Galatians 1:18-24

c)

His visit to Jerusalem was not long enough for instruction in the gospel. Galatians 1:18-24

TEXT 1:18-24

(18) Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and tarried with him fifteen days. (19) But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. (20) Now touching the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. (21) Then I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. (22) And I was still unknown by face unto the churches of Judea which were in Christ: (23) but they only heard say, He that once persecuted us now preacheth the faith of which he once made havoc; (24) and they glorified God in me.

PARAPHRASE 1:18-24

18 Then, after three years from my conversion, I went up to Jerusalem, to become acquainted with Peter; and being introduced to him by Barnabas, who knew how the Lord had appeared to me, I abode in his house fifteen days.
19 But, though I abode these days in Jerusalem, I saw no other of the apostles at that time, except James, the Lord's cousin-german.
20 Now, the things I write to you concerning myself, to shew that I am not an apostle of men, behold, in the presence of God I declare with assurance, I do not falsely represent them.
21 After the fifteen days were ended, I went first into the regions of Syria, and from thence into my native country Cilicia.
22 And I was personally unknown to the Christian churches in Judea; so that I could not receive either my commission or my doctrine from them.
23 But only they heard, that he who formerly persecuted the Christians, was become a zealous preacher of the facts concerning Christ which formerly he endeavoured to disprove.
24 And they praised God on account of my conversion, who had been so bitter an enemy to them.

COMMENT 1:18

then after three years I went up to Jerusalem

1.

This is after his Arabian trip and his experience at Damascus of being close to a martyr's death.

2.

Acts 9:26-30 tells of his trip there.

a.

The disciples were afraid of him.

b.

Barnabas told of Paul's conversion.

3.

Paul then preached, going in and out of Jerusalem.

4.

Grecian Jews sought to kill him, but the brethren helped him escape and he went to Tarsus.

5.

The three years causes one to think of the apostles-' three years of training under Christ. Some feel Paul was trained three years in Arabia.

to visit Cephas (alternate reading: to get acquainted with Cephas)

1.

Notice that he was preaching before he went to Jerusalem, and enemies sought to kill him there as in Damascus. Acts 9:26-29

2.

Why were they not trying to kill Peter?

a.

Probably because Peter was not giving the emphasis about Gentiles having equal rights as Paul was.

b.

Probably because of Paul's radical change. Peter was of Galilee. Paul was one of them formerly and they turned on him.

c.

The apostles seem to have been spared some persecution. Acts 8:2

and tarried with him fifteen days

1.

This would be rather a brief time for instruction.

2.

Jesus kept his disciples about three years; how could Paul expect to be qualified in fifteen days under Peter's teaching?

Galatians 1:18-20 AND Acts 9:26-28 COMPARED

Some few texts in the Bible seem to contradict each other until examined closely.

One such problem area has to do with harmonizing Acts 9:26-28 and Galatians 1:18-20. The problem is this: Saul of Tarsus, following his conversion, preached Christ for some time at Damascus, then went to Jerusalem, hoping to confer with brethren there.

According to the account in Acts, the disciples aware of his former antagonism, were afraid of him. Barnabas then vouched for him, after which he mingled freely with the apostles.
When we read the account in Galatians, it at first seems to vary. Remember Luke the historian says that he traced accurately his information before writing.

In Galatians 1:20, Paul says that he was not telling a lie which is really writing under an oath.

Paul seems to say that he spent fifteen days with Cephas (Peter) Galatians 1:20, but saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. Basically, two difficulties face us: 1. Was James an apostle? 2. Did Paul meet with other apostles besides Peter?

What is meant by the word apostle? This is a key to the understanding. Were men called apostles who were not of the original twelve?

Consider the senderIt will not do to use the term apostle loosely; it is never so used in the Scripture. An apostle is not only one who is sent; he is one sent or commissioned by some specific person or group. It is unfair to speak of an apostle without reference to his sender, just as it would be to speak of an ambassador without reference to the ruler or government which sent him or gave him his commission. Jesus was an apostle of God, and was faithful to Him who appointed Him (Hebrews 3:1-2). Paul and the twelve were apostles of Christ, for He specifically appointed and commissioned them. Saul and Barnabas were apostles of the church in Antioch, for the church sent them on their mission (Acts 13:1-3; Acts 14:14).

A study of the epistles show that many men were called apostles.

Certain brethren assigned to accompany Paul with a collection were named as apostles (rendered messengers) of the churches (2 Corinthians 8:23). Epaphroditus was an apostle (messenger) of the church in Philippi (Philippians 2:25). Others said they were apostles, but were not (2 Corinthians 11:13; Revelation 2:2). The word was clearly specific, and never used carelessly.

But James the Lord's brother was not an apostle. He was spoken of as a pillar in Galatians 2:9. He was not an apostle of Christ, for no evidence exists to certify his appointment. He was a leader in the church at Jerusalem, but nothing indicates that the church ever commissioned or appointed him for a specific mission. He seems to have sent apostles (messengers) to Antioch.

The apparent contradiction is clarified through studying the language in which the word of God came to us. It reveals that there were other kinds of apostles.

A careful study of Galatians 1:19 in the original language easily solves both difficulties; the solution is in the phrase, other of the apostles. The New Testament Greek uses two words for other. Allos means another of the same kind, and heteros, another of a different kind. This is illustrated in Galatians 1:6-7 as Paul marveled that the Galatians were so soon removed to a different gospel, which was not another; it was heteros, different in kind; not alios, merely another of the same kind. In Galatians 1:19 Paul used heteros, thus distinguishing James in kind from the apostles.

Those who like to study language will best appreciate the following discussion.
In the New Testament, writers commonly expressed the comparison, than, not with a conjunction, but with the ablative case. Such phrases as more than, greater than, and rather than, were normally expressed in this way. Here Paul uses heteros with the ablative case. The passage might well be rendered, But other than the apostles, I saw no one except James, the Lord's brother, Yes, Paul did see the other apostles; and, no, he did not refer to James as an apostle.

WORD STUDY 1:18

Cephas was the Aramaic equivalent of the Greek name Peter. Both names are simply the common word for rock, as Simon was designated by Jesus in Matthew 16:18.

COMMENT 1:19

but other of the apostles saw I none

1.

Only two apostles were seen, so he could not have been instructed by all of them.

2.

It is doubtful if James were an apostle as seen by the study unless by a special calling.

3.

It seems Paul places him as an apostle, and that should settle it.

James, the Lord's brother

1.

Is this James the author of the book of James?

a.

Yes, some say.

b.

See McGarvey's Evidences of Christianity.

2.

There were three Jamesand some say a fourth:

a.

James, the elder, son of Zebedee and brother of John, was one of the twelve (Matthew 10:1-42). He was martyred under Herod Agrippa in 44 A.D.

b.

James, the younger, son of Alphaeus was also an apostle (Matthew 10:1-42).

c.

James, the brother of the Lord, is named in this text.

1)

He is believed to have been a pillar in the church at Jerusalem. James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go unto the Gentiles and they unto the circumcision. Galatians 2:9

2)

He may have been made an apostle by a special appearance of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:7 then he appeared to James; then to all the apostles.

3)

His judgment prevailed in the council at Jerusalem. Acts 15:13-29

4)

According to Josephus he was stoned by order of Annas, the High Priest, about 63 A.D.

5)

Some feel he was a cousin rather than a brother.

d.

James the Less (Greek littleshort of stature) is considered by some to be a fourth, but could be the same as (b).

COMMENT 1:20

before God I lie not

1.

This amounts to an oath before God.

2.

He was willing to call God's witness to the proof of his apostleship.

3.

This is to establish the truthfulness of the history of his early experiences with the Lord.

COMMENT 1:21

the regions of Syria and Cilicia

1.

Paul's reasons for leaving Damascus are seen in Acts 9:22-25; the Jews took counsel to kill him. While in Jerusalem, he was in a trance and the Lord spoke: And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee forth far hence unto the Gentiles. Acts 22:17-21

2.

Cilicia formed the part of Syria in Asia Minor, which part was separated from Syria proper by the high ridge of Mt. Taurus.

COMMENT 1:22

I was still unknown by face

1.

He had not held any meetings to give them a chance to become acquainted.

2.

No doubt because of persecution, the Christians were not assembling in great meetings to hear this converted Jew.

COMMENT 1:23

But they only heard say

1.

He had a reputation that was second hand: they had not actually seen this former persecutor.

a)

Once he was a havoc maker.

b)

Now he preaches what he once destroyed.

2.

Paul didn-'t have time to appear before all the scattered Christians.

COMMENT 1:24

they glorified God in me

1.

It was not because he urged circumcision and the law of Moses, but because he urged faith in Jesus Christ.

2.

They rejoiced that an enemy was now a friend.

STUDY QUESTIONS 1:18-24

111.

How many years are named in this verse?

112.

Was it three years after his Arabian trip, or was it three years after his conversion?

113.

Could he have spent three years receiving instruction from Christ as did the other apostles?

114.

Was Paul interested in any one disciple in Jerusalem?

115.

Why was Peter's life in jeopardy, while Paul had already faced death?

116.

Was fifteen days very long for Paul to receive instruction?

117.

Why does Paul discuss the time element?

118.

What apostles did Paul see?

119.

Why were the others not seen?

120.

Was the Lord's brother an apostle? Cf. also 1 Corinthians 15:7

121.

How many James-' were there?

122.

Was the Lord's brother the author of the book of James?

123.

Did Paul feel that these words were extremely important? (Galatians 1:20)

124.

Who was called as a witness to the truth?

125.

Where did Paul go from Jerusalem?

126.

Locate his destination on a map.

127.

Why did he leave Jerusalem?

128.

Was Paul's face a familiar Christian face in Judea?

129.

Why did the Christians not gather in great numbers to hear him?

130.

Was Paul known to be a Christian?

131.

What was reported concerning him?

132.

Did all of them believe the report?

133.

What is meant by glorifying God in Paul?

134.

Do we glorify God in our preachers today?

135.

If we speak against a preacher, how serious is it?