Galatians 1:15-19
Young's Literal Translation
15 and when God was well pleased -- having separated me from the womb of my mother, and having called [me] through His grace --
16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might proclaim him good news among the nations, immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood,
17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem unto those who were apostles before me, but I went away to Arabia, and again returned to Damascus,
18 then, after three years I went up to Jerusalem to enquire about Peter, and remained with him fifteen days,
19 and other of the apostles I did not see, except James, the brother of the Lord.
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Galatians 1:15-19
Darby Translation
15 But when God, who set me apart [even] from my mother's womb, and called [me] by his grace,
16 was pleased to reveal his Son in me, that I may announce him as glad tidings among the nations, immediately I took not counsel with flesh and blood,
17 nor went I up to Jerusalem to those [who were] apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and again returned to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to make acquaintance with Peter, and I remained with him fifteen days;
19 but I saw none other of the apostles, but James the brother of the Lord.
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Galatians 1:15-19
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
15 But when [God], who from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace, was pleased(A) 16 to reveal his Son to me,(B) so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult flesh and blood,[a] 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; rather, I went into Arabia[b] and then returned to Damascus.
18 [c]Then after three years[d] I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days.(C) 19 But I did not see any other of the apostles,(D) only James the brother of the Lord.[e]
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- 1:16 Flesh and blood: human authorities (cf. Mt 16:17; 1 Cor 15:50). Paul’s apostleship comes from God (Gal 1:1).
- 1:17 Arabia: probably the region of the Nabataean Arabs, east and south of Damascus.
- 1:18–24 Paul’s first journey to Jerusalem as a Christian, according to Galatians (cf. Acts 9:23–31 and the note on Acts 12:25). He is quite explicit about contacts there, testifying under oath (Gal 1:20). On returning to Syria (perhaps specifically Damascus, cf. Gal 1:17) and Cilicia (including his home town Tarsus, cf. Acts 9:30; 22:3), Paul most likely engaged in missionary work. He underscores the fact that Christians in Judea knew of him only by reputation.
- 1:18 After three years: two years and more, since Paul’s call. To confer with Cephas may mean simply “pay a visit” or more specifically “get information from” him about Jesus, over a two-week period. Cephas: Aramaic name of Simon (Peter); cf. Mt 16:16–18 and the notes there.
- 1:19 James the brother of the Lord: not one of the Twelve, but a brother of Jesus (see note on Mk 6:3). He played an important role in the Jerusalem church (see note on Gal 2:9), the leadership of which he took over from Peter (Acts 12:17). Paul may have regarded James as an apostle.
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