NLT Illustrated Study Bible - Book of Acts - Flipbook - Page 32
A cts 9 : 2 4
1988
plotted together to kill him. 24 They were
watching for him day and night at the city
gate so they could murder him, but Saul was
told about their plot. 25 So during the night,
some of the other believers* lowered him in
a large basket through an opening in the city
wall.
26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried
to meet with the believers, but they were all
afraid of him. They did not believe he had
truly become a believer! 27 Then Barnabas
brought him to the apostles and told them
how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Da
mascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul.
He also told them that Saul had preached
boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus.
28 So Saul stayed with the apostles and went
all around Jerusalem with them, preaching
boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He debated
with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried
to murder him. 30 When the believers* heard
about this, they took him down to Caesarea
and sent him away to Tarsus, his hometown.
Summary of the Church
31 The church then had peace throughout
Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became
stronger as the believers lived in the fear of
the Lord. And with the encouragement of
the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.
The Mission of Peter to the Gentiles
(9:32–11:18)
Peter Heals Aeneas and Raises Dorcas
32 Meanwhile, Peter traveled from place to
place, and he came down to visit the believ
ers in the town of Lydda. 33 There he met a
man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed
and bedridden for eight years. 34 Peter said to
him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up,
and roll up your sleeping mat!” And he was
9:24
Acts 20:3; 23:16, 20
2 Cor 11:32
9:25
Josh 2:15
1 Sam 19:12
2 Cor 11:33
9:26
Acts 22:1718
Gal 1:1718
9:27
Acts 4:36
9:31
Acts 8:1
9:32
Acts 8:14
9:34
Acts 3:6; 4:10
9 :25 Greek his disciples. 9:30 Greek brothers.
ROMAN SOLDIERS (Acts 10:18)
Cornelius was both a centurion and a captain in the Roman army (see note on 10:18; see also “Rome,” Rom 1:17). The
Roman military was highly structured. Each company of 100 men formed a century, which was headed by a centurion.
There were six centuries in a regiment, headed by a captain. Ten regiments formed a legion.
9:2628 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem,
the Christian community understandably
did not immediately trust him, given
his recent history of violently persecut
ing Christians (8:3; 9:1, 13; 22:3, 4;
26:911). Fortunately, Barnabas, the “Son
of Encouragement” (4:36), introduced
the changed man to the apostles and
explained his encounter with the Lord
at Damascus, his sense of call, and his
subsequent boldness in preaching in the
name of Jesus in Damascus. Barnabas
was able to convince the apostles that
Saul’s conversion was genuine, so Saul
remained with the apostles in Jerusalem,
where he preached boldly for his Lord.
Paul recalls this visit in Gal 1:1819.
T H E P E N TAT E U C H
9:29 Again Saul debated with some
Greek-speaking Jews, and again an assas
sination was planned (cp. 9:2224).
9:30 After the believers heard about the
plot, Saul was once again sent away (cp.
9:25), this time to Tarsus, his hometown,
the capital of Cilicia (see “Early Apostolic
Journeys,” 8:4–11:18; see 21:39; 22:3;
23:34; cp. Gal 1:21).
9:31 This verse is one of several in Acts
that detail the numerical and spiritual
growth of the church (see also 2:41; 4:4;
5:14; 6:1, 7; 12:24; 21:20). • The first
Christians were discovering the truth of
the principle, “the fear of the Lord is the
foundation of true knowledge” (Prov 1:7;
ISRAEL’S HISTORY
9:10; cp. Job 28:28; Ps 111:10; Eccl 12:13;
see Luke 7:16), and they were growing in
their faith (cp. Acts 2:43; 19:17).
9:3243 These verses describe Peter’s itin
erant ministry in Judea, particularly along
the seacoast. Exercising spiritual powers
given to him by God, Peter performed
wonderful works, including the healing
of Aeneas and the raising of Dorcas. Jesus
had promised such signs and wonders
to the disciples (John 14:12). • Typical
of Luke’s writing, the healing of a man
is matched by the healing of a woman
(see Luke 13:1017; 14:16). The people
in the area were deeply moved by these
miracles, and many were drawn into the
faith (Acts 9:35, 42).
POETRY & WISDOM
