How to explain this seeming contradiction?

[anovaguy]

Brothers and sisters in Christ,

Please help me to understand what is going on here. Let me just state that I believe and love Jesus and this will not change whether or not someone can give me an answer ...but I am curious to understand this better.

Read Acts 9:18-25
Then read Galatians 1:17

In Acts we see that Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. He then began to preach 'at once' (right after his conversion and baptism).

In Galatians, Paul says that when God revealed the Son in him he 'did not consult any man' nor did he go to see the apostles, instead he went 'immediately into Arabia' (probably to study, pray and meditate).

Can anyone explain to me this apparent contradiction?

Thanks and love in Christ and blessings to all!
-anovaguy

 

[mark kennedy]

Brothers and sisters in Christ,

Please help me to understand what is going on here. Let me just state that I believe and love Jesus and this will not change whether or not someone can give me an answer ...but I am curious to understand this better.

Let's look at the passages together:

"Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, sand he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. Immediately he preached to Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

Then all who heard were amazed,,and said, 'Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priest?" But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night let him down through the wall in a large basket." (Acts 19:18-25)

"Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus." (Galations 1:17)​

Read Acts 9:18-25
Then read Galatians 1:17

In Acts we see that Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. He then began to preach 'at once' (right after his conversion and baptism).

That's right, he was there in days and stayed for three years until he went to Jerusalem. At the same time the Gentiles are being converted and the Church starts it's outreach from Antioch. Paul returns from his first missionary journey and the question of the Mosiac Law and the newly converted Gentile believers. This was the first time Paul had actually met the Apostles even though they probably knew about Paul and Paul would of course know about them.

In Galatians, Paul says that when God revealed the Son in him he 'did not consult any man' nor did he go to see the apostles, instead he went 'immediately into Arabia' (probably to study, pray and meditate).

He went to Damascus and like a pious Jew went to synagogue every saturday morning. Damascus is in Arabia and he stayed there for 3 years. He finally made the trip to Jerusalem about the time Peter was converting the early Gentile believers. Paul would go to Antioch where they were commissioned by pastors and teachers who sent them into Galatia. He would not meet with the Apostles until the council of Jerusalem. It's a little confusing but it's not a contradiction.

Can anyone explain to me this apparent contradiction?

Thanks and love in Christ and blessings to all!
-anovaguy

I hope that helps you to work through the period. It is a vital transition in the book of Acts. The inclusion of the Gentiles is a turbulent time in Church history but not that hard to straighten out if you have the patience.

Grace and peace,
Mark