John Calvin Commentary Acts 9:26

"And when he was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple." — Acts 9:26 (ASV)

When Saul was. These were still hard beginnings for Paul, who was still only an inexperienced soldier, because when he had barely escaped the hands of his enemies, the disciples would not receive him. For it might have seemed as if he were so tossed to and fro, as it were, in mockery, that he could find no resting place.

His entire nation was set against him for Christ's cause. The Christians refused him. Might he not have been completely discouraged and hopeless, like someone expelled from the company of people? First, what remained for him but to fall away from the Church, since he was not received? But when he remembered the life he had led before, he was not surprised that they were afraid of him.

Therefore, he patiently suffers the brethren to refuse his company, since they had just cause for fear. This was true conversion: whereas he had raged horribly before, he now valiantly suffers the storms of persecutions. And, in the meantime, when he cannot be admitted into the company of the godly, he waits with a quiet mind until God reconciles them to him.

We must diligently note what he desires: namely, that he may be numbered among the disciples of Christ. This he cannot obtain. There was no ambition here; rather, he was to be instructed by this experience to value even the lowest place among the disciples of Christ more highly than all the positions of authority in corrupt and rebellious synagogues.

And from this submission, he was exalted to the highest degree of honor, so that he might be the principal teacher of the Church, even to the end of the world. But no one is fit to be a teacher in the Church except for the one who willingly submits himself, so that he may be a fellow disciple with others.