Mobile device - Print - Bottom

Home -- English -- Galatians - 007 (The first brotherly visit to Jerusalem)

Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson

GALATIANS - I Have Been Crucified With Christ
Studies in the Letter of Paul to the Galatians

PART 2: THE HISTORICAL EVIDENCES OF THE APOSTOLIC POWERS OF PAUL (Galatians 1:11 – 2:21)

2. The first brotherly visit to Jerusalem (Galatians 1:18-24)

---

GALATIANS 1:18-24
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother. 20 (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.) 21 Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. 23 But they were hearing only, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy." 24 And they glorified God in me.

During three long years, Paul preached among Bedouins. He accompanied them in their journeys, and hid himself among them from the Jews, who persecuted him. We know nothing about the fruits of his ministry there, but we may be sure that the Holy Spirit worked in him also among the Arabs. From the beginning, Christ had Arab followers. Do you want to be a witness of Christ in your surroundings, or do you want to remain dead and fruitless? Christ intends to dwell in your heart by faith, and to save many around you.

Paul’s ministries were not connected with any particular sect or party, but he longed for the fellowship of the brothers, and when he went, for the first time, to the eyewitnesses, who accompanied Jesus, and lived in Jerusalem, they were afraid of their once persecutor. At the same time, the Jews were searching for their apostate commissioner to kill him. Consequently, he came secretly to Peter, the leader of church, to meet him.

He did not come to the most forward man among the apostles that he might ordain him priest or pastor, since Christ himself had called Paul, appointed him to be the apostle of the Gentiles, furnished him with his Spirit, and confirmed his service. So, Paul got acquainted with Peter and James in the course of two weeks, and he discussed with them Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Christ had appeared to Peter and James after his resurrection, to strengthen them in their faith, especially that the brothers of Jesus, for fear of the Jews, had considered him insane, but they believed in him before his ascension, having met the Victor who joined them to the fellowship of those who awaited the promise of the Father (Acts 1: 14; 1 Cor 15: 7).

Thus, Paul joined the original church, and at the same time remained a stranger faraway from them. He continued with them in Christ, but had to hide himself from persecution and doubts, and was unable to participate publicly in the fellowship of believers. Yet, the Holy Spirit remained his unique teacher, and Christ himself his immediate ruler. And his Lord sent him out to many nations, and made him more fruitful than all, that today we live from the epistle of his testimony.

PRAYER: O mighty Father, even today you change your enemies, and you take the mighty men as your booty. Thank you for every one of them, who believes, and you regenerate and send out as an apostle to disbelievers. We seek your protection and fellowship for him. Send us too to our nation, to preach your grace and pleasure, and strengthen us that we may be neither afraid nor late.

QUESTION:

9. What is the significance of Paul’s first visit to Jerusalem?

Mobile device - Print - Top