Galatians 1:10-24 PAUL JUSTIFIES HIS AUTHORITY TO PREACH THE GOSPEL
For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
Call to Apostleship
But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
Contacts at Jerusalem
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)
Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in me.”
Galatia is a long way from Jerusalem, Judea, or Galilee. Paul has made his way through Galatia, preaching the Gospel as he goes. But now others are coming in, trying to confuse the Galatians and insisting that they have to observe so many different rituals if they are REALLY going to be holy. Like it or not, Paul is going to have to justify his ministry to prove the truth of his teaching.
“For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.”
There has always been controversy as to whether the disciples were too hasty in replacing Judas Iscariot with Matthias. Perhaps Paul was actually the one Jesus wanted as Judas’ replacement. In the beginning, Paul didn’t look anything like a disciple; in fact, he was persecuting Christians and arranging for their deaths. Paul even held the coats for the men who stoned Stephen to death. But God had a plan for Paul.
Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus as he was hurrying to that city to persecute more Christians. After being struck blind and then healed miraculously, Paul immediately began preaching about Jesus in Damascus, so much so that believers had to let him down in a basket from the city wall at night to get him out of town. So how did Paul learn so much about Jesus if he didn’t spend lots of time with the original disciples? Now Paul tells us that he went off to Arabia and Damascus for three years; during that time, Jesus revealed himself to Paul. WOW! Not bound by limitations of time or space, Jesus could reveal himself to Paul in ways he had not been able to do so for his disciples while he was still on earth.
“Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)
Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in me.”
When the disciples, particularly Peter, heard about Paul’s miraculous conversion, they must have been gob-smacked! Here was this Pharisee of the Pharisees, this prize student of Gamaliel, one of the top teachers of the Law, and now he’s claiming that he’s seen Jesus and Jesus has called him to preach? Most of the disciples must have been waiting for things to fall apart and for Paul to revert to Phariseeism. But he didn’t. Paul conferred with Peter and James, Jesus’ brother, and then went into Syria and Cilicia to preach and teach. Back in Jerusalem, the disciples must have been shaking their heads and wondering if this guy was for real.
Why would Paul write these things to the Galatians? Paul wants to make sure the Galatians know the Authority who has sent him. All these other representatives of cults and Jewish sects have come with fake credentials; Paul wants the Galatians to know that he has the approval of Jesus Christ himself.
Paul has a number of things he needs to teach the Galatians, and travel is difficult and time-consuming. Paul’s efforts will be greatly multiplied if the Galatians will accept his authority and share this letter as widely as possible. To achieve that goal, Paul must convince the Galatians that he is really sharing what Jesus has given him.
Today we have emails, WhatsApps, SMS messages, PM’s, social media, and so many other means of communication apart from phone calls and video calls. For many of us it might be difficult to grasp the significance of receiving such a communication from a distant place. But for the Christians in Galatia, this letter must have been a wonderful gift. Here they are, surrounded by pagans. Paul has preached and taught and is now a long way away. No matter how carefully the Galatians remember Paul’s teaching, they must still be wondering if they are remembering correctly. And is Paul really someone they can trust?
How about us? How do we decide whom to trust? In an age when we are overwhelmed with information, much of it false, how do we choose the right sources? We must ask God for assistance. God has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us and that He will give wisdom to anyone who truly wants it. When we go to God in prayer, He will meet us and answer those prayers.
Sometimes we might wonder. After all, we are sinful. But God knows us better than we know ourselves and He wants to hear from us. When we open ourselves to God, He opens Himself to us as well. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” This is our guarantee; we can always come to the throne of grace. So today, no matter how confused you might be, come to God in prayer. He’s waiting for you.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to listen to You and to always seek guidance from You so that Your holiness will fill our hearts. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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