20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
Saul after going through a transformative experience has no doubt in his mind that Christ is his savior as well as the Savior of the world. Unable to hold back his new revelations, he proclaimed Jesus to the Jews in a synagogue and afterwards to the Hellenists (someone who took on Greek culture while not being one) as well. After each time, they sought to kill him and Saul was forced to flee.
In our faith we learn the importance of understanding that our faith doesn't always have to be divisive, but we also have to understand that sometimes it is. Saul originally was on the side of the Jews that fought against Christians and persecuted them but once Saul was transformed, the same people that Saul worked with sought to kill him. One of hardest pills to swallow as a Christian is that while we don't have to reject our old friends as we pursue Christ, sometimes they will reject us. If we are like Saul however, know fully that whatever is lost is well worth everything we find in Christ.
While friends probably won't be trying to kill us for believing Jesus, they might not all be as receptive to it as you would hope. A heart change by Christ is a heart that pursues new things which means that some as we grow in faith, we give up our old ways. You might find that all the things you used to do with your friends aren't as appealing. When they want to go party, you might find yourself not wanting to anymore, when they gossip or bully others instead of joining in, you might reprimand them instead. Your true friends will be there with you regardless but unfortunately not all of them will. They will say you've changed and all of a sudden you're the one they're badmouthing.
Granted, none of this can happen. You might be blessed and never have to face this type of adversity from former friends or anyone you thought used to be on your side, but it's something that we all have to be prepared for. While we don't seek to cause strife and division, the part of world will look at the life we live in Christ and reject us. This is my warning that while it might not always be a threat towards your life, to put it simply, it's going to suck. But my encouragement is that no matter where you are in your faith, there are always better, greater and more wonderful things to come in Christ.
Spoiler alert, Saul ends up changing his name, meets incredible new friends and ends up changing the world and during all that I doubt Saul looked back at the Jews he used to persecute Christians with and miss them. No matter what ends up happening, continue to pursue God and I guarantee you'll never miss what you leave behind.
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