Scripture (NKJV)
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. 19But 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.)
21Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22And
I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. 23But
they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the
faith which he once tried to destroy.” 24And they glorified God
in me.
Commentary – The Making of an Apostle of Jesus, Part 2
Divine tools, useless without love
After receiving the revelation from the Lord Jesus in Arabia, (Gal 1:15-17, 2 Cor 12:2-7), Paul was equipped in his understanding for his ministry which lay ahead. However, though he had all knowledge shown him by God, his was still no ministry. That is to say, the knowledge of God and His Will makes no ministry, but instead the exercise of it in love. Consider the Apostle’s own thoughts on this, as he reports in 1Cor. 13. The issue of one’s love – that active love, not the counterfeit ‘feeling’ love put forth as all-important by the Liar and the world – is examined from all angles to show it’s relevance. 1Cor 13:1-2 addresses knowledge left bare without it; v.3 the ultimate personal sacrifices rendered useless by it’s lack; vs. 4-7 it’s behavior and exercise; and vs. 8-13 loves timeless survival past all other things which shall see their end when the Lord returns. Paul here illustrates the truth of where the reality of God’s power and intent reside; it is not by knowledge the Lord Jesus have saved us, no more than by his personal revelation and teaching was Paul’s knowledge alone any good. Only by the essential ingredient of love these things were made powerful.
Perhaps this is because love is the only product we produce in true partnership with God. Faith in God comes from the Father, while our fruits, whatever type, are borne out of hearts. But the self-sacrificing love of the Savior or one of His own is a perfect response of the believer’s heart, to the incitation of God’s Holy Spirit. Love is the perfect expression of Christ, and the same when we exercise it upon others in our world.
Galations 1:11-17 recounts the equipping of the Apostle and his Salvation story. Vs. 18-24, and the three years gap following this time are his fledgling years – those when he learned how to cope with and use what had been conveyed upon him. It was somewhere in this time he might have considered the issues lined out in 1 Cor 13. The equipping of the Apostle was in at least two parts – his gain of knowledge, and his exercise of it in love.
Paul’s timeline through Gal 2:1
Acts
22:14-15
14Then he said, “The God of our fathers has chosen you that you
should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.
15For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.
Acts
26:16
16But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this
purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have
seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.
Acts
22:10
10So I said, “What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me,
“Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which
are appointed for you to do.’
Acts
9:19-22
19So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent
some days with the disciples at Damascus.
20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that
He is the Son of God.
Acts
9:25
25Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the
wall in a large basket.
Galatians
1:15-17
15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb
and called me through His grace, 16to reveal His Son in me, that I
might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh
and blood, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles
before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
2
Corinthians 12:2-7
2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago–whether in the body
I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows–such a one
was caught up to the third heaven. 3And I know such a man–whether
in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows– 4how he
was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not
lawful for a man to utter. 5Of such a one I will boast; yet of
myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6For though I
might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I
refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears
from me.
Galatians
1:18
18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and
remained with him fifteen days.
Acts 9:26-28
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.
Acts 22:17-21
17“Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance 18and saw Him saying to me, “Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’ 19So I said, “Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. 20And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ 21Then He said to me, “Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.”‘
Acts
26:17
17I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the
Gentiles, to whom I now send you,
Acts
9:29-30
29And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed
against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. 30When the
brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to
Tarsus.
Acts
26:19-20
19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the
heavenly vision, 20but declared first to those in Damascus and in
Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles,
that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.
Acts
1:8b
”…and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the end of the earth.”
Acts
9:15
15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of
Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
Galatians
1:21
21Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
Acts
11:25-26
25Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26And
when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole
year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the
disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Acts 11:29-30
29Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. 30This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Acts
12:25
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had
fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was
Mark.