Hi Deedle,
Paul did not spend 13 years in Tarsus. At the very most he might have spent
9 or ten years in Tarsus. That is a general statement to convey the fact
that it was 13 years after Ananias told Paul "what great things he must
suffer for my sake," before Paul and Barnabas were "separated unto the work I
have given them."
Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's
sake.
Act 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost
said, Separate
me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
Paul was not thrust immediately into the "great things he must suffer,"
even though like all of us he got himself into deep trouble for sharing his
new found Truth with the Jews of Damascus. But Paul did not even speak to
the Jews in Damascus until he had spent some time in the wilderness of
Arabia.
In Galtaians Paul tells us that it was "fourteen years" after "reveal[ing]
His Son in me..." that "I went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas" to discuss the
subject of keeping the law of Moses:
Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb,
and called
Deedle by his grace,
Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the
heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before
me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode
with him fifteen days.
Gal 1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's
brother.
Gal 1:20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie
not.
Gal 1:21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
Gal 1:22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in
Christ:
Gal 1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past
now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
Gal 1:24 And they glorified God in me.
This is the nearest thing to a time line that we get from Paul and he
doesn't even mention his time in Tarsus. Here is the very next verse:
Gal 2:1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with
Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
We have to read the book of Acts to see what happened after Paul went up to
Jerusalem the first time after his conversion. Here is the time line:
Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before
me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and
abode with him fifteen days.
Act 9:19 And when he [Saul of Tarsus] had received meat, he was
strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at
Damascus.[this is immediately after Ananias prayed for Saul to receive his
sight]
Act 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is
the Son of God.[This too, is a general statement because Paul tells us in
Galatians that the very first thing he did was to "go into Arabia:
Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before
me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. ]
Act 9:21 But all that heard [him] were amazed, and said; Is not this he
that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither
for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
Act 9:22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews
which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
Act 9:23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to
kill him. [Paul tells us ["After many days were fulfilled" is a general way
of saying "after three years..."]
Act 9:24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the
gates day and night to kill him.
Act 9:25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall
in a basket.
Act 9:26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to
the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was
a disciple.
Act 9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought [him] to the apostles, and
declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had
spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of
Jesus.
Act 9:28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
Act 9:29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed
against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
Act 9:30 [Which] when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea,
and sent him forth to Tarsus. [According to Paul all of this took fifteen
days.
Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter,
and abode with him fifteen days. ]
The book of Acts does not mention Paul (or Saul) again until chapter 11:
Act 11:22 Then tidings of these things [occuring in the church at Antioch]
came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth
Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
Act 11:23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and
exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the
Lord.
Act 11:24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith:
and much people was added unto the Lord.
Act 11:25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it
came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the
church,and taught much people. And the disciples were called
Christians first in Antioch.
So there is another year you can take off of the time Saul spent in
Tarsus. Three years, generally speaking, spent in Damascus, Nine years in
Tarsus and "a whole year" in Antioch, and the time spent in making his first
'missionary trip with Barnabas makes the time actually spent in Tarsus more
like nine years. But the point is that it Was" After 14 years" that Paul went up to Jerusalem
about the subject of keeping the ritual of circumcision and the law of
Moses.
Gal 2:1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with
Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
Gal 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel
which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of
reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
Gal 2:3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to
be circumcised:
"Fourteen years after" is itself a very general statement made by Paul
because in reality he and Barnabas had been up to Jerusalem much earlier
taking food and provisions to their drought stricken brothers:
Act 11:25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it
came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church,
and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in
Antioch.
Act 11:27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
Act 11:28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the
Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which
came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Act 11:29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability,
determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
Act 11:30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of
Barnabas and Saul.
This was before Barabas and Saul were even "separated unto the work..."
Chapter twelve tells us
Act 12:1 Now about that time [the time Baranbas adn Saul were taking
provisions up to the drought stricken brothers in Jerusalem] Herod the king
stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
Act 12:2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
Act 12:3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to
take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
The bulk of Chapter twelve is concerned with Peters apprehension by Herod,
Peter's deliverance by the angel and Herod's death for "not giving God the
glory" when the peole called him a god.But this chapter ends by taking us
right back to the fact that Barnabas and Saul were still right there in
Jerusalem while all of this was going on:
Act 12:22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god,
and not of a man.
Act 12:23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave
not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
Act 12:24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Act 12:25 And Barnabas and Saul returned [to Antioch] from Jerusalem, when
they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname
was Mark.
Now mind you, Deedle, Banabas and Saul have not yet even been separated to
the work and they have gone up to Jerusalem to minister to the need for
physical food for the brothers in Christ who were suffering from the drought
which Agabus had prophesied would come. So when Paul wrtes "fourteen years after" he is saying that it was fourteen
years after he was first called that he "went up again to Jerusalem with
Barnabas and I took Titus with me also. But "fourteen years after, includes the time Paul and Barnabas spent on
their first journey. We know this is so because he and Barnabas were still together when Paul
tells us of having to confront Peter in Galatians two. The confrontation was in Antioch a church with many Gentile converts:
Chapters 13 and 14 record the first and only Journey Paul made with Barnabas.
Chapter 14 ends with Paul and Barnabas returning to Antioch. The chapter
closes with these words:
Act 14:26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been
recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.
Act 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together,
they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the
door of faith unto the Gentiles.
Act 14:28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.
This "long time" included the time when "Peter was come to Antioch" and ate
with the Gentiles.
Gal 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face,
because he was to be blamed.
Gal 2:12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the
Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself,
fearing them which were of the circumcision.
Gal 2:13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch
that Barnabas
also was carried away with their dissimulation.
So then, if Paul began 'the work he was separated unto' one year before going
up to Jerusalem,and if Paul began the work he was separated to in his
fourteenth year of conversion, and if Paul spent that fourteenth year
traveling and preaching the gospel with Barnabas then it was after 13 years
of preparation that he was given the responsibilities that came with "the
work he was separated unto.'' This is the exact same period of time that Joseph spent being prepared to
rule Egypt:
Gen 37:2 These [are] the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen
years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the
sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph
brought unto his father their evil report.
Gen 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he
[was] the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of [many] colours.
Gen 37:4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than
all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
And where does Joseph appear 13 years later after being humbled and crushed
and yes plagued by his experiences in the service of his Egyptian
taskmasters?
Gen 41:46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before
Pharaohking of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of
Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
These are not just interesting tidbits of historical knowledge for those
with spiritual eyes and ears. What we are being show in both cases is that
we will spend time trying to convert our families and our our pastors adn
fellow church members for several years before we resign ourselves to God's
sovereignty and then God will give us what he has for us to do. It is, like
every word of scripture, a sign and a symbol never to be detected by those
who cannot see. But is is seen and understood by those who are given eyes
and ears to symbolize the time we all must spend being prpared for the work
to which we are separated.
I hope that helps, Deedle.
Mike
On 6/13/06, Deedle wrote:
Hello Folks,
What Scriptures reveal that Paul spent 13 Years in Tarsus?
Thanks,
Deedle