galatians-1:13-24-nlt

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:15

But when it pleased God - Paul traced all his hopes of eternal life, and all the good influences which had ever borne upon his mind, to God.Who separated me ... - That is, who destined me; or who purposed from my very birth that I should be a preacher and an apostle. The meaning is, that God had in his secret purposes set him apart to be an apostle. It does not mean that he had actually called him in his infancy to the work, for this was not so, but that he designed him to be an important... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:16

To reveal his Son in me - This is to be regarded as connected with the first part of Galatians 1:15, “When it pleased God to reveal his Son in me,” that is, on the way to Damascus. The phrase evidently means, to make me acquainted with the Lord Jesus, or to reveal his Son to me; compare the Greek in Matthew 10:32, for a similar expression. The revelation here referred to was the miraculous manifestation which was made to Paul on his way to Damascus; compare 2 Corinthians 4:6. That revelation... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:17

Neither went I up to Jerusalem - That is, I did not go there at once. I did not go to consult with the apostles there, or to be instructed by them in regard to the nature of the Christian religion. The design of this statement is to show that, in no sense, did he derive his commission from man.To them which were apostles before me - This implies that Paul then regarded himself to be an apostle. They were, he admits, apostles before he was; but he felt also that he had original authority with... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:18

Then after three years - Probably three years after his departure from Jerusalem to Damascus, not after his return to Arabia. So most commentators have understood it.Went up to Jerusalem - More correctly, as in the margin, returned.To see Peter - Peter was the oldest and most distinguished of the apostles. In Galatians 2:9, he, with James and John, is called a pillar. But why Paul went particularly to see him is not known. It was probably, however, from the celebrity and distinction which he... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:19

Save James the Lord’s brother - That the James here referred to was an apostle is clear. The whole construction of the sentence demands this supposition. In the list of the apostles in Matthew 10:2-3, two of this name are mentioned, James the son of Zebedee and brother of John, and James the son of Alpheus. From the Acts of the Apostles, it is clear that there were two of this name in Jerusalem. Of these, James the brother of John was slain by Herod Acts 12:2, and the other continued to reside... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:20

Behold, before God I lie not - This is an oath, or a solemn appeal to God; see the note at Romans 9:1. The design of this oath here is to prevent all suspicion of falsehood, It may seem to be remarkable that Paul should make this solemn appeal to God in this argument, and in the narrative of a plain fact, when his statement could hardly be called in question by anyone. But we may remark:(1) That the oath here refers not only to the fact that he was with Peter and James only fifteen days, but to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:21

Afterward I came ... - In this account be has omitted a circumstance recorded by Luke Acts 9:29, of the controversy which he had with the Grecians (Hellenists). It was not material to the purpose which he has here in view, which is to state that he was not indebted to the apostles for his knowledge of the doctrines of Christianity. He therefore merely states that he left Jerusalem soon after he went there, and traveled to other places.The regions of Syria - Syria was between Jerusalem and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:22

And was unknown by face ... - Paul had visited Jerusalem only, and he had formed no acquaintance with any of the churches in the other parts of Judea. He regarded himself at the first as called to preach particularly to the Gentiles, and he did not remain even to form an acquaintance with the Christians in Judea.The churches of Judea - Those which were out of Jerusalem. Even at the early period of the conversion of Paul there were doubtless many churches in various parts of the land,Which were... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:23

But they had heard only ... - They had not seen me; but the remarkable fact of my conversion had been reported to them. It was a fact that could hardly be concealed; see the note at Acts 26:26. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:24

And they glorified God in me - They praised God on my account. They regarded me as a true convert and a sincere Christian; and they praised God that he had converted such a persecutor, and had made him a preacher of the gospel. The design for which this is mentioned is, to show that though he was personally unknown to them, and had not derived his views of the gospel from them, yet that he had their entire confidence. They regarded him as a convert and an apostle, and they were disposed to... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:15

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:16

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:17

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:18

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:19

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:20

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:21

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:22

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:23

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:24

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