Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
About three years after his conversion Paul went up to Jerusalem chiefly to see Peter and to become acquainted with the apostles there, especially Peter. He came with an anxious, yearning heart to meet Peter, the chief of the apostles, and the Galilean fishermen who had lived and prayed and conversed with Christ on earth. He stayed with Peter fifteen days in a brief first interview of great consequence to both apostles, and the short stay reflected his eagerness to be about his Master's business, after which he went out to preach to the Gentiles. The brevity of the fifteen-day stay shows he had no opportunity to receive his gospel teaching from people in Jerusalem, for his message had been revealed by Christ. At that time Peter and James were the only apostles in Jerusalem.
The disciples were at first afraid to receive the former fierce persecutor, but after Barnabas testified to his conversion and preaching they could not withstand God, welcomed him as a fellow believer, gave him the right hand of fellowship, and held him as beloved and respected as he had formerly been feared and avoided. The meeting brought together two grand characters of the new faith: Peter, one of the chosen companions who had accompanied Jesus during His earthly ministry, and Paul, the Pharisee and once fierce persecutor who since the ascension had met the risen Jesus face to face, talked with Him, seen Him in vision, and seen the nature of His work in heaven. On entering Jerusalem he looked upon the city and the temple with changed views, recognizing that God's retributive judgment was hanging over them. During the stay he preached about Jesus in Jerusalem, even in the same synagogue where he had disputed with Stephen, fearlessly proclaiming that Jesus is the Son of God, advocating the same cause Stephen had died to vindicate, relating his own wonderful experience, and presenting with yearning for his brethren and former associates the evidences from prophecy that the crucified Jesus is the Son of God. Jewish leaders rejected the message and sought to kill him.
About three years after his conversion Paul went up to Jerusalem chiefly to see Peter and to become acquainted with the apostles there, especially Peter. He came with an anxious, yearning heart to meet Peter, the chief of the apostles, and the Galilean fishermen who had lived and prayed and conversed with Christ on earth. He stayed with Peter fifteen days in a brief first interview of great consequence to both apostles, and the short stay reflected his eagerness to be about his Master's business, after which he went out to preach to the Gentiles. The brevity of the fifteen-day stay shows he had no opportunity to receive his gospel teaching from people in Jerusalem, for his message had been revealed by Christ. At that time Peter and James were the only apostles in Jerusalem.
The disciples were at first afraid to receive the former fierce persecutor, but after Barnabas testified to his conversion and preaching they could not withstand God, welcomed him as a fellow believer, gave him the right hand of fellowship, and held him as beloved and respected as he had formerly been feared and avoided. The meeting brought together two grand characters of the new faith: Peter, one of the chosen companions who had accompanied Jesus during His earthly ministry, and Paul, the Pharisee and once fierce persecutor who since the ascension had met the risen Jesus face to face, talked with Him, seen Him in vision, and seen the nature of His work in heaven. On entering Jerusalem he looked upon the city and the temple with changed views, recognizing that God's retributive judgment was hanging over them. During the stay he preached about Jesus in Jerusalem, even in the same synagogue where he had disputed with Stephen, fearlessly proclaiming that Jesus is the Son of God, advocating the same cause Stephen had died to vindicate, relating his own wonderful experience, and presenting with yearning for his brethren and former associates the evidences from prophecy that the crucified Jesus is the Son of God. Jewish leaders rejected the message and sought to kill him.