This past Sunday I shared that Jesus taught Paul personally and it could not have been at his conversion on the road to Damascus when he first met Jesus.

Acts 9, it tells of Paul first encounter with Jesus who appeared as bright light and spoke to him in that brief moment. Paul never saw or heard Jesus before this.

Now, in Galatians you will learn more about what happen to Paul after that brief encounter with Jesus in Acts 9.

In Galatians 1: 11-12, Paul tells how he received the gospel of Jesus.
11 I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

Paul said he learned the gospel personally from Jesus and this could not have been in the brief moment he heard Jesus on the road to Damascus.

So, when did Jesus teach him?

Galatians 1: 15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. 18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days.

Paul said through God’s grace he was pleased to reveal his Son. This is on the road to Damascus and later learn it was for him to preach to the Gentiles who would form Christ church.

After this encounter with Jesus, Paul said he did not consult any man or go to Jerusalem to see the apostles. He immediately went to Arabia for 3 years and then went to Damascus and then to Jerusalem to meet with Peter.

So, what was Paul doing for 3 years in Arabia? I think this is where Paul learned from Jesus personally for 3 years.

Remember Jesus ministry on earth was for 3 years teaching his chosen apostles, who recalled his teaching after receiving the Holy Spirit.

Everything we read in Paul’s letter is what Jesus has revealed to him which he recalled through the Holy Spirit.

What the Holy Spirit wants us to learn from this is that it will take a personal commitment to be a Christ disciple learning Scripture to know Jesus. He does not teach you by osmosis, visions, dreams, its walking with Jesus and listening to his words.

Be safe in Jesus,
Ps. Glenn