Yes — the Holy Spirit inspired Paul's separation to preserve the uniqueness of his Gentile gospel.
Paul did not receive his gospel from the Jerusalem apostles but by direct revelation of the risen Christ (Galatians 1:12). Les Feldick teaches that God kept Paul as far from the Twelve as possible so the new mystery revelations for the church would not be mixed with Judaism and legalism.
Galatians 1:16-17 — Paul's immediate turn to Arabia rather than Jerusalem demonstrates that his commission came directly from God, not from the Jewish church.
Galatians 1:22 — Paul states explicitly that he was personally unknown to the churches of Judaea, confirming his separation from the Jewish congregations.
In Galatians 1:12, Paul declares that he neither received his gospel from man nor was taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. He then explains that when God called him to preach Christ among the Gentiles, "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" (Galatians 1:16-17). After three years he went to Jerusalem only to see Peter, and "other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother" (Galatians 1:18-19). Finally, Paul writes, "And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ" (Galatians 1:22). The biblical text clearly separates Paul from the Jerusalem church.
Les Feldick emphasizes that this separation was deliberate and inspired by the Holy Spirit. He says, "He is by Holy Spirit inspiration distancing himself from the twelve apostles of Israel, Peter, James, and John, to keep his apostleship pure from any of the legalism of Judaism" (Clip 1). The Holy Spirit prompted Paul to write "definitively that he had no contact with those 12 men at Jerusalem," and that all his revelations came directly from Christ in the heavenlies (Clip 2). God kept Paul as far from the Twelve as possible because He did not want the revelations He would give Paul mixed up with what the Twelve had understood (Clip 5). Paul went to Arabia for three years receiving these revelations for the Gentile world (Clip 4). Because the Twelve had no ministry outside the nation of Israel, Paul preached in virgin territory (Clip 7).
Les points out that after his conversion, Paul would logically have gone to Jerusalem to learn from Peter, James, and John. But by inspiration he didn't. God wanted to keep him as far from the Twelve as possible so the new revelations wouldn't be mixed with the Twelve's understanding (Clip 5). Instead, Paul went into Arabia for three years, receiving revelations from the ascended Lord for the Gentile world (Clip 4). When he finally went to Jerusalem, he saw only Peter and James, not the rest of the Twelve (Clip 0; Galatians 1:18-19).
Les says the Holy Spirit prompted Paul to write "definitively that he had no contact with those 12 men at Jerusalem" (Clip 2). Paul's gospel did not come from man but by the revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:12). This kept his apostleship pure from the legalism of Judaism, since the Twelve were the epitome of that legalism (Clip 1).
Paul's separation from the Jewish congregations fits his role as apostle of the Gentiles. Les points out the Twelve had no ministry outside the nation of Israel, so Paul's missionary work was in virgin territory (Clip 7). Paul left behind his Jewish wealth and religious standing to carry this gospel to the Gentile world (Clip 3).
Paul Saw Only Peter and James
Les quotes Paul's statement that although he went to Jerusalem after three years, he saw none of the apostles except James the Lord's brother, confirming the theme of isolation from the Twelve.
Distancing from the Twelve
The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to distance himself from the twelve apostles of Israel, Peter, James, and John, to keep his apostleship pure from Judaism's legalism.
Holy Spirit Prompting Paul's Words
The Holy Spirit prompted Paul to write definitively that he had no contact with the Twelve at Jerusalem, and that all his revelation came from Christ in the heavenlies.
Paul's Sacrifice for the Gentiles
Les explains that Paul left behind any Jewish wealth or status to become the apostle of the Gentile world, highlighting the cost of his separate calling.
Paul Went to Arabia Instead of Jerusalem
Paul did not go to Jerusalem but went to Arabia for three years, receiving revelations from the Ascended Lord that he could take to the Gentile world.
God Kept Paul from the Twelve
God kept Paul as far from the Twelve as possible so that the revelations He gave Paul would not be mixed up with what the Twelve had already understood.
Why Grace Always Wins Over Sin — Romans 5:15-20 Explained
"'But not as the offense,' in other words, not as Adam's sin, so also is the free gift.'" Now that sounds like kind of a twisting of words, but what Paul is really trying to get across—and of course, as I mentioned several programs ago, when I refer to Paul as the writer, I hope it's all understood that he wrote as he was moved by the Holy Spirit.
The Twelve Ministered Only to Israel
The Twelve had no ministry outside the nation of Israel, so every place Paul went was virgin territory for the gospel to the Gentiles.
Galatians 1:12: For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul's gospel came by direct revelation, not through the Jerusalem apostles.
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 avoided Jerusalem and went to Arabia, showing his independence from the Jewish church.
Galatians 1:18-19: Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
Paul's only contact with the apostles was a brief visit with Peter and James.
Galatians 1:22: And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ.
Paul was personally unknown to the Jewish congregations in Judea.
Because, as Les explains, God wanted to keep Paul as far from the Twelve as possible so the revelation of the mystery would not be mixed with the Twelve's understanding (Clip 5). Instead, Paul went to Arabia and received three years of revelation from the ascended Lord (Clip 4).
Paul said he saw none of the apostles except James the Lord's brother, and he spent fifteen days with Peter (Galatians 1:18-19). The Holy Spirit inspired these words to show that Paul's apostleship did not come from the Twelve (Clips 1, 2).
It means the Jewish congregations in Judea had never met Paul personally. The Holy Spirit inspired this so that Paul's Gentile gospel would be seen as entirely separate from the Jewish church in Jerusalem (Galatians 1:22; Clip 2).
Watch the Teaching: Why Did Paul Spend Three Years Alone Before Preaching? — Galatians Explained