New Testament History

The first visit to Jerusalem

After his conversion Paul stayed in Damascus (Acts 9:8-22) and then in Arabia (Gal 1:17), where he enjoyed the hospitality of the Nabatean king Aretas IV.[1] Aretas IV had been an adherer of John the Baptist.[2] Upon his return in Damascus Paul had to flee in a basket because of the Jews (Acts 9:23-25) and because of the ethnarch of Aretas IV (2 Cor 11:32-33). Given that Damascus belonged to the Nabateans beginning from 37 AD and that Aretas IV died in the year Nisan 39 AD/Adar 40 AD, Paul fled within the limits 37 AD-Nisan 40 AD.[3] It was 3 (inclusive) years after the conversion on 25 January 37 AD (Gal 1:18), in the year January 39 AD/January 40 AD.

Paul had a crucial vision during his first visit to Jerusalem (Acts 22:17-21).[4] There was a total lunar eclipse on Thursday 19 November 39 AD[5] = 14 Kislev (Reingold and Dershowitz;[6] the New Moon occurred on Wednesday 4 November at 23:40 UT).[7] It was 39 years after the birth of Christ on 12 Kislev 1 BC. It was 56 (= 8 x 7) years after the Immaculate Conception on Monday factual Julian 20 November 18 BC.[8]

No Herodian ruler was present in Palestine in late 39 AD: Herod the Great’s longest ruling son (i.e. Antipas) had been deposed in the summer of 39 AD, and Herod’s grandson Agrippa I was absent from the autumn of 39 AD until the spring of 41 AD.[9] Only the Roman governor Marullus (37-41 AD) was present. As a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37-38; 22:25-29; 23:27), Paul had not to fear Roman power. Paul came to Jerusalem in November 39 AD because there was no danger of any governmental persecution.[10]

Barnabas brought Paul to the Apostles during the first visit (Acts 9:27). Paul only saw the Apostle James the Less (Gal 1:19 “James, the Lord’s brother,” trans. NJB).[11] Cephas (Gal 1:18; cf. 1 Cor 1:12; 3:22; 9:5; Gal 2:9, 11, 14) is not Peter but one of the 72 disciples (as were James and John, mentioned in Gal 2:9).[12] Paul denotes Peter with the Greek name Petros (Gal 2:7-8).[13] Paul stayed for 15 days in Jerusalem (Gal 1:18) and had to leave because of the Hellenists (Acts 9:29). He went to Caesarea in December 39 AD and sailed to Tarsus (Acts 9:30, in Cilicia).[14] Cilicia was attached to the province of Syria at that time, such that Tarsus is indicated by the expression “Syria-Cilicia” in Gal 1:21.[15]

When Barnabas had come to Antioch (Acts 11:22), he went to Tarsus to seek Paul (Acts 11:25). Since they both came to Antioch in 41 AD, Paul had stayed in Tarsus for one year, 40-41 AD.[16]

Petronius came with an army to Palestine in the winter of 39/40 AD, with the intent to wage war if the Jews were disobedient to Caligula’s order to the erect a statue of him in the Temple.[17] Since the Jews did not have the Romans on their side at that time, they would not undertake any persecution against the Christians. This situation accounts for the rest that the Christians in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed at the time of Paul’s first visit (Acts 9:31).