Just as Ananias proved to be a source of encouragement to Saul in Damascus, welcoming him into God’s family, so too Barnabas lives up to his nickname (‘son of encouragement’) when Saul faces suspicion in Jerusalem. (Acts 9:26-27) Barnabas has already been introduced...

When reading the book of Acts, it’s not always easy to get a handle on timescales. Luke is keen to give us the main action points of the story of the spread of the church and his account of Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem (Acts 9:19b-31) seems much more condensed than...

As a child, I didn't value perseverance very highly - I don't think most children do! I liked to be able to do things quickly and easily and if something required perseverance, I often lost interest. As I grew up, however, I learnt that there are probably more things...