nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days.
We don't know exactly what he did while he was in Arabia, but it's likely that he spent much of that time training. It's true he was quite a scholar of Jewish law, but he had been previously blinded as to how Jesus fulfilled all he knew from his learning. I'm sure he spent a lot of time going back to prophesy and scripture thinking, "How did I miss that???" There was probably some mental preparation, too. He had to know that his fellow Jews would disassociate themselves from him. He had to know, too, that Christians would be scared of him and not trust him at first. I believe God knew well enough that even though he was converted and changed, Paul couldn't just be thrown out to the wolves the next day.
So I feel that I'm in the process of going "Into Arabia" myself (albeit in Houston and Dallas), but this will be a time of great learning and preparation. My journey will be decidedly different though. Unlike Paul, most all of my friends and family are supportive of my decision. Also unlike Paul, while I am knowledgeable in Scripture, I am by no means a scholar.
