Saul and the Hellenists

Saul of Tarsus has recently become a convert of Christ and here we read that he goes up to Jerusalem to attempt to meet the other disciples and join them. This is understandable and perfectly natural. After recognising Jesus as the Christ and turning from his old life, Saul desires to meet with others who have had the same experiences, believe the same things and share the same faith. He desires to meet with other disciples and learn more of Christ first-hand from those who were with him. Many of us have experienced this ourselves and we recognise that to be a Christian is to belong to the community of disciples and to break bread together. We also, like Saul, recognise that we need to learn more about Christ from those who have been with him.

The disciples do not wish to meet with Saul of Tarsus. His reputation has gone before him. They know him as their persecutor and the man who has consistently instigated violence and brought death to their fellow Christian brother and sisters. They are wary of Saul and are suspicious of his conversion experience, after all it could simply be a ploy to gain their confidence before sending in the guards to arrest them all. Barnabas, a disciple they do trust is allowed to vouch for Saul and speaks of his powerful preaching in Damascus and his conversion experience on the road. The disciples accept him and allow him to continue with them as they spread the gospel message in Jerusalem.

Saul proves himself as a true believer and preaches alongside them. We read though that like many new believers who are enthusiastic about their new found faith, Saul appears to be a little bombastic and over-zealous in his speaking to the Hellenists. The Hellenists are the Greek citizens of Jerusalem who most likely were familiar with the philosophers of their day. The text tells us that Saul upsets them as he argues with them to the point that they become so wound up by his manner and his words that they become determined to kill him. It is good news for Saul that he has his new found brothers in the Lord as it is they who remove him from this dangerous situation and steer him in a different direction.

The text goes on to tell us that churches throughout the region are now in peace and continue to flourish. There appear to be two simple reasons for this. First they are no longer afraid of being ran out of town by Saul of Tarsus and his mission of destruction. Second the removal of an over-zealous Saul has caused the Hellenists to forget their argument and it seems their mission to kill him, and possibly those like him, has subsided. Later on we hear of Saul engaging the Greeks at the Aeropagus and this time he is more controlled and speaks to them about their own philosophers and teachings whilst looking for a way to share the gospel with them on their own terms and in way they understand.

Those who are enthusiastic about their faith are always an encouragemnet and a blessing and we need to ensure that like the disciples with Saul we nurture them and help make disciples out of them without curbing their love for Christ and their desire to share their faith. Yet at the same time we need to show wisdom and ensure that we ourselves and those around us make sure we temper our comments and actions with the love of Christ and the grace of God so that we do not drive away those who Jesus would have us draw unto him.