Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Galatians: Chapter 1].
visits to Damascus which are not distinguished in Ac 9:22f. In
verse 23 Luke does speak of "considerable days" and so we must
place the visit to Arabia between verses 22,23.
1:18 {Then after three years} (\epeita meta tria et•\). A round
number to cover the period from his departure from Jerusalem for
Damascus to his return to Jerusalem. This stay in Damascus was an
important episode in Paul's theological readjustment to his new
experience. {To visit Cephas} (\histor•sai K•ph•n\). First aorist
infinitive of \histore•\, old verb (from \hist•r\, one who knows
by inquiry), to gain knowledge by visiting. Only here in N.T. If
we turn to Ac 9:26-30, we shall see that the visit of two weeks
to Peter came after Barnabas endorsed Paul to the suspicious
disciples in Jerusalem and probably while he was preaching in the
city. It was a delightful experience, but Peter did not start
Paul upon his apostleship. He visited him as an equal. Peter no
doubt had much to say to Paul.
1:19 {Except James the brother of the Lord} (\ei m• Iak•bon ton
adelphon tou Kuriou\). James the son of Zebedee was still living
at that time. The rest of the twelve were probably away preaching
and James, brother of the Lord, is here termed an apostle, though
not one of the twelve as Barnabas is later so called. Paul is
showing his independence of and equality with the twelve in
answer to the attacks of the Judaizers.
1:20 {I lie not} (\ou pseudomai\). So important does he deem the
point that he takes solemn oath about it.
1:21 {Into the region of Syria and Cilicia} (\eis ta klimata t•s
Syrias kai t•s Kilikias\). This statement agrees with the record
in Ac 9:30. On \klimata\, see 2Co 11:10. Paul was not idle,
but at work in Tarsus and the surrounding country.
1:22 {And I was still unknown} (\•m•n de agnoumenos\).
Periphrastic imperfect passive of \agnoe•\, not to know. {By
face} (\t•i pros•p•i\). Associative instrumental case. {Of Judea}
(\t•s Ioudaias\). As distinct from Jerusalem, for he had once
scattered the church there and had revisited them before coming
to Tarsus (Ac 9:26-30). In Ac 9:31 the singular of \ekkl•sia\
is used, but in a geographic sense for Judea, Samaria, and
Galilee.
1:23 {They only heard} (\monon akouontes •san\). Periphrastic
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