E21
Stirring up Trouble
Acts 9:20-31
In the previous chapter we read about Saul’s conversion experience. We would all agree that the way he came to salvation was unique and extraordinary. When we compare our own experience of coming to Christ we would have to admit that it does not even come close to being like Paul’s.
And yet, when we take a closer look, we will see aspects of his conversion that we, too, have experienced … although to a somewhat lesser degree.
First we look at ‘connecting’ with Jesus. Perhaps I should call it ‘Our Jesus Encounter’. If you are a Christian, you had one. Saul was not looking for salvation. He thought he already had it. He believed in God. He tried to be a good Jew. When he heard claims that Jesus was the Son of God, he was certain that these claims were false. He considered such claims to be blasphemy against God. He felt so strongly about this that he wanted these ‘false’ claims to be silenced.
Saul’s introduction to Jesus did not come through the words of a Christian. Jesus introduced Himself directly to Saul. That is very different from the way you and I met Christ.
Saul himself (Paul) gives us the ‘normal’ pattern.
14 Now how can they call on one in whom they have never believed? How can they believe in one of whom they never heard? And how can they hear unless someone proclaims him?
15 And who will go to tell them unless he is sent? As the scripture puts it: How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:14-15 Philips Translation.
The majority of us believers came to Christ through someone sharing God’s word with us. It could have been in a sermon. It could have been a parent or relative. It could have been a friend. But I don’t know of anyone who was stopped short by Jesus Himself as Saul was.
But regardless of how it happened to you … you were introduced to Jesus. You had a ‘Jesus Encounter’.
Saul had an incredibly dramatic conversion experience. Imagine being spoken to directly by Jesus. Ac 9:5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
I want to list some of the stages that Saul progressed through as the reality of who Jesus is really sunk in.
At the point of realizing that Jesus is God, Saul had a startling revelation of the sincere but faulty worldview which he held. He said, … I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 1Timothy 1:13
Saul had a solemn realization that his previous life-goals and directions were all for nothing. “I was wrong! Jesus IS the Son of God.’ Many Christians have had to deal with the same thing.
And Saul had an overwhelming sense of guilt for the damage he had done to the people of God. Have we been guilty of that? Very likely not to the same degree, but many people, before coming to Christ previously criticized, ridiculed and ostracized others. Then they became Christians and felt so bad about what they had done.. Paul felt very convicted of this. He states; 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. I Timothy 3:1
And next Saul had a wholehearted acceptance of the plan of God for his life. This is where many Christians have fallen short. Far too many have made salvation all about them. It is like they thought, ‘Whew! I’m saved! I’ve made it! I am in!
There are many who, if they were to be asked, “What is your mission in life, now that you are a Christian?”, would think, ‘Mission? I never gave it any thought’. Paul said, He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 2 Corinthians 5:15
He died for all. Paul puts it another way, “For you are bought with a price, therefore … glorify God in your body … which belongs to God. 1 Corinthians 6:20
Living for God, glorifying God, was, for Saul, an everyday thing and will be for us too, IF we can get it through our heads that we were DEAD and now, by His grace have been bought and made alive.
Saul displayed a ‘zeal for God’. What does that mean? What is the definition of the word ‘zealous’? Here some of the synonyms that I looked up; fervent, ardent, , fiery, passionate, devout, devoted, committed, dedicated, enthusiastic, eager, keen, avid, sincere, wholehearted, earnest, vigorous, energetic, zestful, purposeful, forceful, intense,
These words totally describe Saul. But do they describe us as well? I believe by a thorough and proper ‘inside look’ into our own hearts, we can develop this same zeal.
Saul had a zeal before he came to Christ. He makes a note of the fact that many people are like that. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. Romans 10:2
Paul is speaking from experience here.
Saul had a love for the Jewish people before he was saved and that never changed. He said, 1 ¶ I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. Romans 9:1-5
Like Saul, we should have a similar love for ‘our people’. Eternity will be a long, long time. What can we do about the salvation of ‘our people’? We cannot force them to be saved. We cannot ‘pay God’ for their salvation. All we can do is to pray daily. And we can pray specifically. For example, we can ask God to show us the most effective, wise way that we can draw them to a faith in Jesus.
Saul developed a love and appreciation for the Christians in Damascus. Acts 9:19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. Food and fellowship go along way towards establishing a love bond. It worked for Saul. It works for us.
Saul experienced the love of Jesus through the body of believers who were willing to recognize that he was a new person. He was now one of them. And Saul felt genuinely loved by his new family. We know that feeling well. There is no substitute for the loving environment that God created when he formed His church.
Saul’s heart must have been overflowing with joy. He has been corrected by Jesus and forgiven. He has been healed of the blindness that came on him on the Damascus road. He has been adopted into the Damascus church and felt their love. He cannot keep his new-found truth silent. We read that 20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
Saul has been told by God that he will stand before the gentiles and present the gospel to them. Unlike most of us, he was a special agent of God. God would be using him to plant many churches throughout Asia. God would be using him to pen most of our New Testament books.
When we think of the position of responsibility and leadership Saul had compared to the work that God has cut out for us, we silently believe that we could never measure up to that. The truth is, that each one of us has a function in the body that cannot be compared to that of anyone else. God has placed us exactly where He wants us. He only asks that we be faithful to serve where we are. Saul became a very faithful servant.
At times Jesus uttered a five word sentence that almost shows that He was getting exasperated. He said, “Oh you of little faith!” Can we live in such a way that we never have to hear those words?
God turned Saul around 180 degrees and his change was astounding. We read, 21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”
I would imagine that many of the Jews in the synagogue were becoming converted to Christianity. People obviously had heard of his past hatred for Christianity and perhaps they had a hard time getting their minds around this. But some of the Jews, seeing this total turn-around in Saul, would have been impressed. This may have caused them to take a closer look at the evidence regarding the deity of Christ.
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
By the sounds of things, Saul is having more success in reaching new people for Jesus than the local church in Damascus was having.
We want to remember that the church was very young and made up of believers who had run from persecution. Saul is the one who stirred up the persecution in Jerusalem to begin with. So this church is made up of believers who had run from Saul’s harassment and abuse. It is possible that many were staying away from synagogues for fear that something similar would break out here.
Saul is proving that Jesus is the Christ. Some people believed. Those who were not being convinced got very angry. We read, 23 ¶ Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him.
Stephen had disputed in the ‘Synagogue of the Libertines’ in Jerusalem and ultimately ended up a martyr. Saul has spent a number of days proving that Jesus is the Messiah and has angered some of the synagogue members to the point of planning his death.
Jesus actually predicted this kind of thing would happen. He said, "I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. “ John 16:1-4
Jesus said these words to his disciples on the night before his trial and arrest. To be forewarned, according to Jesus, would keep them from falling away. As a side note, the same holds true for us in the coming days. The apostle Paul gave us clear warnings regarding the days preceding the rapture. He said, But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 1 Thessalonians 5:4
Have you accepted his ‘heads-up, his warning? Have you totally dismissed His warning? If so, according to Jesus, you are in danger of falling away.
Saul got a ‘heads-up’ from someone. We read 24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.
It appears that the would-be assassins were aware of Saul’s habits. They expected him to be going through the city gates periodically. Maybe Saul was residing in a home that was a ways out in the country and used the ‘gates’ on a regular basis.
This time, however, Saul has decided to return ‘home’ to Jerusalem and try to make a connection with the Apostles there. Why does Saul wish to connect with the Apostles there? For a number of reasons. First to all to express his sincere regret for his terrible behavior toward them. Secondly, he would want them to know of his new ‘mission’ to the gentiles which he was given by Jesus directly. Very likely he also looked forward to fellowship with the ones who knew Jesus personally.
Not having any kind of ‘media’ available, these Apostles would not have heard of Saul’s conversion.
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
That would be a real problem. He had a very distinct reputation. To simply ‘appear’ and announce, “I’m a Christian now.”, would not really go over.
Perhaps some of you can identify with that. An abusive, insulting husband receives Jesus as Savior… what is his wife to think? What will it take for her to really believe that he is a changed person? We teach and believe that the gospel of Jesus washes our sins away and puts in us a new heart … but we like to ‘wait and see’ if this conversion is genuine. In Saul’s case a ‘daring’ Christian came forward.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought [him] to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Remember Barnabas? His home had been on the isle of Cypress, but he was present in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. He accepted Christ as Savior there in Jerusalem. He sold his Cypress home and moved to Jerusalem. He gave all the money from the sale of his home to the church, and by so doing started a whole movement.
And here he is, with a believing heart that Saul truly has been born again. That took faith and boldness on his part. Barnabas would have been a friend of Stephen. Barnabas would have known that Saul had Stephen killed. And yet Barnabas believes the work of God in Saul's life was real.
Barnabas must have spent enough time with Saul to be convinced. I am thinking that there must have been a time of crying, confession and prayer between them. So Barnabas took the bold step and brought him to the apostles.
We read that Saul immediately got busy reaching out to the Jews with the news that Jesus is God.
28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.
29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus … Can you predict what is going to happen next?
and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him.
As long as Saul had been attacking Christians in the Damascus area, things had settled down in Jerusalem. Saul is now back, and he is a believer. But now Saul is ‘stirring things up’ as a believer. Persecution seems to have returned. What do the apostles do about it when they hear that the Jews want Paul dead?
We read, 30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.
Is this similar to the Damascus Christians sneaking Paul out of the city by letting him down the wall in a basket at night? We don’t know whose idea it was, but they are sending him home … all the way to Tarsus. Why? Are they thinking of him or thinking of themselves … or both. If they can (in a good sense) get rid of him for a while, he won't be here in Jerusalem stirring up trouble for the church. And Saul should be safer in his hometown. That is, until he goes into a local synagogue and does it all over again.
This was no little trip for the brethren to escort him to Caesarea. Jerusalem to Caesarea was about 120 kilometres. By a fast car that is about an hour and half. On foot? I am not sure. I have never attempted it. But they thought it a worthwhile endeavour.
So what was the result of sending Saul home?
31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
We know that this is too good to be true … that is, this peace and quiet should be appreciated while they had it , because it is bound to not be permanent.
God has granted us peace in many countries of the world for quite a while. We have grown accustomed to it. We have come to expect it. Sometimes we even express it as our right. But here is a heads-up. Tough times are ahead. But as we see through the book of Acts, when tough times kept cropping up, God was right there with the believers. And He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. He is with us in good times and in bad.
He said, I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33
And yet, when we take a closer look, we will see aspects of his conversion that we, too, have experienced … although to a somewhat lesser degree.
First we look at ‘connecting’ with Jesus. Perhaps I should call it ‘Our Jesus Encounter’. If you are a Christian, you had one. Saul was not looking for salvation. He thought he already had it. He believed in God. He tried to be a good Jew. When he heard claims that Jesus was the Son of God, he was certain that these claims were false. He considered such claims to be blasphemy against God. He felt so strongly about this that he wanted these ‘false’ claims to be silenced.
Saul’s introduction to Jesus did not come through the words of a Christian. Jesus introduced Himself directly to Saul. That is very different from the way you and I met Christ.
Saul himself (Paul) gives us the ‘normal’ pattern.
14 Now how can they call on one in whom they have never believed? How can they believe in one of whom they never heard? And how can they hear unless someone proclaims him?
15 And who will go to tell them unless he is sent? As the scripture puts it: How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:14-15 Philips Translation.
The majority of us believers came to Christ through someone sharing God’s word with us. It could have been in a sermon. It could have been a parent or relative. It could have been a friend. But I don’t know of anyone who was stopped short by Jesus Himself as Saul was.
But regardless of how it happened to you … you were introduced to Jesus. You had a ‘Jesus Encounter’.
Saul had an incredibly dramatic conversion experience. Imagine being spoken to directly by Jesus. Ac 9:5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
I want to list some of the stages that Saul progressed through as the reality of who Jesus is really sunk in.
At the point of realizing that Jesus is God, Saul had a startling revelation of the sincere but faulty worldview which he held. He said, … I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 1Timothy 1:13
Saul had a solemn realization that his previous life-goals and directions were all for nothing. “I was wrong! Jesus IS the Son of God.’ Many Christians have had to deal with the same thing.
And Saul had an overwhelming sense of guilt for the damage he had done to the people of God. Have we been guilty of that? Very likely not to the same degree, but many people, before coming to Christ previously criticized, ridiculed and ostracized others. Then they became Christians and felt so bad about what they had done.. Paul felt very convicted of this. He states; 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. I Timothy 3:1
And next Saul had a wholehearted acceptance of the plan of God for his life. This is where many Christians have fallen short. Far too many have made salvation all about them. It is like they thought, ‘Whew! I’m saved! I’ve made it! I am in!
There are many who, if they were to be asked, “What is your mission in life, now that you are a Christian?”, would think, ‘Mission? I never gave it any thought’. Paul said, He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 2 Corinthians 5:15
He died for all. Paul puts it another way, “For you are bought with a price, therefore … glorify God in your body … which belongs to God. 1 Corinthians 6:20
Living for God, glorifying God, was, for Saul, an everyday thing and will be for us too, IF we can get it through our heads that we were DEAD and now, by His grace have been bought and made alive.
Saul displayed a ‘zeal for God’. What does that mean? What is the definition of the word ‘zealous’? Here some of the synonyms that I looked up; fervent, ardent, , fiery, passionate, devout, devoted, committed, dedicated, enthusiastic, eager, keen, avid, sincere, wholehearted, earnest, vigorous, energetic, zestful, purposeful, forceful, intense,
These words totally describe Saul. But do they describe us as well? I believe by a thorough and proper ‘inside look’ into our own hearts, we can develop this same zeal.
Saul had a zeal before he came to Christ. He makes a note of the fact that many people are like that. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. Romans 10:2
Paul is speaking from experience here.
Saul had a love for the Jewish people before he was saved and that never changed. He said, 1 ¶ I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. Romans 9:1-5
Like Saul, we should have a similar love for ‘our people’. Eternity will be a long, long time. What can we do about the salvation of ‘our people’? We cannot force them to be saved. We cannot ‘pay God’ for their salvation. All we can do is to pray daily. And we can pray specifically. For example, we can ask God to show us the most effective, wise way that we can draw them to a faith in Jesus.
Saul developed a love and appreciation for the Christians in Damascus. Acts 9:19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. Food and fellowship go along way towards establishing a love bond. It worked for Saul. It works for us.
Saul experienced the love of Jesus through the body of believers who were willing to recognize that he was a new person. He was now one of them. And Saul felt genuinely loved by his new family. We know that feeling well. There is no substitute for the loving environment that God created when he formed His church.
Saul’s heart must have been overflowing with joy. He has been corrected by Jesus and forgiven. He has been healed of the blindness that came on him on the Damascus road. He has been adopted into the Damascus church and felt their love. He cannot keep his new-found truth silent. We read that 20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
Saul has been told by God that he will stand before the gentiles and present the gospel to them. Unlike most of us, he was a special agent of God. God would be using him to plant many churches throughout Asia. God would be using him to pen most of our New Testament books.
When we think of the position of responsibility and leadership Saul had compared to the work that God has cut out for us, we silently believe that we could never measure up to that. The truth is, that each one of us has a function in the body that cannot be compared to that of anyone else. God has placed us exactly where He wants us. He only asks that we be faithful to serve where we are. Saul became a very faithful servant.
At times Jesus uttered a five word sentence that almost shows that He was getting exasperated. He said, “Oh you of little faith!” Can we live in such a way that we never have to hear those words?
God turned Saul around 180 degrees and his change was astounding. We read, 21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”
I would imagine that many of the Jews in the synagogue were becoming converted to Christianity. People obviously had heard of his past hatred for Christianity and perhaps they had a hard time getting their minds around this. But some of the Jews, seeing this total turn-around in Saul, would have been impressed. This may have caused them to take a closer look at the evidence regarding the deity of Christ.
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
By the sounds of things, Saul is having more success in reaching new people for Jesus than the local church in Damascus was having.
We want to remember that the church was very young and made up of believers who had run from persecution. Saul is the one who stirred up the persecution in Jerusalem to begin with. So this church is made up of believers who had run from Saul’s harassment and abuse. It is possible that many were staying away from synagogues for fear that something similar would break out here.
Saul is proving that Jesus is the Christ. Some people believed. Those who were not being convinced got very angry. We read, 23 ¶ Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him.
Stephen had disputed in the ‘Synagogue of the Libertines’ in Jerusalem and ultimately ended up a martyr. Saul has spent a number of days proving that Jesus is the Messiah and has angered some of the synagogue members to the point of planning his death.
Jesus actually predicted this kind of thing would happen. He said, "I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. “ John 16:1-4
Jesus said these words to his disciples on the night before his trial and arrest. To be forewarned, according to Jesus, would keep them from falling away. As a side note, the same holds true for us in the coming days. The apostle Paul gave us clear warnings regarding the days preceding the rapture. He said, But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 1 Thessalonians 5:4
Have you accepted his ‘heads-up, his warning? Have you totally dismissed His warning? If so, according to Jesus, you are in danger of falling away.
Saul got a ‘heads-up’ from someone. We read 24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.
It appears that the would-be assassins were aware of Saul’s habits. They expected him to be going through the city gates periodically. Maybe Saul was residing in a home that was a ways out in the country and used the ‘gates’ on a regular basis.
This time, however, Saul has decided to return ‘home’ to Jerusalem and try to make a connection with the Apostles there. Why does Saul wish to connect with the Apostles there? For a number of reasons. First to all to express his sincere regret for his terrible behavior toward them. Secondly, he would want them to know of his new ‘mission’ to the gentiles which he was given by Jesus directly. Very likely he also looked forward to fellowship with the ones who knew Jesus personally.
Not having any kind of ‘media’ available, these Apostles would not have heard of Saul’s conversion.
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
That would be a real problem. He had a very distinct reputation. To simply ‘appear’ and announce, “I’m a Christian now.”, would not really go over.
Perhaps some of you can identify with that. An abusive, insulting husband receives Jesus as Savior… what is his wife to think? What will it take for her to really believe that he is a changed person? We teach and believe that the gospel of Jesus washes our sins away and puts in us a new heart … but we like to ‘wait and see’ if this conversion is genuine. In Saul’s case a ‘daring’ Christian came forward.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought [him] to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Remember Barnabas? His home had been on the isle of Cypress, but he was present in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. He accepted Christ as Savior there in Jerusalem. He sold his Cypress home and moved to Jerusalem. He gave all the money from the sale of his home to the church, and by so doing started a whole movement.
And here he is, with a believing heart that Saul truly has been born again. That took faith and boldness on his part. Barnabas would have been a friend of Stephen. Barnabas would have known that Saul had Stephen killed. And yet Barnabas believes the work of God in Saul's life was real.
Barnabas must have spent enough time with Saul to be convinced. I am thinking that there must have been a time of crying, confession and prayer between them. So Barnabas took the bold step and brought him to the apostles.
We read that Saul immediately got busy reaching out to the Jews with the news that Jesus is God.
28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.
29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus … Can you predict what is going to happen next?
and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him.
As long as Saul had been attacking Christians in the Damascus area, things had settled down in Jerusalem. Saul is now back, and he is a believer. But now Saul is ‘stirring things up’ as a believer. Persecution seems to have returned. What do the apostles do about it when they hear that the Jews want Paul dead?
We read, 30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.
Is this similar to the Damascus Christians sneaking Paul out of the city by letting him down the wall in a basket at night? We don’t know whose idea it was, but they are sending him home … all the way to Tarsus. Why? Are they thinking of him or thinking of themselves … or both. If they can (in a good sense) get rid of him for a while, he won't be here in Jerusalem stirring up trouble for the church. And Saul should be safer in his hometown. That is, until he goes into a local synagogue and does it all over again.
This was no little trip for the brethren to escort him to Caesarea. Jerusalem to Caesarea was about 120 kilometres. By a fast car that is about an hour and half. On foot? I am not sure. I have never attempted it. But they thought it a worthwhile endeavour.
So what was the result of sending Saul home?
31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
We know that this is too good to be true … that is, this peace and quiet should be appreciated while they had it , because it is bound to not be permanent.
God has granted us peace in many countries of the world for quite a while. We have grown accustomed to it. We have come to expect it. Sometimes we even express it as our right. But here is a heads-up. Tough times are ahead. But as we see through the book of Acts, when tough times kept cropping up, God was right there with the believers. And He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. He is with us in good times and in bad.
He said, I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33