I guess it's fitting that last week I blogged on Saul's call and this week I am blogging on his recount of the experience in his letter to the Galatians. But the whole story of his transformation might be here. What is odd is that in Acts, Paul arrives in Damascus in only a few days.
"Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. " (Acts 9:18-20 NIV)
In Galatians, it seems that after his experience:
"..my immediate response was not to consult any human being. I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. "(Galatians 1:16, 17 NIV)
I have no idea what to really make of this, but as much as I appreciated the three days that Paul had in the Acts version, I think I appreciate more the running away for a few years before coming back to humanity. Maybe he went to seminary or something. You would think that someone who was as successful in ministry as Paul would take some time to create a game plan for ministry before just launching into things. But then again, even if he took 3 years or 3 days, the point is probably moot. The holy spirit was with him.
"They only heard the report: 'The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.' And they praised God because of me." (Galatians 1:23, 24 NIV)
We've spent some time in my Sunday School class talking about the times when the Bible contradicts itself. I've never noticed this one before. Probably because I haven't spent enough time really looking at Galatians.
ReplyDeleteI like the "3 years" idea better, too. Seems more relate-able to my life and those I know.
Kelly