Yes — the events in Acts 9:25 and 9:26 are separated by a gap of about three years, even though the two verses appear side by side.
Acts 9:25 describes Saul being let down from the wall of Damascus, and Acts 9:26 says he came to Jerusalem, but the text does not state how much time passed. Galatians 1 shows the missing time: Paul went into Arabia, returned to Damascus, and only after three years went up to Jerusalem. Les Feldick calls this the three-year gap between the two verses.
Acts 9:25-26 — These verses place Saul's escape from Damascus and his arrival in Jerusalem together without stating the elapsed time, creating the appearance of a gap.
Galatians 1:17-18 — Paul's own testimony reveals that he did not go to Jerusalem until after three years, supplying the missing chronology.
Acts 9:25 ends with the disciples lowering Saul from the wall of Damascus in a basket. The very next verse says, "And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple." The narrative flows immediately from one event to the next, but it does not say how many days, weeks, or years passed between them. Paul fills in that detail in Galatians. He writes, "Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus." Then he adds, "Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days." These verses show that the events of Acts 9:25-26 were not necessarily back-to-back moments.
Les Feldick teaches that there is a three-year time gap between Acts 9:25 and Acts 9:26, and he directs readers to Galatians 1 to discover it. He says plainly, "There's a three year time gap between verse 25 and verse 26, Galatians." During those three years, Les explains, Saul spent time in Sinai, which he describes as "isolated seminary training at Sinai" before later coming up to Jerusalem. When Saul finally arrives in Jerusalem in Acts 9:26, Les points out that the disciples were afraid of him and "believed not that he was a disciple." Barnabas then took Saul to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way and had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. Les also traces what happened afterward: Paul met with Peter for two weeks, later went into Syria and Cilicia, and returned again to Jerusalem fourteen years after that.
Les Feldick identifies the gap as "the three years." He points to Galatians 1, where Paul writes that after three years he went up to Jerusalem to see Peter. This means the escape from Damascus recorded in Acts 9:25 and the arrival in Jerusalem recorded in Acts 9:26 are roughly three years apart.
The Bible says that after his conversion Paul went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus before going to Jerusalem. Les Feldick calls these years "isolated seminary training at Sinai." He also says that after the three years Paul came up from Sinai to Jerusalem, met with Peter, and then went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
Acts 9:26 says the believers at Jerusalem were all afraid of Saul and did not believe he was a disciple. Les suggests they may have thought he was going undercover to become a mole. Barnabas ended their fear by bringing Saul to the apostles and explaining that Saul had seen the Lord on the road and had preached boldly at Damascus in Jesus' name.
Did the Disciples Understand the Cross? Luke 18 Explained
Hello and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
The Three-Year Gap Between Acts 9:25 and 9:26
Les explicitly says there is a three-year gap between Acts 9:25 and 9:26 and directs readers to Galatians 1 to confirm it.
Saul Arrives in Jerusalem and Barnabas Vouches for Him
After the three years, Saul comes to Jerusalem and tries to join the disciples, who are afraid until Barnabas testifies that he saw the Lord and preached boldly in Damascus.
The Three Years as Isolated Seminary Training at Sinai
Les calls the three-year period "isolated seminary training at Sinai" and then describes Paul's subsequent journey to Jerusalem, Caesarea, and Cilicia.
Not Under Law but Under Grace — What Romans 6:14 Really Means
It's the same timeframe, 14 years after Saul's conversion, which is about 38 AD. So this is about 52 AD. That takes it about 22, three years after Pentecost. 22, 23 years after Pentecost. Don't lose sight of that. And certain men, verse one of chapter 15 of Acts, came down from Judea, taught the brethren, that is these Gentile believers at Antioch, and said, except you be circumcised after the man…
Saul in Sinai and the Later Jerusalem Council
Les repeats that Paul spent three years in Sinai before returning to Cilicia, and notes that 14 years later he returned to Jerusalem, leading to Acts 15.
Why Paul's Gospel to Gentiles Is Different From Peter's
Now verse 30, Which when the brethren knew, in other words Barnabas, and probably some of the other Jews there in Jerusalem, when they found out that the unbelieving Jews were about to kill him, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him forth to Tarsus. Now I've got to go back to my map again.
Timeline from Pentecost to Sinai and Cilicia
Les traces the chronology from Pentecost to Saul's conversion and his movements through Sinai, Jerusalem, and Cilicia, showing how time passes between Acts 9:25 and 9:26.
Acts 9:25: Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
This verse records Saul's escape from Damascus and is the starting point for the apparent time gap.
Acts 9:26: And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
This verse records Saul's arrival in Jerusalem but does not tell how much time had passed since his escape.
Acts 9:27: But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
This verse explains how Barnabas confirmed Saul's genuine conversion to the fearful Jerusalem believers.
Galatians 1:17: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
This shows that Saul did not go to Jerusalem right after his conversion, leaving room for the three-year gap.
Galatians 1:18: Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
This gives the specific three-year timeline Les uses to explain the gap between Acts 9:25 and 9:26.
No. Les Feldick explains that there is a three-year gap between the two verses. Galatians 1 gives the timeline: Paul went into Arabia and returned to Damascus before going to Jerusalem.
Les identifies it as approximately three years, based on Galatians 1:18, where Paul says, "Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter."
According to Les Feldick, Saul spent that time in Sinai, which he calls "isolated seminary training at Sinai." Scripture records that Paul went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus before going to Jerusalem.
Watch the Teaching: Did the Disciples Understand the Cross? Luke 18 Explained