21. Everyone who heard him was baffled. They questioned each other, "Isn’t he the one who was wreaking havoc among those in Jerusalem who called on this name? Hadn’t he come here to take those same people as prisoners to the chief priests?"
22. But Saul grew stronger and stronger. He confused the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
23. After this had gone on for some time, the Jews hatched a plot to kill Saul.
24. However, he found out about their scheme. They were keeping watch at the city gates around the clock so they could assassinate him.
25. But his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the city wall.
26. When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They didn’t believe he was really a disciple.
27. Then Barnabas brought Saul to the apostles and told them the story about how Saul saw the Lord on the way and that the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them about the confidence with which Saul had preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus.
28. After this, Saul moved freely among the disciples in Jerusalem and was speaking with confidence in the name of the Lord.
29. He got into debates with the Greek-speaking Jews as well, but they tried to kill him.