Matthew Poole and continuators on Galatians 1:17

17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem, to them that were apostles before me , but I went into Arabia , and returned again unto Damascus e.

As Ierusalem was the place for the Oracle of the Law, under the Old Testament; so it also was for the Gospel upon the first publication of it. There the Disciples were, they returned thither after they had seen Christ ascend to Heaven, Luke 24.52. from thence they were not to depart, but to wait there for the promise of the Father, Acts 1.4. There the Holy Ghost came down upon them, chap. 2. there they continued till the persecution scattered them; there was the Colledge of the Apostles. Paul saith that upon his Conversion, he did not go up thither, nor till three years after, (as he tells us in the next verse); but he

went into Arabia, amongst the Heathens, and the most wild and barbarous Heathens, (for such were the Arabians.) Luke in the Acts tells us nothing of this. From hence it was easie to conclude, that Paul had not his Commission from the other Apostles that were before him, for he saw none of them till he had been a preacher of the Gospel to the wild Arabians three years.

And then he returned to Damascus; the word is [non-Latin text not transcribed], which is by some observed to signifie his being compelled to return, (as they judge) by some persecution raised amongst the Heathens; but of this the Scripture saith nothing.