Persecution Sparks Growth in Antioch

Saul's  "Silent Years"

THE last mention of Saul in the book of Acts prior to his move to Antioch in about 45 C.E., is when a plot to kill him in Jerusalem was foiled and fellow believers sent him to Tarsus.  (Acts 9:28-30; 11:25)  But that was nine years earlier,in about 36 C.E. What did he do in the meantime-a period dubbed Saul's silent years?

From Jerusalem, Saul went into the region of Syria and Cilicia, and the congregation of Judea heard:  "The man that formerly persecuted us is now declaring the good news about the faith which he formerly devastated."  (Galatians 1:21-23) That report may have referred to activity in Antioch with Barnabas, but even before that Saul undoubtedly was not idle.  By  49 C.E., a number of congregations existed in Syria and Cilicia.  One was in Antioch, but some think that others may have been the result of Saul's activity during his so-called silent  years. -Acts 11:26; 15:23, 41.

Some scholars believe that dramatic events in Saul's life should be dated to the same period.  Many hardships suffered as a 'minister of Christ' are otherwise  hard to place in his missionary career.  ( 2 Corinthians 11:23-27)  When did Saul five times receive 39 strokes from the Jews?  Where was he three times beaten with rods?  Where did he undergo 'plentiful' imprisonments?  His detention in Rome came later.  We have an account about one time that he was beaten and jailed-in Philippi.  But what of the others?  (Acts 16:22, 23) One writer suggests that Saul during his period was witnessing about Christ within the synagogues of the Diaspora in such a manner as to bring about persecution from both the regional and the civil authorities."

Saul suffered  four shipwrecks, but the Scriptures provide details  about only one, which took place after he listed his hardships when writing to the Corinthians.  (Acts 27:27-44)  So the other three likely befell him during voyages we know nothing about.  Any or all of these events may belong to the "silent years."

Another event that seems to date to this period is described at 2 Corinthians 12:2-5.  Saul said:  'I know a man in union with Christ who, fourteen years ago was caught away to the third heaven, into paradise, and heard unutterable words, which it is not lawful for a man to speak.'  Apparently, Saul was talking about himself.  Since he wrote this in about 55 C.E.,  14 years earlier would take us back to 41 C.E., in the middle of the "silent years."

That vision doubtless gave Saul unique insight.  Was it to equip him as "an apostle to the nations?"  (Romans 11:13)  Did it affect the way he later thought, wrote, and spoke?  Did the years between Saul's conversion and his call to Antioch serve to train and mature him for future responsibilities?  Whatever are the answers to such questions, we can be sure that when Barnabas invited him to help spearhead the preaching work in Antioch, zealous Saul was fully qualified to fulfill the assignment. -Acts 11:19-26.

Next time: YOU CAN REMAIN CHASTE IN AN IMMORAL WORLD

Watchtower, 2000