Snoopy Approaches Acts

[unsafe]

So we see in previous verse 19 ---that Saul ate and was strengthened -----he was fasting so now with the food he has regained his strength ----and is ready to proclaim God's word to the Jewish people
and in verse 20 ----we see immediately that he is in the synagogue Proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God --

I say -----So he waist no time in serving God and doing His will to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ -----as soon as his strength is back --he is on the move ----

I say ------This is showing here just how the Born Again experience affects New converts ----they are so full of Joy that they just want to share the Good News of Jesus to everyone ---and that I can attest to personally ---as I couldn't wait to tell my friends and family about Jesus ---and how he changed my life ---some wanted to listen and some didn't --and I definitely lost some friends as well over my conversion -----but for me I was full of JOY --

AMPC Verse 21 ------All who heard him were amazed and said this is the man that persecuted many who called upon the name of the Lord ---Saul was going to Damascus to persecuted followers of the Way ---and here he is preaching about Jesus -----

I say ----this must of been very baffling for the Jews in the synagogue ---a head scratchier moment ---

Verse 22 ----Saul continues to grow in strength through the infilling of the Holy Spirit
who gives the person power and might to preach the gospel -----He continues to confuse the Jews in Damascus by giving evidence and proof that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah )---

I say ----The Jews cannot handle anymore of what Saul is saying ---and the conspire to kill him ----

Remember at his conversion Jesus told Saul that he would suffer in His Name -----and this is certainly the case here in Damascus ---his first place to Minister to -----

The same is true today ----for True Believes trying to tell the truth of the Scriptures -----People hate to hear the hard teachings of Scripture ----they like the soft fluffy lovey dovey---scripture that makes them feel it is Ok to live the way they want to and still be accepted into God's sheep fold without Jesus ---and listening to the real truth of the scripture ----

Now we see Saul knows about their devious plot to kill him -----it doesn't give any info on how he knew
but for me------ it would be a Divine revelation by and through the Holy Spirit --as Saul would have divine protection by God to do His will ====

---you can come to your own conclusion on that ---

I say ------and that is true today of True Believers they are under God's Divine protection ---that is a promise from God to His Children---

In the last verse --we see the disciple have a plan to get Saul out of the city by putting him in a basket -----so Saul is safe and gets out from under the devious plot that the Jews have cooked up ---all because they didn't like what Saul was preaching ------

To be fair to these people ---they are Spiritually Blinded ---their Spiritual lens is obscure ---they have scales over their eyes and cannot see or understand Spiritual Truth ----

And this stands for Many today -----by their own choice ---- unfortunately----

 

[paradox3]

Saul became more and more capable (v.22). I thought this was just the effect of practice.

 

[unsafe]

Saul became more and more capable (v.22). I thought this was just the effect of practice.

well I think practice could make you more capable -----for sure

But Saul was just converted ----and remember was fasting and ate and got his strength back ----and he immediately went to the synagogue so he didn't have any practice ----he got right into his preaching about Jesus ----

the Bible you use for your scripture NET says ------more and more capable -----

Most other Bibles use ---

New Living Translation
Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful

English Standard Version
But Saul increased all the more in strength,


So what is the Greek word for -------capable

Lexical Summary ,
dunamai: be able, to have power,capable,might, be possible, be of power

HELPS Word-studies
Cognate: 1410 dýnamai (a primitive verb) – to show ability (power); able (enabled by God), empowered.

AI

In Acts 9:22, the Holy Spirit empowers Saul, enabling him to "confound the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ". This verse highlights the transformative effect of the Holy Spirit, providing Saul with the strength and ability to publicly proclaim his newfound faith and refute his former beliefs.

 

[paradox3]

Acts 9:26-31

Bible Gateway passage: Acts 9:26-31 - New English Translation

Saul Returns to Jerusalem - When he arrived in Jerusalem, he attempted to associate with the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took Saul, brought him to the apostles, and related to them how he had seen the Lord on the...

www.biblegateway.com

Saul returns to Jerusalem and attempts to associate with the disciples. But they are all afraid of him and do not believe he is a disciple.

Barnabas introduces him to the apostles and vouches for him. Saul continues to associate with them in Jerusalem.

He debates with the Greek speaking Jews but they are trying to kill him. So Saul is sent to Tarsus.

The church throughout Galilee, Judea and Samaria experiences peace and is strengthened. It lives in fear of the Lord and is encouraged by the Holy Spirit.

 

[paradox3]

We met Barnabas back in Acts 4. His name is Joseph but the apostles call him Barnabas or "son of encouragement". He is a Levite who was a native of Cyprus.

He sold a field and laid the money at the feet of the apostles.

He sounds like a high credibility individual. He will feature again in Acts and some of Paul's letters.

 

[unsafe]

So in the Scripture today we see Paul returning to Jerusalem ----the very place he persecuted followers of the Way ----

The Disciples then are afraid of him --- and are by no means convinced that he is now one of them -----
My View here --------And Probably rightly so ---as when Saul left Damascus in the container he went to Arabia and spent a few years there ---so these Disciples would have had no contact with Saul to convince them of his conversion ======

This shows us how hard it is to cast down previous thoughts of a person who wronged us in the past and accept that they are now a changed person and accepting them among us -----the mind keeps going back to the past of what the person was like before their change ----

The world is divided into 2 groups ---the group who sees the positive in the worst person and the group who sees only the negative in the person ignoring any positive that may be there --

Thank goodness for Barnabas ----who was well respected and who came to Saul's aid and spoke on Saul's behalf to the Apostles ----we all need a friend like Barnabas in our lives---


Verse 28 --tells us that Saul was accepted and moved around with the Apostles and spoke out boldly about the Lord -----

verse 29---says Saul was speaking and Arguing with Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews) they were attempting to kill him --

verse 30 ---So Saul was removed from Jerusalem by the brothers and sent to his home town of Tarsus

Verse 31 speaks for itself --AMP B ---the Church is thriving

31 So the church throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace [without persecution], being built up [in wisdom, virtue, and faith]; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort and encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it continued to grow [in numbers].

I say ------This is an important piece of scripture here ----as the many Churches today do not live or walk in the Fear -(-Reverence --in Awe ) of the Lord -----

Their reverence and awe in this world is in living the life people want to live --without the Corner Stone --(Jesus )in their midst -----

 

[paradox3]

Agree that this is an important piece of Scripture.

 

[BetteTheRed]

The Disciples then are afraid of him --- and are by no means convinced that he is now one of them -----

I can't imagine why they wouldn't be. This is the man who is at least partially responsible for the death of Stephen, who we described as Christ-like, upthread. I don't understand what he could possibly have done to convince them, Barnabas' testimony notwithstanding. If I were a disciple, it would be like Donald Trump trying to convince me that he's a Christian.

 

[paradox3]

I was wondering why the testimony of Barnabas carried so much weight. The text doesn't mention him being an eyewitness on the road to Damascus. Are we to take it that he, in fact, was present at Saul's conversion?

 

[Mendalla]

I was wondering why the testimony of Barnabas carried so much weight. The text doesn't mention him being an eyewitness on the road to Damascus. Are we to take it that he, in fact, was present at Saul's conversion?

I think the fundamental problem is that we are reading this out of context 2000ish years later. Given that he seems to be well-respected in the Christian community, the people this was written for likely knew who he was from other stories and writings. Is he referenced anywhere else (e.g. the letters)?

 

[paradox3]

I think the fundamental problem is that we are reading this out of context 2000ish years later. Given that he seems to be well-respected in the Christian community, the people this was written for likely knew who he was from other stories and writings. Is he referenced anywhere else (e.g. the letters)?

Yes we will encounter him again in Acts and he is also mentioned in the letters.

So far in Acts all he has done is sold a field and given the apostles money.

 

[Waterfall]

I think the fundamental problem is that we are reading this out of context 2000ish years later. Given that he seems to be well-respected in the Christian community, the people this was written for likely knew who he was from other stories and writings. Is he referenced anywhere else (e.g. the letters)?

In the non canonical book, The Gospel of Barnabas, it portrays Barnabas as rejecting Paul's teachings, particularly his teaching of Jesus's divinity.
This gospel portrays Paul preaching a distorted version of Jesus's message and that he was deceived into believing Jesus was God.
A different understanding of why Barnabas and Mark parted ways in Acts, while Paul and Silas went on maybe?

 

[unsafe]

I was wondering why the testimony of Barnabas carried so much weight. The text doesn't mention him being an eyewitness on the road to Damascus. Are we to take it that he, in fact, was present at Saul's conversion?

No --Barnabas did not witness Saul's conversion ----

the name Barnabas means ---son of encouragement

there is more to read about him if interested --I just posted this part ----

Strong's Greek: 921. Βαρνάβας (Barnabas) -- Barnabas

Personal Background and Early Generosity
Acts 4:36–37 introduces Barnabas as “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’), [who] sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet”. His Levitical heritage gave him a grounding in the Law, yet his first recorded act is sacrificial generosity that supports the fledgling Jerusalem church. This pattern of benevolence and encouragement marks every subsequent appearance.

Mediator and Advocate for Saul of Tarsus

After Saul’s conversion, the Jerusalem believers feared him. “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles” (Acts 9:27). By vouching for Saul’s genuine faith and recounting his bold preaching in Damascus, Barnabas opened the door for Saul’s acceptance among the apostles. Without this mediation, the missionary partnership that would reshape the Mediterranean might never have formed.

Character Traits and Spiritual Qualities

Acts consistently portrays Barnabas as:
• Encouraging – he lives up to his nickname by strengthening others’ faith.
• Generous – relinquishing property and personal comfort for the gospel.
• Spirit-filled – empowered for discernment, miracles, and leadership.
• Bridge-builder – linking Jerusalem with Antioch, Jews with Gentiles, Paul with the apostles, and Mark with future usefulness.
• Humble – content for Paul to assume primary leadership (note the shift from “Barnabas and Saul” to “Paul and Barnabas” beginning in Acts 13:13

 

[unsafe]

I can't imagine why they wouldn't be. This is the man who is at least partially responsible for the death of Stephen, who we described as Christ-like, upthread. I don't understand what he could possibly have done to convince them,

To your first statement here ----I agree that the Disciples were right to be sceptical of Saul --at first knowing what his Old Life was like ---persecuting followers of the WAY ----thinking they to were going to be persecuted by him ------

just to clarify
While Saul was present during the stoning of Stephen and agreed with it ---Saul did not kill Stephen nor was he responsible for his death -----The Jewish leaders were responsible for Stephen'd death ---not Saul ----The Jewish leaders didn't like what Stephen was preaching ---

Well --here is the thing ---the Apostles were of God BetteTheRed and so was Barnabas and he had a great reputation and was greatly trusted as a Truth Teller among the the group ----so his testimony for Saul joining the group was taken as truth that Saul witnesses Jesus and was converted ---His old life was hidden in Christ ----

Just adding this from my post #286 above ---my view here ---

This shows us how hard it is to cast down previous thoughts of a person who wronged us in the past and accept that they are now a changed person and accepting them among us -----the mind keeps going back to the past of what the person was like before their change ----

 

[unsafe]

In the non canonical book, The Gospel of Barnabas, it portrays Barnabas as rejecting Paul's teachings, particularly his teaching of Jesus's divinity.
This gospel portrays Paul preaching a distorted version of Jesus's message and that he was deceived into believing Jesus was God.
A different understanding of why Barnabas and Mark parted ways in Acts, while Paul and Silas went on maybe?

This sounds to me like the writing of the Antichrist ---not God ----

Watch Out Folks !!!!

 

[Waterfall]

This sounds to me like the writing of the Antichrist ---not God ----

Watch Out Folks !!!!

View attachment 11637

My bad......you're right.

 

[BetteTheRed]

Hold on a second, folks. The letter to the Galations was written before the 4 gospels were, by at least 20 years. The only gospel (good news) to which Paul could prefer is either the Hebrew Scriptures or an early oral record?

 

[GordW]

Hold on a second, folks. The letter to the Galations was written before the 4 gospels were, by at least 20 years. The only gospel (good news) to which Paul could prefer is either the Hebrew Scriptures or an early oral record?

Paul is likely not referring to a written text in the same way that we use the word gospel. Paul is talking about the message of Good News that is being preached. And we know that there was more than one interpretation of the Jesus event that was being shared in those early years.

 

[paradox3]

Acts 9:32-43

Bible Gateway passage: Acts 9:32-43 - New English Translation

Peter Heals Aeneas - Now as Peter was traveling around from place to place, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda. He found there a man named Aeneas who had been confined to a mattress for eight years because he was paralyzed. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you...

www.biblegateway.com

The narrative returns to Peter, who has been traveling around from place to place.

In Lydda, he heals a man named Aeneas who had been confined to a mattress for 8 years. The people see this and turn to the Lord.

In Joppa, he raises Tabitha from the dead. This becomes known and many believe in the Lord.

Peter remains in Joppa for many days with Simon the tanner.

 

[paradox3]

Interesting to learn a little about Tabitha (Dorcas). She is identified as a disciple who continually did good deeds and acts of charity.

She also made tunics and other items of clothing. The widows mourn when she gets sick and dies.