Free Bible Commentary
“Galatians 1:18-24”
Categories: Galatians“Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord's brother. (Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying.) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; but only, they kept hearing, 'He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.' And they were glorifying God because of me.”
---End of Scripture verses---
Imagine that the best player in the nation plays on the sports team that beats your favorite team on a regular basis. Then imagine him leaving the “enemy” and joining your team. Or imagine you are a member of Saul’s army, and you witness Goliath having a “spiritual awakening” and joining forces with Israel to fight against the Philistines. There would be much rejoicing on your side!
Christianity’s greatest enemy, one fully committed to and furiously focused on utterly destroying the church of Jesus Christ, is now fighting with all his strength to defend and advance the cause of Christ (verse 23)! You can understand why the Christians in Judea “were glorifying God because of” Paul (verse 24)! Even though they had only heard this and not seen it with their own eyes. Even though they were still a bit apprehensive of having Paul walking in their midst (Acts 9:26).
Paul is still defending his credibility as an “independent” apostle here, and the authenticity of his inspiration, and he will continue to do so in the next chapter as well. He wrote that he finally got the chance to make the acquaintance of Peter (Cephas) and James (the brother of Jesus), three years after his conversion to Christ. He had already been preaching the Gospel for three full years before he had even met any of the “Original Twelve”.
Paul was not actually calling James an apostle in the same sense that Peter was. James, the Lord’s brother, was a prominent leader in the church at Jerusalem and "one sent forth" to proclaim the Truth, although he was not one of the Lord's special, inspired, authorized ambassadors. But the main point is that Paul did not require the endorsement or instruction of prominent men such as Peter and James to carry out the Lord’s work that Jesus himself had commissioned him to do.
Paul was a “chosen vessel”, hand-selected by the Lord, to effectively serve His purposes. This has to be one of the great “surprise stories” in all the Bible. All good things are possible with the Lord. The conversion of Paul teaches us that we should never give up on anybody. If God can turn and use a man like Paul, who demonstrated himself to be “the foremost” of all sinners (1 Timothy 1:15), His word and will can potentially touch anyone!
Please read Galatians 2:1-5 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
-Louie Taylor
