Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days.
Summary: Paul tells us about an event that validates his message from Jesus.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:18 – Peter & Paul”Galatians 1:17 – God is Amazing!
I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.
Summary: God’s plan for his new church did not include leaving detailed instructions for people to follow. Instead, God chose people who would listen and obey.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:17 – God is Amazing!”Galatians 1:16c – Choosing Jesus
… my immediate response was not to consult any human being.
Summary: There comes a time in most people’s lives when we have to make a choice. Who are we going to serve? Who are we going to follow? The ultimate choice is choosing between personal pride and submitting to God.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:16c – Choosing Jesus”Galatians 1:16b – One-Eighty
… so that I might preach him among the Gentiles,
Summary: Change can be good, but it is always change, and change requires that we let go of the old and embrace the new.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:16b – One-Eighty”Galatians 1:15c-16a – Auto-Correct
… was pleased to reveal his Son in me …
Summary: Our brain is a marvelous tool, but we have to double check its work to make sure we are on the right track.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:15c-16a – Auto-Correct”Galatians 1:15b – Trusting Jesus
… and called me by his grace,
Summary: Sometimes, a thought experiment can help us understand what the Bible is saying. This passage inspires us to consider what it means to be “called” by God.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:15b – Trusting Jesus”Galatians 1:15a – Zizanion
But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb …
Summary: God sees us for what we are, even when we can’t.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:15a – Zizanion”Galatians 1:14 – Zealous for Jesus
I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Summary: Learning about Jesus can be dangerous if our knowledge becomes our god.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:14 – Zealous for Jesus”Galatians 1:13b – Stupid Games
… how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.
Summary: In this passage Paul recounts his misguided attempts to serve God by persecuting believers in Jesus Christ.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:13b – Stupid Games”Galatians 1:13a – Knowing Jesus
… For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism,
Summary: Paul’s words in this passage give us pause for thought. If you could take a “before” and “after” picture of yourself before and after meeting Jesus, what would be different?
Continue reading “Galatians 1:13a – Knowing Jesus”