VISIT TO THE APOSTLES AT JERUSALEM
With his opportunity for working in Damascus at an end, Paul turned his eyes toward Jerusalem.
Three years had now elapsed since his conversion, but up to this time he had had no contact with any of the church leaders (Gal 1:17, 18),
al 1:17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.
This fact he later offered as proof that his gospel had originated, not with the disciples of Christ, but with Christ Himself.
Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
Gal 1:11 But I make known to you, 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 it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
His primary reason for going there was to see Peter (Gal 1:18).
Galatians 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.
On arriving in the city he endeavored to join with Peter and the other believers as a Christian brother. But he swiftly discovered that 3 years had not sufficed to dim the memory of his previous persecutions, or to remove their fear and suspicion of him (Acts 9:26).
Acts 9:26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
But God a plan for his life and he sent someone to support him.
The resulting impasse was broken by the Cypriote, *Barnabas, who showed his confidence in Paul’s account of his experience by relating it to the others in Paul’s presence (v 27).
Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Paul demonstrated the genuineness of his experience by preaching Jesus in the city of Jerusalem.
His incontrovertible logic aroused the ire of certain Hellenistic Jews, who set about to take his life (Acts 9:29).
Acts 9:28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.
Hnd 9:29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him.
Listen to one of his later accounts of what happened to him on one occasion while worshipping in the temple:
Acts 22:18 “Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance
Hnd 22:18 and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’
Hnd 22:19 So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You.
Hnd 22:20 And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’
Hnd 22:21 Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’ “
You are looking at the ancient seaport of Ceserea, listen to the story of what happened to him just before he was killed in Jerusalem;
Hnd 9:29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him.
Hnd 9:30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.
They immediately accompanied him to the seaport of Caesarea (ch 9:30), about 53 mi. (c. 85 km.) northwest of Jerusalem.
There they probably placed him on board ship to ensure his escape from his enemies.