A time-line of Pauls ministry

[B-A-C]

Most of us know the story of Saul/Paul and how he was blinded on the road to Damascus. Three days later he meets Ananias.
But what happened after this? Did Paul immediately star going around preaching and doing miracles? It seems this is not the case.

Gal 1:15; But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, was pleased
Gal 1:16; to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,
Gal 1:17; 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.
Gal 1:18; Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days.
Gal 1:19; But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord's brother.

It seems that shortly after Paul's conversion, he went to Arabia for a while. Then he was in Damascus for three years. Then he stayed with
Peter for 15 days. It says the only apostles he saw during this 15 days was Peter and James (Jesus's brother).
Why is this important, because it means almost all of the events that happened to Paul, happened at least 3 years after the road the Damascus.

For example when he meets the 'disciples' at Ephesus in Acts 19, (who didn't even know there was a Holy Spirit). It was at least 3 years after the road to Damascus.

Now of course Jesus was ascended back into heaven before Paul's conversion, yet Paul says he met Jesus. This is likely the voice on the road to Damascus

1Cor 9:1; Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
1Cor 9:2; If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

But some believe Paul met Jesus while he was in Arabia. (I don't know of any scripture that directly supports this) The closest to this might be...

Gal 1:11; For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
Gal 1:12; For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul says he didn't receive the message of the gospel from any man, but he received directly from Jesus. Seemingly this happened during the 'three years'
after Paul was converted. Possibly while he was in Arabia.

.. to be continued ...

 

[B-A-C]

Gal 2:1; Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also.
Gal 2:2; It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.

This period of fourteen years becomes important later, but this isn't the only place a period of fourteen years is mentioned.

2Cor 12:2; I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven.
2Cor 12:3; And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—
2Cor 12:4; was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.

Most Bible scholars believe Paul is talking about himself here. It seems Paul went up to the third heaven. Was this when he received the gospel 'not from any man' but from Jesus?
(Yet another clue that Jesus isn't 'just' a man in heaven). The other thing I notice here, (this happens in a couple of other places as well) is that some of things Paul hears while he is in
heaven, he is 'not permitted' to speak of. John said the same thing in Revelation, there were certain things he was not allowed to reveal.

Another time Jesus speaks directly to Paul is in Acts 23:11;

Acts 23:11; But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, "Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also."

This is very interesting wording here... Jesus "stood at his side", there is some debate over whether this was physically or spiritually, in any case Jesus was there, directly speaking to Paul.

... to be continued ...

 

[B-A-C]

Acts is one of my favorite books. But sometimes you have mix it with other books to figure it all out. By the time we get to the end of Acts, Paul is on trial (again).

Acts 26:12; "While so engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,
Acts 26:13; at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me.
Acts 26:14; "And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
Acts 26:15; "And I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
Acts 26:16; 'But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you;
Acts 26:17; rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you,
Acts 26:18; to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'

We learn here that Jesus said a little more on the road to Damascus, than was revealed in Acts 9. This is where we find out Paul was commissioned by Jesus Himself to be an apostle to the Gentiles.
We Gentiles were also in "the dominion of Satan".

Acts 26:19; "So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision,
Acts 26:20; but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.
Acts 26:21; "For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to put me to death.
Acts 26:22; "So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place;
Acts 26:23; that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."
Acts 26:24; While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus *said in a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad."
Acts 26:25; But Paul *said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth.
Acts 26:26; "For the king knows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner.
Acts 26:27; "King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do."
Acts 26:28; Agrippa replied to Paul, "In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian."
Acts 26:29; And Paul said, "I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains."
Acts 26:30; The king stood up and the governor and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them,
Acts 26:31; and when they had gone aside, they began talking to one another, saying, "This man is not doing anything worthy of death or imprisonment."
Acts 26:32; And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."

Agrippa says Paul hasn't really done anything wrong, he could have even been set free. Now of course God had a reason for Paul to go to Rome.

.. to be continued...