It Must Have Been a Strained Gathering

Saul had come to Damascus for the specific purpose of persecuting Christians. The Bible student knows how the Lord appeared unto him, sent Ananias to him, and he had obeyed the command to be baptized. He was now one of those whom he had sought to persecute.

How brethren would receive him was still a question. You can imagine how skeptical they might have been. Saul found it that way many places where he went and brethren knew of his destructive past. But it was a wonderful reception in Damascus.

After his conversion Saul was with these brethren for "certain days" and their fellowship must have been exciting and genuine (Acts 9: 19). They were confident they had a new brother in the Lord. He even preached Christ in the synagogue. Such an event would not have crossed the minds of Jew or brethren just a few days earlier.

Isn't is wonderful what coming to Christ does for human association? This is an added blessing for being in Christ.