Forth to Tarsus

Open Door Baptist Church

And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

( Acts 9:23-25 )

After the Basket

This must have been a period of three years during which Paul received his teaching from the Holy Spirit:

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

( Galatians 1:15-17 )

Jerusalem

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

( Galatians 1:18 )

And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

( Acts 9:26-28 )

But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother. Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.

( Galatians 1:19-20 )

Syria and Cilicia

And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

( Acts 9:29-30 )

Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:

( Galatians 1:21-22 )

Rest

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

( Acts 9:31 )

Saul of Tarsus

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

( Acts 9:11 )

But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.

( Acts 21:39 )

That’s where Paul was sent to get him out of the spotlight.

Go Get Paul

The disciples who fled Jerusalem spread around the region and began converting people. Barnabas was sent to Antioch when the folk in Jerusalem heard the news that gentiles were becoming believers.

Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

( Acts 11:25-26 )

Did Paul’s 3 years in Arabia happen in Acts 9, or in the build up to Acts 15? It must have been Acts 9 because he says that after his conversion he did not go to Jerusalem.

To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

( Galatians 1:16-17 )