Ministry of Grace Church

Galatians 1:17

nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

Truth to Learn

We need to let God lead us in using the unique talents and training He has given us.

Meaning Explained

Paul has already told us that he didn’t confer with flesh and blood to receive the gospel message that he was to deliver to the Gentiles. He said he received it directly from the Lord himself. He now tells us that neither did he go to Jerusalem to get it from those who were apostles before he was.

At the time of Paul’s conversion the church was centered at Jerusalem where the apostles first received the Spirit of God on the day of Pentecost. Until the time of persecution that Paul was an integral part of, the church remained there and the apostles stayed together. Even though Paul was converted, the persecution continued and eventually the Christians in Jerusalem were forced to leave, taking the gospel message with them. James (the younger) remained in Jerusalem and became the leader of the church there, along with Peter and perhaps a few others of the apostles.

After Paul was converted, instead of going to the apostles in Jerusalem, he immediately began preaching in the synagogues in Damascus. We see the described in Acts chapter 9:

So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. (Acts 9:19-20)

From there Paul went into Arabia. We don’t know where in Arabia he went but it is quite possible that he went to the Eastern side of the Jordan River to the areas known as Trachonitis and Decapolis. There is no direct evidence what he did there but it is likely that he preached the gospel there to anyone who was willing to listen.

Then Paul returned to Damascus and continued to preach the message he had received from God. He was so well versed in the Jewish religion and, now that he understood the truth about Jesus Christ being the long awaited Messiah, he was a powerful preacher of the Word. So powerful, in fact, that the Jews could not refute his logic. As a result, they plotted to kill him:

But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. (Acts 9:22, 23)

God used the upbringing and training that Paul obtained in his youth to take the message to the Jews (and later to the Gentiles) in a way that no Gentile could possibly have done.

Application

Each one of us has unique skills and training and we need to let God direct us in using our background and experience to build up the body of Christ. People who you work with and who live around you may not go to church and you may be the only source of the gospel message for them. If you are a silent witness, they may never hear.

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2007 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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