| Geneva Study Bible {6} 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. (6) In ancient times no man was rashly or lightly received into the members and the sheep of the Church, much less to be a pastor. People's New Testament 9:26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem. Three years had passed since he left the city, a proud, talented young Pharisee, with brilliant worldly prospects, the honored agent of the Sanhedrin, commissioned to stamp out Christianity at Damascus. He now returns a disciple of him whom he sought to destroy, his bright worldly prospects all forfeited, an outcast from his own nation, persecuted and hated. Why this change? No explanation is possible, save that given in this history and by himself. They were all afraid of him. Little was known in the church of the change. A great part of the three years were spent in Arabia, probably in study and preparation of his great work. They had known so much of his fury in the past that they feared him still. His appearance in the church would be much like that of Robert G. Ingersoll, the great agnostic, in a Christian convention. Wesley's Notes 9:26 And coming to Jerusalem - Three years after, Gal 1:18. These three years St. Paul passes over, Acts 22:17, likewise. Scofield Reference Notes [3] gone to Jerusalem The Acts records four visits of Paul to Jerusalem after conversion: (1) Acts 9:23-30. This seems identical with the visit of Gal 1:18,19. The "apostles" of verse Acts 9:27 were Peter, and James, the Lord's brother. (2) Acts 11:30. Paul may have been in Jerusalem during the events of Acts 12:1-24,25. (3) Acts 15:1-30 Gal 2:2-10. (4) Acts 21:17-23:35. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 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 assayed to join himself to the disciples-simply as one of them, leaving his apostolic commission to manifest itself. they were all afraid of him, &c.-knowing him only as a persecutor of the faith; the rumor of his conversion, if it ever was cordially believed, passing away during his long absence in Arabia, and the news of his subsequent labors in Damascus perhaps not having reached them. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 9:23-31 When we enter into the way of God, we must look for trials; but the Lord knows how to deliver the godly, and will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape. Though Saul's conversion was and is a proof of the truth of Christianity, yet it could not, of itself, convert one soul at enmity with the truth; for nothing can produce true faith, but that power which new-creates the heart. Believers are apt to be too suspicious of those against whom they have prejudices. The world is full of deceit, and it is necessary to be cautious, but we must exercise charity, 1Co 13:5. The Lord will clear up the characters of true believers; and he will bring them to his people, and often gives them opportunities of bearing testimony to his truth, before those who once witnessed their hatred to it. Christ now appeared to Saul, and ordered him to go quickly out of Jerusalem, for he must be sent to the Gentiles: see ch. 22:21. Christ's witnesses cannot be slain till they have finished their testimony. The persecutions were stayed. The professors of the gospel walked uprightly, and enjoyed much comfort from the Holy Ghost, in the hope and peace of the gospel, and others were won over to them. They lived upon the comfort of the Holy Ghost, not only in the days of trouble and affliction, but in days of rest and prosperity. Those are most likely to walk cheerfully, who walk circumspectly. | 
