Saul of Arabia

There is an important part to learn here before we can move on. The IM says, “We learn in Galatians that after Saul’s conversion he left Damascus and journeyed to Arabia. It is not recorded why Saul went there, but he may have gone for study and reflection (perhaps between the events recorded in Acts 9:22 and 23). Or he may have fled there for safety (see Acts 9:23-25). He sojourned in Arabia for as long as three years. While there, Saul likely deepened his understanding of how Jesus Christ fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies. After his time in Arabia, he returned to Damascus for a short period of time before journeying to Jerusalem to see Peter and other Church leaders.”

The IM then includes a chart chronicling Paul’s life:
A.D 1-3 – Born in Tarsus of the tribe of Benjamis- a Pharisee and a Roman citizen by birth
A.D. 19-29 – Taught by Gamaliel in Jerusalem
A.D. 33 – Witnessed the martyrdom of Stephen and persecuted Christians in the Jerusalem area
A.D. 33 – On the road to Damascus, saw a vision of Jesus Christ, was converted, and preached of Christ in Damascus
A.D. 33-35 – Fled Damascus to Arabia
A.D 35 – Retruned to Damascus and briefly preached the gospel
A.D 35 – After three years visited Jerusalem and spoke with Peter and James, the Lord’s brother
A.D 35-49 – Spent 14 years in Syria-Cilicia (part of the time on his mission with Barnabas). Tarsus, Paul’s hometown, was located in Cilicia.
A.D. 46-49 – First missionary journey (with Barnabas)
A.D. 49 – Attended the Jerusalem conference
A.D. 49-53 – Second missionary journey
A.D. 53 – Visited Jerusalem
A.D. 54-58 – Third and final mission
A.D. 58 – Farewell visit to Greece; traveled to Jerusalem to deliver offerings for the poor
A.D. 58 – Reported to presiding Brethren in Jerusalem, had misunderstanding at the temple, and was arrested
A.D. 58-60 – Imprisoned in Caesarea
A.D. 60-61 – while under arrest, traveled by sea to Rome. Shipwrecked and spent winter months on the island of Melita (Malte) just south of Sicily
A.D. 61-63 – Under house arrest in Rome
A.D. 63-66 – Possible ministry in Rome and other locations in Italy; Second imprisonment in Rome
A.D. 68 – Died
I had written out this whole big thing because I didn’t realize that Saul (let’s call him Paul now) had gone to Arabia straight from Damascus for 3 years. It makes me wonder, did he have a family? It is hypothesized that he was married because someone mentioned that in order to be a member of the Sanhedrin, they had to be married. I guess it’s one of those “was Jesus married” type of questions, there are lots of cultural evidences supporting both yes and no. Paul’s journey into Arabia is also reminiscent of Jesus’ 40 day fast in the wilderness. With everything he’s ever known being dumped on it’s head, he needed time to process, to reflect, to figure things out. He might have been spiritually open to receiving correction for God, but he didn’t know anything about Jesus’ ministry or the atonement or anything like that. If he was to become a missionary for Christ, he first had to learn about and get to know Christ, and it seems like that’s what he did in Arabia.