The context

(1) Saul became blind when he encountered the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus. The role of rescuing Saul from his predicament was given to a disciple named Ananias. God uses ordinary people to carry out His works. (2) Once Saul’s sight was restored, he began his ministry. This is described in Acts 9:20-21: “and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’ All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, ‘Is this not the one who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?’” (3) Acts 9:22 states, “But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.” Acts 9:21 and 22 do not follow consecutively in time; there is a period of Saul’s stay in Arabia between two verses. (4) The period from Saul’s encounter with Jesus to him going up to Jerusalem is about three years. Tracking Paul’s geographical movements during these three years, it looks as follows: (a) Preaching in the synagogues of Damascus, (b) Stay in Arabia, (c) Return and escape from Damascus, (d) Visit to Jerusalem, (e) Return to Tarsus.

Stay in Arabia

Galatians 1:17 states, “nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.” (1) Saul traveled from Damascus to Arabia and then back to Damascus. This period spans just under three years. (2) This Arabia is not the modern-day Saudi Arabia. Therefore, Saul was not living isolated in the wilderness. In those days, Arabia referred to the region extending from Damascus through present-day Jordan to the southern part of the Dead Sea. This area included deserts but also towns inhabited by Nabateans. (3) This in mind, it is highly likely that Saul went to Arabia not for meditation but to evangelize in the towns of this region. He began his ministry immediately after his conversion. There was little need for theological contemplation. After concluding his evangelism in Arabia, Saul returned to Damascus. He went back to the synagogues and preached even more powerfully than before. He understood the urgency of evangelism very well. Let’s reflect on how we are doing.