Acts 9:26-43

Today's Reading is Acts 9:26-43.
After Paul's conversion he went to Jerusalem and tried to join the disciples. Well that didn't work out too well. This little scene is a wonderful reminder of what the early church had to go through: Growing pains!

The Apostles were used to being good Jews, following rabbi Joshua.
Now that the second temple is destroyed Judaism as a whole undergoes a major crisis and this little sect of Jesus people has to find its own identity. The Apostles under Peter's leadership minister in Jerusalem basically sticking within their comfort zone. Paul pushes the boundaries towards opening the early church to the Roman culture. In this first encounter after his conversion he is flat out rejected. This whole conflict is not resolved until the Council of Jerusalem.