Acts 9:23

23. Many days Few would suspect here how many these days were. Yet we find that in 1 Kings 1:38-39, many days amounted to three years. And we also find by Galatians 1:15-18, that it was just three years between Saul’s conversion and his going to Jerusalem, as mentioned in Acts 9:26. During that three years he went into Arabia. But, by Jewish reckoning, three years may be only a year and two fragments of a year; less, perhaps, than eighteen months. Arabia is more narrowly the peninsula between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. But northeastwardly, as the wandering tribes streamed indefinitely forth, the territory of Arabia stretched up on the south and east to near Damascus. The Arabia to which Saul retired was, perhaps, Iturea or Hauran, lying eastwardly; and he probably continued in intercourse with Damascus. The purpose for which Saul retired into this sequestered region was, perhaps, to acquire by fuller study, under the guidance of inspiration and of the Old Testament, a clearer insight into the facts of Jesus’ life, and the great principles of Christian truth. No hint is given that he preached to the Arabians, which is not enumerated among the early fields of his ministry, (Acts 26:20.) From this retirement he came forth with greater apostolic strength.

Was it by revelation (Galatians 1:0) that Saul learned the facts of the Gospel History? If not, then how, and when? First, he must have acquired the main facts at Jerusalem itself, in his debates with Stephen and the other Hellenists. (See notes on Acts 6:9-15.) We see no reason to doubt that the entire miraculous life and atoning death of Christ had been discussed by Paul with the advocates of Christianity. Admitting the miracles, he would then attribute them to a demoniac power. Afterward he may have more fully grounded himself in them in his intercourse with the Damascus Christians, especially Ananias, some of whom were, doubtless, eye and ear witnesses of Jesus’ ministry and of the apostolic narratives. (See vol. ii, page 5.) Finally, we believe that Luke was the true historical investigator, and that Paul learned the Gospel facts of Luke, rather than Luke of Paul. These facts, when attained, he contemplated in the light of that previous meditation in Arabia, by which he became the profoundest of Christian theologians, and the most effective of Christian preachers. When at the close of this three years he went up to Jerusalem (Galatians 1:18) and abode with Peter, Peter could add nothing to him (Galatians 2:6) of Gospel doctrine, though, doubtless, he could narrate many a historic fact.

Took counsel Formed a conspiracy.

To kill him They could let the quiet Ananias alone; they would not molest the disciples, (Acts 9:25;) but this prince of apostates, this friend to the Gentiles, they will not tolerate, but will assassinate. Wherever Paul appears, though peace before reigned, a flame of wrath springs up. The reason is in one word GENTILES . (See note on Acts 22:22.)

In 2 Corinthians 11:32, Paul tells us that the governor ( ethnarch) of King Aretas headed this conspiracy against him, and stationed the guards at the city gates to prevent his escape. We have narrated in our notes on Matthew 14:1-6, how the daughter of this Aretas, being the wife of Herod Antipas, was repudiated by her husband in order that he might marry Herodias. A war ensued, in which Aretas was victorious, and the vanquished Antipas appealed to Tiberius, Emperor of Rome, who commenced ordering his army to the aid of Antipas; but before the order was fulfilled the emperor died, leaving Aretas master of the territories he had acquired, of which Damascus appears to have been a part. The death of Tiberius, we know from history, occurred in A.D. 36, and Paul’s escape, therefore, was probably in 38.