And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
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John Chrysostom
AD 407
One may well be much at a loss here to understand how it is that, whereas in the Epistle to the Galatians Paul says, "I went not to Jerusalem," but "into Arabia" and "to Damascus," and, "After three years I went up to Jerusalem," and "to see Peter" (Galatians 1:17), (historhesai Cat.) here the writer says the contrary. (There, Paul says,) "And none of the Apostles saw I; but here, it is said (Barnabas), brought him to the Apostles."--Well, then, either (Paul) means, "I went not up with intent to refer or attach myself to them (anathesthai)--for what saith he? "I referred not myself, neither went I to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before me:" or else, that the laying await for him in Damascus was after his return from Arabia; or else, again, that the visit to Jerusalem was after he came from Arabia. Certainly of his own accord he went not to the Apostles, but "assayed to join himself unto the disciples"--as being a teacher, not a disciple--"I went not," he says, "for this purp...
He did not come up to them unabashed, but with a subdued manner. Disciples they were all called at that time by reason of their great virtue, for there was the likeness of the disciples plainly to be seen. But they were all afraid of him. See how they feared the dangers, how the alarm was yet at its height in them. But Barnabas, etc.
