Key Scripture: For I didn’t receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ. ~ Galatians 1:12
Galatians 1:11-24
11 But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the Good News which was preached by me, that it is not to man. 12 For I didn’t receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God and ravaged it. 14 I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through his grace, 16 to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn’t immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But of the other I saw no one except James, the Lord’s brother. 20 Now about the things which I write to you, behold,✡ before God, I’m not lying. 21 Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ, 23 but they only heard, “He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy.” 24 So they glorified God in me.
Study Questions:
- Paul makes a clear point in verses 11-12 that he is not teaching the message of salvation that was taught to him by secondhand knowledge, or even taught to him by the disciples of Jesus, but by revelation of Jesus Christ Himself. Acts 9:3-16 Why was that important?
- What was unique about Paul’s previous occupation? Galatians 1:13-14; Acts 8:1-3; 23:6
- What did Paul mean in verse 14 by the statement, “being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers”? Philippians 3:4-6
- Who does Paul give credit to for His conversion, God or Jesus? Galatians 1:15-16 Why might this be important?
- Why do you think it was important to him to point out in verses 16-17 that after his conversion he didn’t go immediately to Jerusalem?
- In verses 18 and 19, Paul shares that he spent 15 days with Peter and also saw the Lord’s brother, James. Why do you think he included this information?
- What might have prompted Paul to state in verse 20 that he was not lying?
- What can we glean from verses 22-24? See also Acts 9:26-28.
- How can our testimony glorify God?
Memory Verse: You didn’t choose me, but I chose you and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain. ~ John 15:16a
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✡ 1:20 Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.