When was Paul ready to fulfill his commission to preach to the Gentiles?
After he had been to Jerusalem and after spending three years with the Lord at Sinai, he was ready to fulfill the commission to preach to the Gentiles. At that point he came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, with Cilicia being near Tarsus, Saul’s hometown area.
Les explains that after Paul had been to Jerusalem and had the three years with the Lord at Sinai, he was then ready to fulfill the commission to go to the Gentiles that was seen earlier in Acts chapter 9. Paul then says he came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. Les notes that Cilicia was just around the corner of the Mediterranean Sea, and up along the river valley a few miles inland was Tarsus, which was Saul’s hometown area.
More Questions
Did Peter know about Paul's conversion and his mission to the Gentiles when he preached in Cornelius's house?
Peter did not know at the time he preached to Cornelius that God had already saved Saul of Tarsus and told him he would go to the Gentiles.