Galatians 1 · Verse 18

Galatians 1:18

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

Galatians 1:18, King James Version

Galatians 1:18 in other translations

BSB	Only after three years did I go up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days.
WEB	Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days.
ASV	Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and tarried with him fifteen days.
YLT	then, after three years I went up to Jerusalem to enquire about Peter, and remained with him fifteen days,
DARBY	Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to make acquaintance with Peter, and I remained with him fifteen days;
BBE	Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Cephas, and was there with him fifteen days.
Webster	Then after three years I went to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

What does Galatians 1:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

18. after three years--dating from my conversion, as appears by the contrast to "immediately" (Ga 1:16). This is the same visit to Jerusalem as in Ac 9:26, and at this visit occurred the vision (Ac 22:17, 18). The incident which led to his leaving Damascus (Ac 9:25; 2Co 11:33) was not the main cause of his going to Jerusalem. So that there is no discrepancy in the statement here that he went "to see Peter"; or rather, as Greek, "to make the acquaintance of"; "to become personally acquainted with." The two oldest manuscripts read, "Cephas," the name given Peter elsewhere in the Epistle, the Hebrew name; as Peter is the Greek (Joh 1:42). Appropriate to the view of him here as the apostle especially of the Hebrews. It is remarkable that Peter himself, in his Epistles, uses the Greek name Peter, perhaps to mark his antagonism to the Judaizers who would cling to the Hebraic form. He was prominent among the apostles, though James, as bishop of Jerusalem, had the chief authority there (Mt 16:18). abode--or "tarried" [Ellicott]. fifteen days--only fifteen days; contrasting with the long period of three years, during which, previously, he had exercised an independent commission in preaching: a fact proving on the face of it, how little he owed to Peter in regard to his apostolical authority or instruction. The Greek for "to see," at the same time implies visiting a person important to know, such as Peter was. The plots of the Jews prevented him staying longer (Ac 9:29). Also, the vision directing him to depart to the Gentiles, for that the people of Jerusalem would not receive his testimony (Ac 22:17, 18).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 18. Then after three years. Probably three years after his departure from Jerusalem to Damascus, not after his return to Arabia. So most commentators have understood it.

Went up to Jerusalem. More correctly, as in the margin, returned.

To see Peter. Peter was the oldest and most distinguished of the apostles. In Gal 2:9, he, with James and John, is called a pillar. But why Paul went particularly to see him is not known. It was probably, however, from the celebrity and distinction which he knew Peter had among the apostles that he wished to become particularly acquainted with him. The word which is here rendered to see, ιστορησαι is by no means that which is commonly employed to denote that idea. It occurs nowhere else in the New Testament; and properly means, to ascertain by personal inquiry and examination, and then to narrate, as an historian was accustomed to do, whence our word history. The notion of personally seeing and examining is one that belongs essentially to the word, and the idea here is that of seeing or visiting Peter in order to a personal acquaintance.

And abode with him fifteen days. Probably, says Bloomfield, including three Lord's days. Why he departed then is unknown. Beza supposes that it was on account of the plots of the Grecians against him, and their intention to destroy him, Acts 9:29; but this is not assigned by Paul himself as a reason. It is probable that the purpose of his visit to Peter would be accomplished in that time, and he would not spend more time than was necessary with him. It is clear that in the short space of two weeks he could not have been very extensively taught by Peter the nature of the Christian religion, and probably the time is mentioned here to show that he had not been under the teaching of the apostles.

(a) "Then after three years" Acts 9:26 (1) "I went" "returned"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 18 After three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter - These three years may be reckoned either from the departure of Paul from Jerusalem, or from his return from Arabia to Damascus. To see Peter - Ιστορησαι Πετρον, to become personally acquainted with Peter; for this is the proper import of the verb ἱστορειν, from which we have the word ἱστορια, history, which signifies a relation of things from personal knowledge and actual acquaintance. How far this is, now, from the sense in which we must take the word, ninety-nine of every hundred of our histories sufficiently show. They are any thing but true relations of facts and persons. And abode with him fifteen days - It was not, therefore, to get religious knowledge from him that he paid him this visit. He knew as much of the Jewish religion as Peter did, if not more; and as to the Gospel, he received that from the same source, and had preached it three years before this.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Galatians 1:15-24

St. Paul was wonderfully brought to the knowledge and faith of Christ. All who are savingly converted, are called by the grace of God; their conversion is wrought by his power and grace working in them. It will but little avail us to have Christ revealed to us, if he is not also revealed in us. He instantly prepared to obey, without hesitating as to his worldly interest, credit, ease, or life itself. And what matter…

Read the full comment on Galatians 1:15-24 →

Galatians 1:18 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἔπειταepeitaThenG1899

μετὰmetaafterG3326

ἔτηetēyearsG2094

τρίαtriathreeG5140

ἀνῆλθονanēlthonI went upG424

εἰςeistoG1519

ἹεροσόλυμαHi'erosolumaJerusalemG2414

ἱστορῆσαιhistorēsaito make acquaintance withG2477

ΚηφᾶνKēphanCephasG2786

καὶkaiandG2532

ἐπέμειναepemeinaI remainedG1961

πρὸςproswithG4314

αὐτὸνautonhimG846

ἡμέραςhēmerasdaysG2250

δεκαπέντε·dekapentefifteen;G1178

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Galatians 1:18

Acts 9:22-23
But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
Acts 9:26-29
And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
Acts 22:17-18
And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I went up. or, I returned.
Ac 9:26-29; 22:17,18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Galatians 1:17
Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Galatians 1:18
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
Galatians 1:19
But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.

Read all of Galatians 1

Galatians 1:18 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Después, pasados tres años, fuí á Jerusalem á ver á Pedro, y estuve con él quince días.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Puis, trois ans après, je montai à Jérusalem pour faire la connaissance de Céphas, et je demeurai chez lui 15 jours;
German Elberfelder 1871	Darauf, nach drei Jahren, ging ich nach Jerusalem hinauf, um Kephas kennen zu lernen, und blieb fünfzehn Tage bei ihm.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	deinde post annos tres veni Jerosolymam videre Petrum, et mansi apud eum diebus quindecim: