Saul did not go to Jerusalem to learn from the twelve because God sovereignly directed him instead to Arabia, specifically Mount Sinai, where the risen Christ revealed the gospel to him directly.
Scripture itself records that Saul immediately "conferred not with flesh and blood" and "neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia" (Galatians 1:16-17). Les Feldick points out that God used a life-threatening plot in Damascus to get Saul out, then led him to Mount Sinai in Arabia. For about three years Saul was alone with his ascended Lord, receiving revelations of the doctrines of grace. He did not learn from the twelve because the risen Christ became his teacher.
Galatians 1:16-17 — Paul directly answers the question: he did not confer with flesh and blood, did not go up to Jerusalem to the apostles, and instead went into Arabia.
Galatians 4:25 — Identifies the Arabia Paul mentions as Mount Sinai in Arabia, the place God directed Saul.
In his own testimony, Paul says that when God revealed His Son in him, "immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus" (Galatians 1:16-17). The Book of Acts shows that Saul left Damascus under threat: "Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket" (Acts 9:25). Scripture does not record him entering Jerusalem immediately or sitting under the teaching of the twelve. Instead, Galatians 4:25 places the "Arabia" Paul mentions at "mount Sinai in Arabia." Later, after fourteen years, Paul says he went up again to Jerusalem "by revelation" (Galatians 2:1-2). His original direction was away from the Jerusalem apostles.
Les Feldick stresses that Saul's immediate avoidance of Jerusalem was not an accident. Paul himself says, "I conferred not with flesh and blood, neither went I up to Jerusalem to them who were apostles before me, but I went into Arabia" (Galatians 1:16-17). Les points out that the Arabia was Mount Sinai in Arabia, and that God took Saul there to receive revelations just as He had given the Law to Moses at that same mountain. Les also teaches that God used supernatural means to get Saul out of Damascus: a real threat to his life forced his friends to lower him in a basket at night. From there, God led him to Mount Sinai in Arabia, where for about three years Saul was alone with his ascended Lord. During that time, God poured out on Saul all the doctrines that would go to the Gentile world. Les emphasizes that Sauls message was not received from Peter, James, and John in a Jerusalem seminary but by direct revelation from Christ.
Paul says, "Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia" (Galatians 1:17). Galatians 4:25 identifies this as "mount Sinai in Arabia." Les teaches that God took Saul out into Arabia, probably Mount Sinai, where he received his revelations just as Moses received the Law.
Yes. The Book of Acts records that "the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket" because the Jews plotted to kill him and watched the gates (Acts 9:25). Les observes that God used this threat to life as the supernatural means to get Saul out of Damascus and then led him down to Mount Sinai in Arabia.
Les points to Galatians 2, where Paul says "fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem" and "I went up by revelation" (Galatians 2:1-2). Les emphasizes that the Lord Jesus Himself instructed the apostle to go to that meeting with the twelve and the Jerusalem leaders. But this was much later, and still not as a student receiving the gospel from men.
Les says from the account in Acts, Saul must have been down there three years. During that time, Saul of Tarsus was alone with his ascended Lord, and God poured out on him the doctrines that would go to the Gentile world. Les adds that Saul was steeped in Judaism, so it probably took time to cleanse his thinking and behavior under Judaism, and to receive brand-new revelations.
Introducing Paul: Why God Stopped the Prophetic Clock
was talking about. But come all the way down to verse 35, where it says, Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Christ crucified. No! See, that's what I want people to see. We assume so much. He doesn't preach Christ crucified. Now when you get into Paul's writings, what does Paul say? But we preach Christ crucified.
Paul's Own Testimony in Galatians
Paul immediately says he did not confer with flesh and blood and did not go to the Jerusalem apostles; instead he went into Arabia.
God's Direction to Mount Sinai
God took Paul into Arabia and likely Mount Sinai, where Paul received revelations as Moses received the Law; he did not attend a Jerusalem seminary.
Forced Exit From Damascus and Three Years With Christ
God used a life-threatening plot to get Saul out of Damascus, and then for three years Saul was alone with his ascended Lord, receiving totally new doctrines for the Gentiles.
The Later Revelation-Directed Trip to Jerusalem
Fourteen years later Paul went to Jerusalem by revelation; Jesus instructed him to attend the meeting with the twelve, but even then he did not receive his gospel from them.
Jerusalem Was Not Saul's Starting Point
Les stresses that Paul did not have contact with the twelve or Jerusalem leadership, and he traces Paul's journey to Arabia/Sinai using Galatians 4:25 geography.
Why the Three Years Were Necessary
Saul was steeped in Judaism, so it took time to cleanse his thinking and behavior, and time was needed for brand-new revelations.
Divine and Sovereign Purpose
Saul's avoidance of Jerusalem was not random; there was divine, sovereign purpose, and God led him to Mount Sinai in Arabia for three years before sending him to the Gentiles.
Galatians 1:16-17: To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Paul's own testimony of his movements immediately after conversion, directly answering why he did not go to Jerusalem.
Galatians 4:25: For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Shows that the Arabia Paul mentions is specifically Mount Sinai in Arabia.
Acts 9:25: Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
Records Saul's escape from Damascus by basket, the immediate context before his journey.
Galatians 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.
Documents Paul's later, revelation-directed trip to Jerusalem fourteen years later.
No. Paul says, "Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood" (Galatians 1:16). Les emphasizes that he did not go to the twelve in Jerusalem but went into Arabia instead.
Les teaches that God used the same mountain where He revealed the Law to Moses to reveal the doctrines of grace to Saul. There, alone with his ascended Lord, Paul received the revelations for the Gentile world.
Les says from the Acts account Saul must have been down there about three years. In that time God poured out the new doctrines on him and cleansed his thinking from Judaism.
Yes, later. After fourteen years, Paul went up to Jerusalem by revelation (Galatians 2:1-2). Les says Christ instructed him to go to that meeting, but Paul had already received his gospel by direct revelation, not from the twelve.
Watch the Teaching: Introducing Paul: Why God Stopped the Prophetic Clock