What does Acts 9:26 mean?

Saul is a Jesus-follower. Before he was a Jesus-follower, he was the leading persecutor of the church (Acts 8:1–3; 9:1–2). He imprisoned and beat Jesus-followers, tried to get them to blaspheme, and voted for their execution if they didn't (Acts 22:19; 26:10–11). But on his way to Damascus to hunt down more Jesus-followers, Saul met Jesus. He accepted that he was completely wrong, and immediately started preaching in the synagogues that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah. Now, he is ready to return to Jerusalem and meet the leaders of the faith he has spent over three years learning about (Acts 9:1–25; Galatians 1:15–18). In time, he will go by his Greek name, Paul, and become the greatest missionary of the early church (Acts 13:9).

Saul quickly learns that three years is not a very long time, when one's reputation is so strong. The church leaders know very well who he is. They haven't heard about him for years, but with his return their fear is renewed.

It's very likely this event stays with Saul. Years later, he will write to the church in Corinth about a sinful but unrepentant Jesus-follower, telling them the church needs to remove him from their fellowship (1 Corinthians 5:1–5). Later, it appears the man repents, but the church isn't ready to forgive. Saul will tell them: "Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow" (2 Corinthians 2:5–7). Fortunately, one of the earliest church leaders believes Saul's story and takes him under his wing. Barnabas, whose name means "son of encouragement," introduces Saul to Peter and James, Jesus' half-brother (Galatians 1:17–19). Some time later, Barnabas will call for Saul to teach the new believers in Syrian Antioch (Acts 11:25–26). After successfully growing the church, they will take their first missionary trip together throughout modern-day Asia Minor (Acts 13:1–3).