grace.
Saul’s life proves that no one is too far gone for God to reach – and that when He does, everything changes.
What about you? Where has God reversed your story with His grace? And who might need you to step up and be their “Barnabas” today – to believe in what God is doing in their life, even if others can’t see it yet?
Former Blackout Artist 