And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The early disciples were so gripped by their past experience of Saul's persecution that they couldn't even fathom he was now one of them, failing to recognize his transformation. This reveals how deeply ingrained fear and suspicion can be, even in the face of God's radical work of change.
And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Fresh from his dramatic conversion and initial ministry in Damascus, Saul travels to Jerusalem to connect with the apostles. However, the disciples there, remembering his fierce persecution, are terrified and deeply suspicious of him, unable to believe he has truly changed. It's only through the intervention of Barnabas, who vouches for Saul, that he begins to find acceptance among the believers.
Imagine being the new kid in town, but with a history so dark that everyone's whispering and keeping their distance. That was Saul's reality.
Saul, now a follower of Jesus, arrives in Jerusalem with a transformed heart. However, his past as a fierce persecutor casts a long shadow. The believers in Jerusalem, remembering his violent actions against them, are deeply fearful. Their immediate reaction isn't joy or acceptance, but suspicion and apprehension. They can't easily reconcile the image of the man who hunted them with the idea of him being one of them.
This highlights a crucial aspect of genuine conversion: it doesn't erase history. While God forgives and transforms, the memory of past actions can create real barriers. The disciples' fear, while understandable given Saul's history, shows that trust isn't automatic. It takes time and evidence for deep-seated fears to subside.
When you're trying to convince people of something unbelievable, sometimes you need a trusted friend to vouch for you. That's exactly what Saul needed.
Saul's attempts to connect with the disciples are met with fear and disbelief. He tries to 'join himself' to them, seeking fellowship, but his efforts are rebuffed. It's not until Barnabas steps in that Saul is able to share his testimony and begin to be accepted.
Barnabas, described elsewhere as 'a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith,' acts as a vital bridge. He knows Saul, or at least is willing to trust the radical change he sees or has heard about. He takes the initiative to introduce Saul to the apostles, vouches for his genuine conversion, and shares the details of his encounter with Jesus and his bold preaching in Damascus. This intervention is critical because the disciples’ fear made them unreceptive to Saul’s own account.
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Understand the original words
mathētēs · Greek Noun
A follower, student, or learner of a teacher; in the New Testament, it refers specifically to those who accept the teachings of Jesus and follow His way of life.
The deep-seated fear and disbelief of the Jerusalem believers highlight the shocking nature of Saul's conversion. His reputation as a ruthless persecutor preceded him, making genuine reintegration into the community incredibly challenging, even years after his transformation.
c. AD 34
Saul's Conversion on the Damascus Road
Saul, a fierce persecutor of the early church, has a dramatic encounter with the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus, leading to his conversion.
c. AD 34 - c. AD 37
Saul's Time in Arabia and Damascus
After his conversion, Saul retreats to Arabia for a period, then returns to Damascus to preach, facing increasing opposition from Jewish authorities.
c. AD 37
Saul's Escape from Damascus
Facing a plot to kill him, Saul is lowered in a basket from the city walls by disciples, escaping Damascus.
c. AD 37— this verse
Saul's Arrival in Jerusalem
Saul travels to Jerusalem, intending to connect with the believers there, but they are deeply suspicious of him due to his past persecution.
c. AD 37
Barnabas Advocates for Saul
Barnabas, a trusted figure, vouches for Saul's genuine conversion, leading to his acceptance by the apostles and disciples in Jerusalem.
c. AD 37
Saul's Ministry and Departure from Jerusalem
Saul boldly preaches and debates with Hellenistic Jews in Jerusalem, but the increased danger leads the believers to send him to his hometown of Tarsus.
c. AD 37 - c. AD 47
Saul's Ministry in Tarsus and Beyond
After leaving Jerusalem, Saul spends about a decade ministering in his native Cilicia and surrounding regions, likely establishing churches.
This passage explains Saul's motivation for going to Jerusalem after his conversion – to connect with Peter and learn from him, which directly relates to his 'attempt' to join the disciples in Acts 9.
2 Corinthians 11:24-26This passage highlights the intense dangers and persecutions Paul faced after his conversion, providing context for why the disciples in Jerusalem would be fearful of him, given his past.
Philippians 3:7-8Paul himself reflects on his past life as a persecutor and his subsequent conversion, framing his past actions and present beliefs in a way that echoes the disciples' suspicion and his new identity.
1 John 4:18This verse speaks about perfect love casting out fear, offering a theological contrast to the fear the Jerusalem disciples felt towards Saul, and what true Christian fellowship should embody.
ellicottActs 9:26: "And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple."
(26) And when Saul was come to Jerusalem. —His journey probably took him, as before, through Samaria (see Note on Acts 9:3 ), and so laid the foundation of the interest in the Samaritan Church, which shows itself later on in the history in Acts 15:3 , when he and Barnabas journeyed “through Phœnice and Samaria.” He assayed to jo…
jfbActs 9:26-31: "And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple."
Ac 9:26-31. Saul's First Visit to Jerusalem after His Conversion.26. And when Saul was come to Jerusalem—"three years after" his conversion, and particularly "to see Peter" (Ga 1:18); no doubt because he was the leading apostle, and to communicate to him the prescribed sphere of his labors, specially to "the Gentiles."he assa…
The early disciples were so gripped by their past experience of Saul's persecution that they couldn't even fathom he was now one of them, failing to recognize his transformation. This reveals how deeply ingrained fear and suspicion can be, even in the face of God's radical work of change.
Fresh from his dramatic conversion and initial ministry in Damascus, Saul travels to Jerusalem to connect with the apostles. However, the disciples there, remembering his fierce persecution, are terrified and deeply suspicious of him, unable to believe he has truly changed. It's only through the intervention of Barnabas, who vouches for Saul, that he begins to find acceptance among the believers.
Fresh from his dramatic conversion and initial ministry in Damascus, Saul travels to Jerusalem to connect with the apostles. However, the disciples there, remembering his fierce persecution, are terrified and deeply suspicious of him, unable to believe he has truly changed. It's only through the intervention of Barnabas, who vouches for Saul, that he begins to find acceptance among the believers.
"And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple." — The early disciples were so gripped by their past experience of Saul's persecution that they couldn't even fathom he was now one of them, failing to recognize his transformation. This reveals how dee…
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Last reviewed October 2026