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
Holman Christian Standard Bible
15 But when God, who from my birth set me apart and called(A) me by His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son(B) in me, so that I could preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.[a] 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem(C) to those who had become apostles(D) before me; instead I went to Arabia(E) and came back to Damascus.(F)
18 Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem(G) to get to know Cephas,[b](H) and I stayed with him 15 days. 19 But I didn’t see any of the other apostles except James,(I) the Lord’s brother.
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- Galatians 1:16 Lit flesh and blood
- Galatians 1:18 Other mss read Peter
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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