The Reason for Paul

From Ephesians one to Galatians chp 1 & 2

Summary
1 Paul, an apostle- sent not from men nor by man but by Jesus Christ & God the Father, who raised JC from the dead.
11 Paul speakn to the Galatians....I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that men made up. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from JC.

13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus (where he first got transformed/born again).

18 Then after 3 years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles- only James, the Lord's brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21 Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." 24 And they praised God because of me (Amen, God can use anyone of us regardless of our past to bring Him glory-the worse u were the better the testimony of transformation).

Paul Accepted by the Apostles-Chapter 2

Paul continues to write....14 years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. Amp: I went because it was specially and divinely revealed to me that I should go, and I put before them the Gospel which I preach among the Gentiles. However, I presented the matter privately before those of repute (for I wanted to make certain, by thus at first confining my communication to this private conference) that I was not running or had not run in vain (guarding against being discredited either in what I was planning to do or had already done)...we all feel insecure to declare God's message when we are not sure how it will be received-even Paul felt this way.

3 Amp contd...But all went well! even Titus, who was with me, was not compelled (as some had anticipated) to be circumcised, although he was a Greek. NIV 4 This matter arose because some falsse brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves (bring us into bondage under the law of Moses). 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. (We need to have the confidence that if God called us to do something He will be with us every step of the way...Amen).

6 As for those who seemed to be important- whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance-those men added nothing to my message. 7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. 8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.