Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul.
The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street. Ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He’s been praying,
When the other believers found out about this, they took Saul down to Caesarea, and from there they sent him off to Tarsus.
But Barnabas brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul had seen the Lord while on his journey and how the Lord had spoken to him. Barnabas also explained that in Damascus Saul had preached without fear in Jesus’ name.
Paul answered, “I’m a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia—a citizen of an important city. Please let me speak to the people.”
One person who did this was Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas, which means Son of Encouragement.
