Galatians 1:18

"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."

Key Reflection

Paul explains that he did not go directly to Jerusalem after his conversion; instead, he traveled to Arabia for three years. This journey was significant as it allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of the faith before engaging with the established apostles in Jerusalem, setting him apart from those who claimed authority based on prior visits to the city. The original audience would have recognized that this detail emphasized Paul's independent commission and direct experience with divine revelation, distinguishing his teachings from those derived solely from the Jerusalem church.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 18. Then after three years. Probably three years after his departure from Jerusalem to Damascus, not after his return to Arabia. So most commentators have understood it. Went up to Jerusalem. More correctly, as in the margin, returned. To see Peter. Peter was the oldest and most distinguished of the apostles. In Ga 2:9, he, with James and John, is called a pillar. But why Paul went particularly to see him is not known. It was probably, however, from the celebrity and distinction which he knew Peter had among the apostles that he wished to become particularly acquainted with him.

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