In order to receive the official endorsement of the church, Paul would have had to confer with the senior apostles, its recognized leaders, in Jerusalem. That he did not do so was evidence that he believed it unnecessary for him to do so. In a sense he was “born out of due time” (1 Cor. 15:8), and an apostle though not of the Twelve.
I went into Arabia.
It is not known either to what part of Arabia Paul retired, or how long he was there. It was not more than three years. Some think Paul refers to the desert in the vicinity of Damascus, possibly including the city itself. Others suggest that the scene of his sojourn may have been the desert near Mt. Sinai. However, it is doubtful that Paul would have spoken of that region as “Arabia.”
The sequence of events between Paul’s conversion and his next visit to Jerusalem (v. 18) must be filled in from the narrative as given by Luke and incidental statements elsewhere in Paul’s writings. Luke does not mention the visit to Arabia, but relates only that Paul preached in Damascus after his conversion, and from there went to Jerusalem.
Combining the information from all sources, the events of this period of two or three years were as follows. After spending some time preaching in Damascus, Paul retired to Arabia. When he returned to Damascus his preaching apparently attracted unfavorable attention, for an attempt was made—doubtless instigated by the Jews—to seize him.
However, he made good his escape, let down “in a basket ... by the wall” (2 Cor. 11:33).
See p. 101; Early Life of Paul at Tarsus to Call to Antioch; see on Acts 9:24, 25.