^26 (A)When he came to Jerusalem, he tried repeatedly to associate with the disciples; and yet they were all afraid of him, as they did not believe that he was a disciple. ²⁷ But ^(B)Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had ^(C)seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how ^(D)he had ^(E)spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus at Damascus. ²⁸ And he was with them, ^[a]moving about freely in Jerusalem, ^(F)speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ And he was talking and arguing with the ^[b](G)Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death.

¹⁷ “It happened when I ^(A)returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I ^(B)fell into a trance, ¹⁸ and I saw Him saying to me, ‘^(C)Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.’ ¹⁹ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another ^(D)I used to imprison and ^(E)beat those who believed in You. ²⁰ And ^(F)when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing nearby and approving, and watching over the cloaks of those who were killing him.’