Paul's History

Galatians 1:13-24 (ESV)
For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. [14] And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. [15] But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, [16] was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; [17] 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.
[18] Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. [19] But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. [20] (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) [21] Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. [22] And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. [23] They only were hearing it said, "He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." [24] And they glorified God because of me.

This is quite the history. There is a lot here to ponder about the life of Paul, evidently Luke left a lot out in his book of Acts. That isn’t surprising. Histories don’t necessarily record every detail, but the ones that matter. I sometimes wonder why Arabia? What did he study there in Arabia and Damascus. How often did he talk with Christ in revelation. I like the idea that though he had a direct revelation he was still sent to hash things out with the other disciples, he wasn’t acting on his own. He worked in conjunction with Peter and James. He collaborated with them to assure them that he was preaching the same thing they were. This is helpful; we are to be of one mind and judgment. To achieve that, we need to collaborate with each other. Pastors, like men, are not islands.