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Paul Preaches the Gospel
In this part of Galatians, Paul explains why his message and ministry are centred on God’s approval, not human praise. He traces where the good news came from and how his life changed.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This passage is part of Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Here he speaks directly about the good news he preached, his earlier life in the Jews’ religion, God’s call by grace, and his limited early contact with other apostles and the assemblies of Judea.
Galatians 1:10–24Main takeaway
Paul says the good news he preached came through revelation of Jesus Christ, and his changed life led others to glorify God.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Serving Christ rather than pleasing peoplePaul begins with searching questions about whose favour he seeks. He says that if his aim were to please people, he would not be a servant of Christ.
Explanation
Paul begins with searching questions about whose favour he seeks. He says that if his aim were to please people, he would not be a servant of Christ. This sets the direction for the whole passage: his message is tied to God’s approval, not human acceptance.
02The good news did not come from human teachingPaul states plainly that the good news he preached is not according to man. He did not receive it from a person or learn it as a human lesson.
Explanation
Paul states plainly that the good news he preached is not according to man. He did not receive it from a person or learn it as a human lesson. He says it came through revelation of Jesus Christ, which explains why he speaks with such certainty about its source.
03From persecution to God’s gracious callPaul reminds his readers of his former way of life. He had persecuted the assembly of God and was deeply committed to the traditions of his fathers.
Explanation
Paul reminds his readers of his former way of life. He had persecuted the assembly of God and was deeply committed to the traditions of his fathers. Yet God, who called him through grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in him so that he would preach among the Gentiles.
04Paul’s early movements and testimonyAfter this call, Paul says he did not immediately consult other people or go first to the apostles in Jerusalem.
Explanation
After this call, Paul says he did not immediately consult other people or go first to the apostles in Jerusalem. He went to Arabia, returned to Damascus, and only after three years visited Peter for fifteen days, also seeing James. Paul underlines that he is telling the truth before God.
05A changed life that brought glory to GodPaul then travelled to Syria and Cilicia and remained unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea.
Explanation
Paul then travelled to Syria and Cilicia and remained unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea. They had only heard the report that the former persecutor was now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy. Their response was to glorify God because of what they heard.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does Paul connect pleasing people with not being a servant of Christ?
Look closely at Paul’s contrast in Galatians 1:10 and notice whose favour he places first.
02What does Paul say about where the good news came from?
Compare the statements about what he did not receive from man and what came through revelation of Jesus Christ.
03How did the assemblies of Judea respond to the report about Paul?
Follow the report in Galatians 1:23 and then the response given in Galatians 1:24.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Galatians 1:10–24
10For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.
11But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the Good News which was preached by me, that it is not according to man.
12For I didn’t receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.
13For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God and ravaged it.
14I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through his grace,
16to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn’t immediately confer with flesh and blood,
17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus.
18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days.
19But of the other apostles I saw no one except James, the Lord’s brother.
20Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I’m not lying.
21Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
22I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ,
23but they only heard, “He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy.”
24So they glorified God in me.