Where did Paul go right after visiting Peter in Jerusalem and where did he begin his ministry?
After the two weeks with Peter in Jerusalem, Paul went directly up to his home area of Cilicia, into Gentile territory, specifically the area of Cilicia and Tarsus, where he began his ministry. He did not minister to Jews in Judea; his direction was opposite to Peter and the apostles.
Les teaches that Paul was not far removed from Palestine, yet he was in total Gentile territory when he began his ministry after the two weeks with Peter. He went from Jerusalem directly up to his home area of Cilicia, into Gentile territory in the area of Cilicia and Tarsus. Les emphasizes that Paul had no ministry to the Jews there in Judea, just as the twelve had no ministry to the Gentiles when Jesus sent them out. It was a complete fork in the road, the opposite direction from Peter and the apostles. The Jewish believers in Jerusalem and Judea had heard only that the one who once persecuted them was now preaching the faith concerning Jesus the Lord Christ, which once he destroyed.
Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
More Questions
Where were Cilicia and Tarsus, and what was Paul's hometown?
Cilicia was located around the corner of the Mediterranean Sea, with Tarsus a few miles inland along a river valley, and this was Saul's (Paul's) hometown area.