¹¹ For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. ¹² For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹³ For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. ¹⁴ And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁵ But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, ¹⁶ was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; ¹⁷ nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
¹⁸ Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) ²¹ Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. ²² And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. ²³ They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” ²⁴ And they glorified God because of me.

1) Why is it significant that Paul received the gospel directly from Jesus, and not from any man?
Paul wrote Galatians to combat heresies that were sneaking into the church.  He was making a case that the gospel he preached was the only true gospel, and that any other gospel was false.  In this time, before the Word of God was written down and available to all believers, it was important for a teacher to prove his credibility, so that his testimony about the gospel could be seen as coming from Jesus himself.

2) What does Paul’s radical transformation say about the gospel?
There is no doubt that Paul’s former life was completely hostile to Christ, and that his life after his conversion was spent working and suffering for Christ’s sake.  It is just as stark a transformation as if an ISIS soldier were to convert to Christianity and begin winning people to Christ.  This transformation is one of the proofs that the gospel is true.  Paul turned his back on his former way of life and stepped into a life of hardship and suffering that eventually cost him his life, all for the sake of Jesus Christ.

3) Where are Arabia, Damascus, Syria, and Cilicia?  Why was it important where Paul was after his conversion?
Arabia refers to the Arabian Peninsula, east of Israel.  Damascus is a city in Syria, north of Israel, and Cilicia is the southern part of what is now Turkey.  The point of Paul mentioning that he spent time in these places is that he was not in Jerusalem, being taught by the apostles.  Rather, he was receiving his calling directly from Christ.

4) What reaction did Paul’s conversion cause in the Judean believers?
Verses 23 and 24 show that the believers in Judea glorified God because of what they heard about Paul. This shows that they knew Paul’s change was due to the work of Christ in his life.

1) Why is it significant that Paul received the gospel directly from Jesus, and not from any man?
The early church did not have the New Testament, so they had to rely on the authority of the apostles to prove what was true and what was false doctrine.  We, on the other hand, are blessed with the written Word of God.  False teachers abound today, just as they did in Paul’s time.  Do you know the Bible well enough to recognize false teaching when you hear it?

2) What does Paul’s radical transformation say about the gospel?
The gospel is powerful, and no one is beyond Christ’s reach!  Is there a Saul-like person you know, someone who is hostile to the gospel and seems like the least likely person to give their life to Christ?  Don’t give up, but pray for them!  God can save anyone.

3) Where are Arabia, Damascus, Syria, and Cilicia?  Why was it important where Paul was after his conversion?
God orchestrated the events of Paul’s life so that, when he needed to prove his authority, even the places he had lived were a testimony.  God is always working in our lives, and we may not immediately know why He has us in a certain place, doing a certain thing.  But we can rest in His sovereignty and believe that He is doing a work in us.

4) What reaction did Paul’s conversion cause in the Judean believers?
When you see a life transformed by the gospel, do you give credit where credit is due?  Do you compliment the person on their changed life, as if it was their power that accomplished it, or do you give glory to God?  Likewise, when God transforms a part of your life and people take notice, are you careful to give glory to God, and not take credit that belongs to Him?

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Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

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