Aug 30, 2017
Saul, still Saul and not Paul, boldly preaches Jesus as the Son of God in the synagogues in Damascus, shocking everyone, since he was widely known to be a persecutor of those who believed in Jesus. Many are stirred to anger towards Saul and he escapes the city with the help of “his disciples.” He attempts to join the believers in Jerusalem but they are yet fearful of him. Barnabas endorses Saul and once again Saul goes about preaching, and in a sense continues the ministry of Stephen with the Hellenistic synagogues in the city. The church, no longer threatened, grows throughout the regions of Judea, Samaria, and Galilee.