Disciples' Suspicion of Paul in Jerusalem
The Disciples' Suspicion of Paul in Jerusalem
When Paul arrived in Jerusalem after his conversion, the disciples were afraid of him, not believing that he was a genuine disciple [1]. This skepticism was rooted in his past actions as a persecutor of Christians. According to Acts 9:26, Paul attempted to join the disciples, but they were hesitant to accept him.
The disciples' fear was likely due to the reputation Paul had established as a fierce opponent of Christianity before his conversion. As recorded in Acts, Paul had been instrumental in the persecution of early Christians, even consenting to the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:58-60, 8:1). It is not surprising, therefore, that the disciples were wary of him.
Barnabas played a crucial role in mediating between Paul and the disciples. He took Paul and introduced him to the apostles, explaining how Paul had encountered the Lord on the road to Damascus and had subsequently preached in Damascus [5]. This intervention helped to establish Paul's credibility among the disciples.
The tension between Paul and the Jerusalem church was not limited to his initial visit. Later, during the Council of Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas had a significant disagreement with some of the Jewish believers regarding the requirements for Gentile converts [2]. This dissension highlights the ongoing challenges Paul faced in gaining acceptance from some members of the Jerusalem church.
The suspicion and skepticism Paul faced were not unique to his experience. In the Gospels, Jesus' disciples also struggled with doubt and uncertainty, as seen in John 13:22, where they looked at one another, doubting whom Jesus was speaking about [3].
The early Christian community's hesitation to accept Paul reflects the complexities and challenges of integrating a former persecutor into their ranks. Despite these initial reservations, Paul eventually became a key figure in the early Christian church, and his writings would go on to shape Christian theology [4].
Sources
- Acts “Acts 9:26 (YLT) — And Saul, having come to Jerusalem, did try to join himself to the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he is a disciple,”
- Acts “Acts 15:2 (ASV) — And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, the brethren appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.”
- John “John 13:22 (ASV) — The disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Paul — (small, little). Nearly all the original materials for the life St. Paul are contained in the Acts of the Apostles and in the Pauline epistles. Paul was born in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia. (It is not improbable that he was born between A.D. and A.D. 5.) Up to the time of his going forth as an avowed preacher of Christ to the Gentiles, the apostle was known by the name of Saul. This was the Jewish name which he received from his Jewish parents. But though a Hebrew of the Hebrews, he was born in a Gentile city. Of his parents we know nothing, except that his fathe”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: Homily XXI. Acts IX. 26, 27 “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. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the Apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way.” One may well be much at a loss here to understand how it is that, whereas in the Epistle to the Galatians Paul says, “I went not to Jerusalem,” but “into Arabia” and “to Damascus,” and, “After three years I went up to Jerusalem,” and “to see Peter” ( Gal”