Galatians 1:11-24--Paul the Apostle, Called by God

Paul Called by God​
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.

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Another short passage today as we look at Paul's qualifications to bring this message to these people at this time.  Remember that this was not the age of the internet and while the rumor-mill was still strong and word had spread of a man who used to hunt down Christians to persecute them, arrest them, and maybe even kill them coming to Christ and being a missionary, some may not know him by the name Paul or that he was this man.  If they did know that much about him, they may not have known how it is that he deserved to be called and given the respect of an apostle, because he was not one of the Eleven (remember that Jesus chose the Twelve, but Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus and committed suicide). 

We'll eventually study the choosing of Matthias in Acts 1 as the one that the Eleven thought would replace Judas when we get there, but God gave a double-blessing like we see in the Old Testament so many times and replaced Judas with both Matthias and Paul (remember how how Jacob was given a double-blessing and how he in turn gave a double-blessing to Joseph by taking his two sons that were sons of Egypt and adopting them and making them his own children so that they would be called "children of Israel?"  I think this is foreshadowing of the gospel going to the Gentiles as well as the Jews and how some come to God by birth into His family (the nation of Israel, though they still need to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation) and some by adoption (what we will read in Galatian--how those who were far off were brought near by the gospel and how we are children of God by adoption--but we were children that were chosen).

Now that we have some context and some background for why Paul is making this argument and why there was some fuss about the gospel going to the Gentiles and what all the hubbub was with the Judaisers who thought that someone needed to be Jewish to be saved, let's read what Paul has to say here.

Paul repeats for them again that He received the gospel that he is delivering straight from God and it is the one and only gospel.  We know it is the true gospel because it is the power of God for salvation.  And how do we know that?  Paul said that the Galatians knew that because they knew his testimony.  They knew who he was before Christ and they can see the transformation that has happened since he repented and believed the gospel.  Only the true work of God can so fundamentally change a man's identity.  This again goes back to "Jesus did not come to make bad people good, He came to make dead people alive."

Paul was "a Hebrew of Hebrews"--he had the right pedigree, the right academic transcripts, the right resume.  He was the Jew that every Jewish mother wanted their boy to grow up to be just like him (when he was known as Saul of Tarsus).  But none of this was enough and none of it would save him--not his DNA, not his good works--and Paul is going to tell the Church that the same thing applies to them too.

Paul says that even though no one (especially him) saw it coming, God had chosen Him according to the gospel from before the beginning of time.  Paul is making the point he was chosen by God even though he may not have been the one chosen by the Eleven.  He's not holding anything against any of them, but just saying he also learned the gospel directly from God, however, he did make an effort to have the other apostles meet him (not to "validate" his ministry or for his peace of mind, but more for their peace of mind so they knew that he was the real-deal and preaching the same gospel as them).

Paul ends his testimony by saying it would be completely ridiculous and unbelievable to think that this would happen apart from the work of God, and that all glory goes to Him.