Galatians 1:18

18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas^[a] and stayed with him fifteen days.

Galatians 1:18 in Other Translations

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days.

18 Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days.

18 but it was three years before I went up to Jerusalem to compare stories with Peter. I was there only fifteen days - but what days they were!

18 Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to get to know Cephas, and I stayed with him 15 days.

Galatians 1:18 Meaning and Commentary

Galatians 1:18

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem
Not three years after his return to Damascus, but after his conversion; and now it was that he moved to become a member of the church at Jerusalem; but they did not care to admit him, fearing that he was not a disciple, till such time that Barnabas took him, and brought him to the Apostles Peter and James, and related his conversion and his boldness in preaching the Gospel at Damascus: his view in going up to Jerusalem at this time was partly his own safety, being obliged to fly from Damascus, but chiefly

to see Peter.
The Alexandrian copy, and another, read "Cephas", and so does the Ethiopic version, the same with Peter: not to see what sort of a man he was, but to pay him a Christian visit; to converse with him about spiritual things; to know how the work of God went on under him, as the minister of the circumcision; and to relate to him, what success he had met with as the minister of the uncircumcision; but not to receive the Gospel from him, or to be ordained a preacher of it by him; for he had been three years already in the work of the ministry, before he made him this visit; and besides, his stay with him was very short, nor could he have received much from him, in so short a time, in an ordinary way:

and abode with him fifteen days;
and even all this time was not wholly spent in conversation with him; for he was, during this time, coming in and going out at Jerusalem, where he preached boldly in the name of Christ, and disputed against the Grecians.

Galatians 1:18 In-Context

16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being.

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.

18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days.

19 I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother.

20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.

Cross References

• 1. Acts 9:22,23
• 2. Acts 9:26,27

Footnotes

• [a]. That is, Peter