Paul’s Testimony
Gal 1:13-24

1-28-07

To certify to the Galatians that his gospel was from the Lord Jesus Christ and not from men (particularly not from the apostles or from the Judean churches) Paul recounted his testimony from before his conversion through his first missionary journey.

1. He starts by recounting his life as a Pharisee before he was saved –

 They could tell what he was by his conversation [v.13], that is his general conduct and behavior [Phil 1:27] (unlike the way we use the word conversation today to characterize speech for the informal exchange of views or information)

1. He practiced the Jew’s religion [v.13] - Phil 3:5-6

                                      ii.      He was of the stock of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin – Rom 11:1

                                     iii.      He was a Pharisee – Acts 26:5 of the straitest [strictest] sect

2. He persecuted and wasted the church [v.13]

                                      i.      He zealously persecuted the church – Acts 8:3; 26:9-11

                                     ii.      Yet he was righteous concerning the law – Acts 22:3-4

3. He was also zealous of the traditions of the Jewish fathers – Matt 15:2-3, 6 [his father was a Pharisee Acts 23:6]
    

2. Then he tells them of God’s calling on his life when he was converted -
    

1. It pleased God to reveal his Son in him – 15-16

                                      i.      God chose Paul – Acts 9:15

                                    ii.      In his foreknowledge God knew from Paul’s birth [“separated me from my mother’s womb”] that he would make this choice BY HIS GRACE in the future

                                   iii.      Otherwise if Paul was saying that God chose him from the womb, then he also chose, through Paul, to murder the early Christians in the persecution, not likely

2. God called him to go primarily to the heathen – Gentiles = Gal 2:9
    

3. Then he tells them about his life after his conversion, to show them that there was no way he could have learned what he knew from the Jews that were in or around Jerusalem
    

1. He conferred not with flesh and blood – Gal 1:12

2. Instead, he went to Arabia – Gal 4:24-25 Mt Sinai – where Moses met the Lord on his 40 day fast, as did Elijah, and probably the same place Jesus went for his temptation and 40 day fast – very important place for all of these men of God – Ex 34:2, 28; 1 Ki 19:8 [Horeb = Sinai, Deut 5:2]; Matt 4:1-2

3. Then he went back to Damascus and after three years escaped – all of this is covered in Acts 9:20-26

4. Then he finally went to Jerusalem, but only for a short while – he was introduced to the apostles by Barnabas [Acts 9:27] – he stayed with Peter for 15 days and also saw the Lord’s brother, James - these are the two men who had been in charge in Jerusalem – Peter at first [Acts 2, 3] and then James when Peter started traveling [Acts 15:13]

5. Afterwards he traveled to Syria and Cilicia – Syria is where Antioch is Acts 13 [the place where the church was centered after the persecutions]; and Cilicia where Iconiium, Lystra and Derbe were [Acts 14] – he went back there in Acts 15:23, 41
    

4. So, according to Gal 1:22-24 the Christians in the Judean churches had never seen him, and could not have picked him out of a crowd, but rejoiced that he was preaching and not persecuting the church anymore – by this they glorified God
    

5. Therefore, Paul proves by his testimony that there was no way that he could have learned the gospel he preached by men, particularly Jewish Christians.  He learned what he preached by revelation of Jesus Christ as he said [Gal 1:12].