²⁶ When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

²⁰ but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.

¹⁷ But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you.

¹⁸ Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

¹⁹ But when they deliver you up, don't be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say.

²³ Being let go, they came to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

¹⁹ He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus.

¹⁷ "It happened that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,

¹⁸ and saw him saying to me, 'Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you.'

¹⁹ I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you.

²⁰ When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.'

¹⁷ nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus.

¹⁸ Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days.

¹⁹ But of the other apostles I saw no one, except James, the Lord's brother.

⁴ This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage;

¹⁰ Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another.