Acts 9:26

Saul In Jerusalem

²⁵ but his disciples took him at night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket. ²⁶ When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. ²⁷ However, Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and described to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road [to Damascus], and how He had spoken to him, and how at Damascus Saul had preached openly and spoken confidently in the name of Jesus.

They Were Afraid

Jerusalem

Saul

Acts 26:20

but I openly proclaimed first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent [change their inner self—their old way of thinking] and turn to God, doing deeds and living lives which are consistent with repentance.

Matthew 10:17-19

Beware of men [whose nature is to act in opposition to God], for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues;

Matthew 24:10

At that time many will be offended and repelled [by their association with Me] and will fall away [from the One whom they should trust] and will betray one another [handing over believers to their persecutors] and will hate one another.

Acts 4:23

After Peter and John were released, they returned to their own [people] and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

Acts 9:19

and he took some food and was strengthened.

For several days [afterward] Saul remained with the disciples who were at Damascus.

Acts 22:17-20

“Then it happened when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple [enclosure], that I fell into a trance (vision);

Galatians 1:17-19

Nor did I [even] go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia and stayed awhile, and afterward returned once more to Damascus.

Galatians 2:4

My concern was because of the false brothers [those people masquerading as Christians] who had been secretly smuggled in [to the community of believers]. They had slipped in to spy on the freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us back into bondage [under the Law of Moses].