Saul Proclaims Jesus in Damascus

God's Urgent Call
Calling of Prophets

Called to Preach

Acts 9:21-25 The Message

Plots Against Saul

19-21 Saul spent a few days getting acquainted with the Damascus disciples, but then went right to work, wasting no time, preaching in the meeting places that this Jesus was the Son of God. They were caught off guard by this and, not at all sure they could trust him, they kept saying, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem among the believers? And didn’t he come here to do the same thing—arrest us and drag us off to jail in Jerusalem for sentencing by the high priests?”
22 But their suspicions didn’t slow Saul down for even a minute. His momentum was up now and he plowed straight into the opposition, disarming the Damascus Jews and trying to show them that this Jesus was the Messiah.
23-25 After this had gone on quite a long time, some Jews conspired to kill him, but Saul got wind of it. They were watching the city gates around the clock so they could kill him. Then one night the disciples engineered his escape by lowering him over the wall in a basket.

For Reflection

Astonished is the only word that could describe the reaction of all that heard Saul preach. The Disciples were not sure that Saul could be trusted with the Gospel. Saul's success in preaching the word convincingly threatened the Jewish leadership.  It seems (even today) there are those whose lives are transformed by the hearing of the Gospel message and those to whom the message is threatening.

Pray
Pray for those who hear the word of God and are changed by it.  Pray for those who hear and do not open their souls to accept and follow the will of God. Pray for those who protect Gods messengers.