²⁶ When he came to Jerusalem,^(A) he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas^(B) took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him,^(C) and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.^{(D) 28} So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,^[a](E) but they tried to kill him.^{(F) 30} When the believers^(G) learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea^(H) and sent him off to Tarsus.^(I)

³¹ Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria^(J) enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.^(K)