“Saulus numbered among the disciples!” said Barnabas, putting his hands upon his shoulders and earnestly looking into his face, still hardly able to believe the truth.
“As I live,” said Saulus, “my heart hath been warmed by the New Faith! Oh, receive my testimony!”
“I doubt no more, and rejoice in thy behalf. Accept a brother’s welcome!”
Falling on each other’s necks, they had great joy in a fellowship of faith and love.
After a season of delightful converse, they started, arm in arm, for the city. Barnabas gladly went with Saulus to the house of Peter, and set him and the other disciples aright concerning their former persecutor.
“Thou sayest,” said Saulus, “that the churches have peace, and are edified, and walk in the comfort of the Spirit! Hath the Sanhedrin ceased all persecution against them?”
“Of late it seemeth to have given little heed to us, so we have in no wise been disquieted. They have not hindered us from teaching that Jesus was indeed a great Prophet.”
“How is it that their bitterness hath been put away?”
“Peradventure that Gamaliel and other of the liberal Jews counselled that we be let alone until our doctrine came to naught, and also because the disciples in great measure have returned to a conformity to the wonted ordinances and ceremonies.”
A shadow passed over the face of Saulus.