Galatians 1:18-24

¹⁸ “Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him for fifteen days. ¹⁹ But I did not see another one of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ (Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying.)²¹ Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. ²² I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which are in Christ; ²³ but they only kept hearing, “The man who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.” ²⁴ And they were glorifying God because of me.”

Verse 18: Paul recounts his visit to Jerusalem after three years of ministry. He specifically mentions his time spent with Cephas (Peter), one of the prominent apostles. This visit allowed Paul to establish a connection with the other apostles and leaders in the early church.

Verse 19: Paul clarifies that during his visit, he did not have the opportunity to meet with all the other apostles. However, he did have a significant encounter with James, the brother of Jesus. This highlights the importance of his relationship with James and the recognition of his authority within the early church.

Verse 20: Paul emphasizes the truthfulness and sincerity of his words. He wants the Galatians to understand the seriousness and authenticity of his message. He assures them that what he is writing is not based on falsehood or deception but is a genuine expression of the truth.

Verse 21: After his visit to Jerusalem, Paul embarked on a journey to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. This demonstrates his commitment to spreading the gospel beyond the confines of Jerusalem and his willingness to minister in various regions.

Verse 22: Paul reveals that during this time, he was not yet personally known to the churches in Judea. Despite his significant role as an apostle, his ministry had not yet gained widespread recognition among the believers in that region. This highlights the independent nature of his apostleship and his reliance on the revelation and commissioning he received from God.

Verse 23: Paul acknowledges that the churches in Judea had heard about his transformation from a persecutor of the faith to a preacher of the gospel. The news of his conversion and ministry had reached them, and they recognized the radical change that had taken place in his life. This serves as a testament to the transformative power of the gospel and the impact of Paul’s testimony.

Verse 24: Paul concludes this passage by highlighting the response of the churches in Judea to his ministry. Despite not personally knowing him, they glorified God because of the incredible transformation they witnessed in Paul’s life. This demonstrates the power of God’s grace and the redemptive work that had taken place in Paul’s heart. It also serves as a reminder that our lives can be a testimony to the transformative power of the gospel, bringing glory to God.