Paul Trains for His Work

Acts 9:19-22; 11:25, 26; Galatians 1:17-24

GOLDEN TEXT: “Straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues; that he is the Son of God.”—Acts 9:20

AS IN the accounts of our Lord’s life and ministry in the four Gospels it is impossible to trace with certainty the sequence of the various incidents, so also in the record of Paul’s conversion there is a difference of opinion among students as to whether he began his ministry in Damascus immediately, or whether his three-year sojourn in Arabia intervened. If the former view is correct, we see evidence of the miraculous enlightenment of Saul, the former persecutor, as well as the completeness of Paul’s consecration and his remarkable zeal—the same which he had previously exhibited in his pursuit and injury of Christians, now turned to the service of the One whom he had been ignorantly persecuting.

If, as many believe, Paul spent three years in Arabia before he began the ministry in Damascus described in Acts 9:20, it was no doubt a period in which the law and the prophets were again closely studied and their harmony with and foreview of the Gospel established. Probably there, too, he received some of the visions and revelations of which he speaks in II Corinthians 12:1,7, and gained that assurance with respect to his message which enabled him later to accomplish such grand results in the face and’ at the cost of such great and diversified hardships.

If the latter view be correct the visit to Jerusalem described in Acts 9:26 would doubtless be the same of which Paul speaks in Galatians 1:18, when he spent fifteen days with Peter. The account of his first effort to associate with the church at Jerusalem is given in Acts 9:26-30. We are told that the brethren there were fearful, remembering his previous hatred of them.

How refreshing the statement that Barnabas befriended him, had confidence in him, sponsored him; and as a result he was accepted as a brother by the apostles and the church. His stay there was short, apparently. He was outspoken and zealous—“He spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians [Jews who had resided abroad]:—but they went about to slay him.” And, when the brethren learned that his life was in danger, they “brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus,” his home.

One of the bright experiences of Paul’s stay in Jerusalem was his fifteen days with Peter, after Barnabas had “brought him to the apostles.” (Gal. 1:18; Acts 9:27) What a precious season of study and fellowship they must have enjoyed! Paul’s studies of the prophecies were augmented by “visions and revelations,” and now he learned of the personal experiences with the great Master which Peter had enjoyed, and of which he would tell Paul in great detail! It would help to offset the sorrow of parting from the brethren and disappointment that he could not remain longer with them.

Paul’s return to Tarsus is supposed to be the same occasion the apostle describes in Galatians 1:21. Here he says that after his first visit to Jerusalem, when he met the Apostle James, and spent fifteen days with Peter, “I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.” Tarsus, Paul’s native city, was in Cilicia. How long Paul remained in Tarsus, Syria and Cilicia, we do not know. Doubtless he was diligent in his service of the Lord and his message during his stay there.

Meanwhile the message had been proclaimed in Antioch, and “a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.” (Acts 11:21) When the brethren at Jerusalem learned of this new interest “they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.” But Barnabas had not forgotten Paul. After his meeting with the brethren at Antioch and exhorting them all “that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord,” and “much people” had been “added unto the Lord” as a result of his preaching, he departed to Tarsus to find Paul.

This account sounds very much like the experiences of Bible students during the Harvest period of the age. When Barnabas found Paul, they both came back to Antioch. And there they remained, assembling with the brethren for a whole year. What a precious season of fellowship, and study, and service they must have enjoyed! Yes, and they “taught much people” too!

We have reviewed briefly the early years of Paul after his conversion. All of the Lord’s providences for him during that early period were, no doubt, exactly what he needed in preparation for the great missionary tours which he would later undertake, and in which he gained the title of “the Apostle of the Gentiles.” His experience corresponds to the best which we, in our own day, have enjoyed—study, fellowship, service; yes, and some persecution no, doubt, if we have been living “godly in Christ Jesus.” (II Tim. 3:12) Training for his later service was necessary for Paul. It is no less true with us. He who would be increasingly useful in the Lord’s service must diligently use his present opportunities for study, fellowship, service, as did Paul.

QUESTIONS:

What resulted from Paul’s earliest efforts to preach the Gospel at Damascus and Jerusalem?

How did the brethren receive him at Jerusalem, and whom did he meet there?

How did Paul happen to visit the church at Antioch?

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