Paul Awaits New Call: Years of Preparation in Tarsus
After his dramatic conversion and initial forays into ministry in Damascus and a brief, fraught visit to Jerusalem, Saul of Tarsus retreated to his hometown. For several years, he remained largely out of the public eye, a period often referred to as his 'silent years.' This time was crucial for his theological development and spiritual growth, as he likely reflected deeply on the Scriptures and the revelations he had received from Christ.
This period of quiet contemplation and humble service in Cilicia served as a vital crucible, forging the future Apostle to the Gentiles. It was a time of preparation, away from the immediate pressures of the burgeoning church in Jerusalem, allowing him to solidify his understanding of the Gospel before he would be called to his wider missionary endeavors, a divine hiatus before his monumental impact on the early Christian movement.
"But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 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 three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother. (Now in what I am writing to you, behold, before God, I do not lie.) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was still unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; but they kept hearing that, “He who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they were glorifying God in me."
— Galatians 1:15-24
Timeline Box:
Paul's post-conversion activities are chronologically reconstructed from Acts 9, Acts 22, Acts 26, and Galatians 1-2. His withdrawal to Arabia, return to Damascus, and subsequent visit to Jerusalem (around 36 AD, three years after conversion) are followed by a period in Tarsus (Syria and Cilicia) before Barnabas sought him out for ministry in Antioch (Acts 11:25-26), usually dated around 43-44 AD. This 'silent period' fits between these events.
Spies Return: A Land Flowing with Milk and Honey, Yet Giants Abound
After forty days of reconnaissance, the twelve spies sent by Moses returned from Canaan, bearing a giant cluster of grapes and other fruits as evidence of the land's fertility. Their report confirmed it was indeed a land "flowing with milk and honey." However, ten of the spies filled the congregation with fear, describing formidable fortified cities and inhabitants of immense stature, the Anakim, making the conquest seem impossible. Only Caleb and Joshua maintained faith in God's promise.
"So they reported to him, and said, “We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; and moreover, we saw the Anakim there. Amalek is dwelling in the land of the Negev, and the Hittites and the Jebusites and the Amorites are dwelling in the hill country, and the Canaanites are dwelling by the sea and by the side of the Jordan.” Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it; for we will surely overcome it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.”"
— Numbers 13:27-31
Timeline Box:
Numbers 13:25 states the spies returned after 40 days. The reference to "the time of the first ripe grapes" (Num 13:20) places their return in mid-summer, typically the months of Tammuz or Av. Given their departure from Kadesh-barnea (Num 13:26), this event likely occurred in the second year after the Exodus, fitting the early summer period.
Twelve Leaders Chosen to Spy Out Canaan
At the command of the Lord, Moses dispatched twelve men, one leader from each tribe, from the wilderness of Paran to scout the land of Canaan. Their mission was to ascertain the strength of its inhabitants, the nature of their cities, the fertility of the soil, and to bring back samples of the land's produce. This critical reconnaissance mission was intended to inform the Israelites' strategy for entering and conquering the Promised Land, following their departure from Mount Sinai.
"Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Send out for yourself men so that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the sons of Israel; you shall send a man from each of their fathers' tribes, everyone a leader among them.” So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran at the command of the LORD; all of them were men who were heads of the sons of Israel."
— Numbers 13:1-3
Timeline Box:
Numbers 13:1-3 describes the sending of the spies. Since they returned after 40 days at the time of the first ripe grapes (Tammuz/Av), their departure would have been approximately 40 days prior, placing it in late Sivan, the month preceding Tammuz. This sequence aligns with the chronological order of the spy narrative.
