What was Paul doing during the 14 years after his conversion?
During the 14 years after his Damascus road conversion, Paul was out in the Gentile world preaching the Gospel of Grace. He had gone to Cilicia, and Judaizers from Jerusalem opposed him, insisting Gentiles must keep the Law and practice circumcision to be saved.
Les explains that after Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus, the timeline moves forward. Pentecost was 29 A.D.; about seven years later Stephen was stoned in 36 A.D., and Saul’s conversion followed, taking things to about 40 A.D. when he went to Cilicia. By Galatians 2, 14 years after his conversion, Paul had been out in the Gentile world preaching the Gospel of Grace. During that time Judaizers from Jerusalem opposed him at every turn, coming into Gentile congregations and saying salvation required keeping the Law and circumcision, not Paul’s Gospel alone.