Galatians 1:18 (KJV)

What does Galatians 1:18 mean?

Galatians 1:18 describes how, after three years, Paul traveled to Jerusalem to meet Peter and stayed with him for fifteen days. This verse highlights a specific visit Paul made to Jerusalem, emphasizing the time that passed before he met with Peter personally.

Paul is writing to the believers in Galatia, explaining his own journey and how he received his message about Jesus. He wants them to know he did not immediately consult with the other apostles after his conversion, but only went to see Peter (also called Cephas) after three years. This detail supports Paul's point that his teaching came directly from Jesus, not from human sources.

The Greek behind Galatians 1:18

• ἱστορῆσαι (historēsai, "to see"): This Greek word is often understood as "to visit for the purpose of getting to know" or "to become acquainted with." It suggests Paul was not just making a casual visit, but intentionally meeting Peter to learn from or about him.
• ἔμεινα (emeina, "abode"): This word means "remained" or "stayed." Paul is clear about the length of his stay—fifteen days—which shows the visit was brief and specific, not an extended period of instruction.

Why Galatians 1:18 matters

• Galatians 1:18 clarifies that Paul did not immediately seek approval or instruction from the original apostles, reinforcing his claim to independent authority as an apostle.
• The verse helps address doubts about whether Paul's message was secondhand or dependent on Peter and the Jerusalem church; Paul’s timeline shows he acted independently for years before this meeting.
• This detail connects to Paul’s larger argument in Galatians 1, where he defends the source of his gospel and his role as an apostle equal to the others.