Galatians 1:15-2:9 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Galatians 1:10-24

What Paul had said more generally, in the preface of this epistle, he now proceeds more particularly to enlarge upon. There he had declared himself to be an apostle of Christ; and here he comes more directly to support his claim to that character and office. There were some in the churches of Galatia who were prevailed with to call this in question; for those who preached up the ceremonial law did all they could to lessen Paul's reputation, who preached the pure gospel of Christ to the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 1:11-17

1:11-17 As for the gospel that has been preached by me, I want you to know, brothers, that it rests on no human foundation. for, neither did I receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through direct revelation from Jesus Christ. If you want proof of that you heard of the kind of life I once lived when I practised the Jewish faith, a life in which I persecuted the Church of God beyond all bounds and devastated it. I was making strides in the Jewish faith beyond many of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 1:15

But when it pleased God ,.... Here begins his account of his conversion, and call to the ministry; all which he ascribes entirely to the sovereign good pleasure, and free grace of God: who separated me from my mother's womb . By his "mother" is meant, not in an improper and figurative sense, the Jewish church, or the old synagogue, the mother of all its members; the Jerusalem which then was, and was in bondage with her children; from which bondage, blindness, ignorance, superstition and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 1:15

Who separated me from my mother's womb - Him whom I acknowledge as the God of nature and the God of grace; who preserved me by his providence when I was a helpless infant, and saved me by his grace when I was an adult persecutor. For some useful remarks on these passages see the introduction, sec. 2. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 1:15

Verse 15 15.But after that it pleased God. This is the second part of the narrative, and relates to his miraculous conversion. He tells us, first, that he had been called by the grace of God to preach Christ among the Gentiles; and, next, that as soon as he had been called, without consulting the apostles, he unhesitatingly proceeded to the performance of the work, which, he felt assured, had been enjoined upon him by the appointment of God. In the construction of the words, Erasmus differs... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 1:11-24

Paul's personal grasp of the gospel. Paul, as we have seen, is so certain of the gospel of grace being the only gospel for sinful men, that he is prepared to pronounce an anathema on all who preach any other gospel. Lest it might be supposed that he took up this intolerant position rashly, he now proceeds to give us a short autobiography, in which he shows how he had received the gospel, and what a hold it had upon him. Let us notice the salient points in this narrative. I. HIS LIFE... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 1:11-24

Position. "For I make known to you, brethren, as touching the gospel which was preached by me." To the remarkable outburst of feeling with which the apostle approaches the Galatians, succeeds affectionate, calm statement. He addresses them now as brethren. His object in writing to them is not to excommunicate them, but to bring them back from their error. Against the misrepresentations of the Judaists he wishes to make known to them as his brethren his exact position, touching the gospel... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 1:15

But when it pleased God ( ὅτε δὲ αὐδόκησεν ὁ θεός ); and when it was the good pleasure of God. The Authorized Version and the Revised Version have "but when." To determine the exact force here of the conjunction δέ , we must consider how the sentence it introduces stands related to what precedes. The main underlying thought of Galatians 1:13 , Galatians 1:14 was that the habit of the apostle's mind before his conversion was such as wholly to preclude the notion of his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 1:15-16

After his conversion he took no counsel with men as to his doctrine or career. The apostle is most emphatic in asserting his independence of man. Mark— I. HIS HIGH DESTINATION FROM BIRTH . "Who separated me from my mother's womb." Here is an instance of prevenient grace. From his very birth, and therefore before he could have any impulses or ideas of his own, God destined him to apostleship, no matter how wayward or inconsistent may have been the career of his youth. Looking... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 1:15-16

The destiny, call, and mission of St. Paul I. THE DESTINY . St. Paul feels that from his birth he was set apart for the great apostolic work of his later years. 1 . There is a destiny in every life. God has his purpose of calling us into being. 2 . This destiny is determined for us , not by us. We do not choose the circumstances in which we are born, nor our own gifts and dispositions. We can with difficulty escape from our surroundings, and we can never escape from... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Galatians 1:10-24

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 1:11-17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 1:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 1:15

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 1:15

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 1:11-24

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 1:11-24

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 1:15

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 1:15-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 1:15-16

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