​“But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus at Damascus.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:27‬ ‭NASB2020

‬‬Barnabas took a risk on Saul. He decided to talk to him. The other disciples were wary of him. They all knew that he was the one who was sent to round up the Christians in Damascus. He was the one watching over the execution of Stephen. But Barnabas wanted to find out the truth so he went and talked to him. 

What did they talk about? What evidence did Barnabas see in Saul that would convince him that he had become a follower of The Way? The short answer is that Saul gave him his testimony of how Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus. How he was healed by Ananias. How he had begun to preach Jesus in Damascus. 

Barnabas was convinced through his testimony and that he also using discernment believed that he was telling the truth. 

What is your testimony? Could you articulate what you were like before Jesus? Could you describe how and where Jesus found you? Can you explain how Jesus has been changing you into a better witness for Him? 

Paul did and that led him to write half of the new testament. 

Your testimony may seem bleak (followed Christ with little rebellion) or exciting (lots of rebellion with a dramatic conversion) or somewhere in between, but it is still your story and it is still useful. Don't be ashamed of it but use it for the advancement of The Way. In these last days, we need to be standing more confident in what Jesus has done. 

“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭12:11‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/2692/rev.12.11.NASB2020

Check out Paul’s full testimony in Acts 25:23 - 26:29. Notice his impact on King Agrippa!