Why, when, and for how long was the apostle Paul in Arabia?

Answer

In any biography, the author, by necessity, omits many events. Even a lengthy work like the 16-volume, 10 million-word biography of Winston Churchill by Randolph Churchill and Martin Gilbert, considered the longest modern biography, will still exclude much more than it includes. Therefore, when reading the New Testament, which is relatively concise, it is essential to remember that the human authors have been highly selective, mentioning only a few events in the characters’ lives. Paul’s time in Arabia is one such event that is briefly mentioned only a couple of times, without which we would have no knowledge of it at all. Speculation on the “why,” “when,” and “how long” of Paul’s time in Arabia can only be based on the available data.

It is crucial to clarify the meaning of the term Arabia. In contemporary English, Arabia typically refers to the Arabian Peninsula where Saudi Arabia is situated. However, in the first century, the term could also encompass the Syro-Arabian desert, further north, which includes parts of present-day Syria and Jordan (The Ancient Arabia Languages and Cultures Project at the University of Oxford, http://krc.orient.ox.ac.uk/aalc/index.php/en/, accessed 5/14/20).

In the book of Galatians, Paul stresses that he received the gospel directly from Jesus, not from the other apostles. As proof, he presents the following details in Galatians 1:11–20: “I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s

When God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.”

Paul was converted on the road to Damascus, which is in Syria (Acts 9). After he saw the Lord, he continued on to Damascus. Acts 9 goes on to mention Paul’s ministry in Damascus and how he preached Christ and how the Jews planned to kill him. As his enemies were watching the city gates to prevent his escape, Paul was lowered down in a basket from the city wall and then traveled to Jerusalem. Although Luke, the author of Acts, does not mention the term Arabia or a three-year time frame, everything he writes in Acts 9 is consistent with what Paul says in Galatians 1. After his conversion, Paul spent time in Damascus and then went to Jerusalem later. In 2 Corinthians 11:32–33, Paul also mentions this detail: “In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.” This final piece of information indicates that the local Jewish leadership had persuaded the Damascene officials to help them capture Paul.

Putting all the accounts together, Paul spent “several days” in Damascus (Acts 9:20-22). From there, according to Galatians 1:17, he left Damascus and went into Arabia, which may mean the surrounding desert countryside. We have no idea how far south into the Arabian Peninsula Paul may have wandered, but we know he later returned to Damascus. Galatians 1

Galatians 1:18 states that “after three years” he went to Jerusalem. Since his conversion is the main focus in Galatians 1, it is most logical to assume that he visited Jerusalem three years after his conversion, not three years after returning to Damascus—however, in any case, it was at least three years before he consulted the apostles in Jerusalem.

Paul spent at least three years in Arabia (including Damascus and the surrounding desert) immediately after his conversion. Some suggest that during this time, Paul lived in relative seclusion, possibly as a desert hermit, reflecting on the implications of his newfound faith. Nevertheless, the biblical account highlights that he promptly began preaching in the synagogues. Acts 9:22 does not depict a man who is merely “figuring it out”: “Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.” When he departed from Damascus, a city with a significant Jewish community, it is reasonable to assume that he fulfilled what Jesus had called him to do—preach the gospel to the Gentiles. This does not rule out the possibility that he dedicated solitary time to studying the Scriptures, prayer, and contemplation, as he likely did throughout his life. Even while in prison nearing his death, he requested Timothy to bring “my scrolls, especially the parchments” «The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. », (2 Timothy 4:13). However, the emphasis in Galatians 1 is that Paul already had a robust apostolic ministry before meeting with the apostles in Jerusalem, and Acts 9 indicates that this ministry commenced immediately. For three years, he preached the gospel in Damascus and its environs (refer to the insightful discussion in The Epistle to the Galatians: The New International Greek Text Commentary by F. F. Bruce, Eerdmans, 1982, p. 97).