GOD’S VISION FOR HIS PEOPLE, Adam Kramarczyk
RECEIVED BY REVELATION FROM CHRIST
Passage: Galatians 1:11~24  
Key verse: 12
Paul Called by God
11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters,(A) that the gospel I preached(B) is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man,(C) nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation(D) from Jesus Christ.(E)
13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism,(F) how intensely I persecuted the church of God(G) and tried to destroy it.(H) 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous(I) for the traditions of my fathers.(J) 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb(K) and called me(L) by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles,(M) my immediate response was not to consult any human being.(N) 17 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.(O)
18 Then after three years,(P) I went up to Jerusalem(Q) to get acquainted with Cephas[a] and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles—only James,(R) the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God(S) that what I am writing you is no lie.(T)
21 Then I went to Syria(U) and Cilicia.(V) 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea(W) that are in Christ.(X) 23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith(Y) he once tried to destroy.”(Z) 24 And they praised God(AA) because of me.
Footnotes
- Galatians 1:18 That is, Peter
Cross references
- Galatians 1:11 : 1Co 15:1
- Galatians 1:11 : S ver 8
- Galatians 1:12 : ver 1
- Galatians 1:12 : ver 16; S 1Co 2:10
- Galatians 1:12 : 1Co 11:23; 15:3
- Galatians 1:13 : Ac 26:4, 5
- Galatians 1:13 : S 1Co 10:32
- Galatians 1:13 : S Ac 8:3
- Galatians 1:14 : S Ac 21:20
- Galatians 1:14 : Mt 15:2
- Galatians 1:15 : Isa 49:1, 5; Jer 1:5
- Galatians 1:15 : S Ac 9:15; S Ro 8:28
- Galatians 1:16 : S Ac 9:15; Gal 2:9
- Galatians 1:16 : Mt 16:17
- Galatians 1:17 : Ac 9:2, 19-22
- Galatians 1:18 : Ac 9:22, 23
- Galatians 1:18 : Ac 9:26, 27
- Galatians 1:19 : Mt 13:55; S Ac 15:13
- Galatians 1:20 : S Ro 1:9
- Galatians 1:20 : S Ro 9:1
- Galatians 1:21 : S Lk 2:2
- Galatians 1:21 : S Ac 6:9
- Galatians 1:22 : 1Th 2:14
- Galatians 1:22 : S Ro 16:3
- Galatians 1:23 : Ac 6:7
- Galatians 1:23 : S Ac 8:3
- Galatians 1:24 : S Mt 9:8
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
Paul's ministry was under attack. False teachers were saying Paul wasn't teaching a true gospel. Paul pointed out that the gospel he preached was not man made (not made up) but was revealed to him through a revelation from the Risen Jesus. Paul lent credence to his story by reminding them of his past. He was a persecutor of the church of God. He was a zealous Pharisee, living exclusively by their tenants. But God had set him apart that he might know the truth of God and preach it to the Gentiles.
2. From persecutor to preacher (18-24)
After Paul's call by the Risen Jesus, he went to Arabia and then to Damascus. Three years later, he went to Jerusalem and met Peter and James. The two leaders of the church recognized his ministry and praised God because of it. Then Paul went to Syria and Cilicia. The Risen Jesus had recreated Paul from a persecutor of God to a gospel preacher. This caused the churches of Judea to praise God.
Prayer: Lord, the revelation of Jesus changes us from persecutors to gospel servants. Thank you for revealing the gospel to us; help us to preach it to others.
One Word: Preach the gospel of God