Arabia

c. AD 34–36Galatians 1:17–18

Arabia is modern Petra

Paul says that after his call he went away into Arabia and then returned to Damascus, going up to Jerusalem only after three years. Acts does not mention the journey.

Sources

F. F. Bruce, Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1977)
Rainer Riesner, Paul's Early Period: Chronology, Mission Strategy, Theology (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998)
Eckhard J. Schnabel, Paul the Missionary: Realities, Strategies and Methods (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2008)

¹⁷nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. ¹⁸Only after three years did I go up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days.