Gal 1:15-17 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Gal 1:15-16: 1:15-16 even before I was born: Cp. Jer 1:5 ; see also Ps 139:13-16 ; Isa 49:1-6 ; Rom 9:10-13 . • God chose me and called me: For the account of Paul’s conversion, see Acts 9:1-19 ; 22:1-21 ; 26:9-23 . • Paul’s calling was specifically to proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles (Gal 2:7 ), and he even educated other apostles in what that means (e.g., 2:11-21 ). • to reveal his Son to me (or in me ): This might refer to Paul’s encounter with Christ (Acts 9:1-19 ; cp. 1 Cor 9:1 ; 15:8 ); in me might also suggest an internal revelation (cp. Gal 2:20 ; 4:6-7 ) and implies that Paul’s changed heart revealed Christ to others.

Summary for Gal 1:15-16: 1:15-16 ^a even before I was born: Cp. Jer 1:5 ^b; see also Ps 139:13-16 ^c; Isa 49:1-6 ^d; Rom 9:10-13 ^e.

• God chose me and called me: For the account of Paul’s conversion, see Acts 9:1-19 ^f; 22:1-21 ^g; 26:9-23 ^h.

• Paul’s calling was specifically to proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles (Gal 2:7 ⁱ), and he even educated other apostles in what that means (e.g., 2:11-21 ^j).

• to reveal his Son to me (or in me): This might refer to Paul’s encounter with Christ (Acts 9:1-19 ^k; cp. 1 Cor 9:1 ^l; 15:8 ^m); in me might also suggest an internal revelation (cp. Gal 2:20 ⁿ; 4:6-7 ^o) and implies that Paul’s changed heart revealed Christ to others.
Summary for Gal 1:16-20: 1:16b-20 ^p Paul was taught by the Lord directly and did not ... consult with any human being, even the other apostles. Paul was independent from the other apostles yet in harmony with them (2:1-10 ^q).
1:17 ^r those who were apostles before I was: Paul put his own apostleship in the same category as the original disciples (see 1 Cor 9:1 ^s; 15:5-9 ^t; cp. Acts 1:22 ^u; 10:41 ^v).

• Paul’s trip to Arabia is not mentioned elsewhere; his understanding of the Good News was apparently formed during that time. Paul knew the Scriptures (see Acts 22:3 ^w), the claims of the first Christians (see Acts 8:1 ^x), and what others had told him since his conversion.