9:30 {8} [Which] when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
(8) The ministers of the word may change their place with the advice and counsel of the congregation and church.
9:30 They brought him down to Caesarea. The same class of Jews who had raised the persecution against Stephen now sought the death of Saul. By the aid of the brethren he was taken to the seaport of Caesarea and sailed for his old home at Tarsus. Some think, however, from Ga 1:21, that the journey was made by land through Syria. It is more likely that he sailed from Caesarea to Seleucia in Syria, and from thence made his way to Tarsus.
Sent him forth to Tarsus. Four or five years pass before the next mention of Saul in Ac 12:25, an interval passed in preaching Christ (Ga 1:22,23), and resulting in the planting of churches in Cilicia (Ac 15:23,41).
9:23-31 When we enter into the way of God, we must look for trials; but the Lord knows how to deliver the godly, and will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape. Though Saul's conversion was and is a proof of the truth of Christianity, yet it could not, of itself, convert one soul at enmity with the truth; for nothing can produce true faith, but that power which new-creates the heart. Believers are apt to be too suspicious of those against whom they have prejudices. The world is full of deceit, and it is necessary to be cautious, but we must exercise charity, 1Co 13:5. The Lord will clear up the characters of true believers; and he will bring them to his people, and often gives them opportunities of bearing testimony to his truth, before those who once witnessed their hatred to it. Christ now appeared to Saul, and ordered him to go quickly out of Jerusalem, for he must be sent to the Gentiles: see ch. 22:21. Christ's witnesses cannot be slain till they have finished their testimony. The persecutions were stayed. The professors of the gospel walked uprightly, and enjoyed much comfort from the Holy Ghost, in the hope and peace of the gospel, and others were won over to them. They lived upon the comfort of the Holy Ghost, not only in the days of trouble and affliction, but in days of rest and prosperity. Those are most likely to walk cheerfully, who walk circumspectly.
