Galatians 1:18-23

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brothers. (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me.

Paul is continuing to build his case for not only his authority, but his unique authority. He is confident, as he should be. As a peer he traveled to Jerusalem three years after seeing Jesus on the road to Damascus. He is unique in his revelation of Jesus, but still he is the gentile representative (specifically) as Peter is the Jewish representative of Christ.

What is odd is the mentioning of James “the Lord’s brother”. This is the same James mentioned several times in the book of Acts, and the author of the New Testament book of James. It would appear that James and Jude (both brothers of Jesus) came to faith and grew into leaders of the Jerusalem church. Considered apostles… they were pillars. Perhaps this is why the disciples of Jesus became known as “The Twelve” and not just “The Apostles” in the first several decades of the church. Never the less. Paul is showing that the two largest leaders welcome him after 3 years of ministry.

Paul’s defense here should be taken to heart. He needs to make a thorough defense of himself, his message and his authority as a Spiritual Father to these churches that he helped start. He will be rebuking and challenging the false brothers, false teachers and a false test of faith that is invading the Galatian church later on. The deeper the rebuke, the deeper the defense of himself needs to be at the offset.

Perhaps the earliest records of Paul’s testimony would have been heard by others… “the one who once persecuted the church is now preaching the faith he tried to destroy.” And Paul gives credit where it is due! The churches glorified that Christ could forgive, and then use a man like Paul.

Bottom Line:
• Paul was unique because he was not an apostle sent by “men” but by God. However, this also means that he is not sent by the apostles either. Jesus appeared to Paul and “sent” him (appointed him). So Paul is a co-worker to the apostles and not a messenger of theirs.
• It is kinda natural in a way that the out of the norm apostle is the one that is also the out of Judea apostle. It must have been a jolt at first that Paul (who grew up away from Jerusalem, but studied and was on the fast track to being a major leader in the Sanhedrin (Jewish Senate) would then be “exiled” into church planting all over the Roman world.

As I sit here in India:
• I guess one has to be careful of all the “dreams of men”. Just because someone claims something, doesn’t mean it is the truth. I think Paul is showing that the Apostles were correctly cautious in welcoming Paul. And the Paul was also cautious in meeting them. Both so that “his gospel” (the way he preached Jesus) would not be influenced by them, and so his ministry would stand alone from “the twelve”.