Galatians 1:14, commentary and pictures

Galatians 1:14 is Paul's own testimony given after his conversion about his former life in the Jews' religion, forming part of his account of his conversion and early Christian experience. In that former life he had advanced beyond many his equals in his own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of his fathers. His proficiency in Jewish learning was previously known to the Galatians, for he had gained distinction even in early manhood as an able and zealous defender of the Jewish faith, with great prospective honors and advantages before him.

That life was that of a rigid, bigoted Pharisee who stubbornly disbelieved in Jesus and beyond measure persecuted the church of God and wasted it, seeking to destroy His followers. When Christ was revealed to him, he at once renounced all those honors and advantages and devoted his life to preaching the cross. The encounter changed him from terror at the vision to a sincere penitent and fervent believer, for whom the vision became a source of consolation.

His immediate renunciation of honor and advantage to preach the cross proves he could not have been actuated by any worldly or selfish motive. He was led by a special manifestation of divine power to perceive and grasp the great truths of the gospel as presented in the Old Testament scriptures and embodied in the life of Christ on earth. He certifies that the gospel he then preached was not after man and was not received or taught by man but by the revelation of Jesus Christ, in contrast to teaching received from people and to another perverted gospel. This knowledge received from God himself gave him settled conviction and absolute knowledge to warn and admonish the Galatians.

His call as an apostle came by God's will. He understood the nature of the persecuting work he had done only after he himself was obliged to suffer by the same will of men who evidenced their hatred of Christ.