Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Galatians 1:18

ἔπειτα. “The twice-repeated ἔπειτα in this verse, in Galatians 1:21 and in Galatians 2:1, singles out three events in the Apostle’s life bearing upon his intercourse with the Church of Jerusalem: his first introduction to them, his departure to a distant sphere of labour, and his return to Jerusalem with Barnabas” (Rendall). In itself ἔπειτα may mark either a fresh stage in the enumeration (1 Corinthians 12:28; Hebrews 7:2), or a point of time consecutive to what has preceded (1 Corinthians 15:23; 1 Corinthians 15:46; Hebrews 7:27). Often of course the two coalesce, as is expressly brought out by μετὰ τοῦτο in John 11:7 and in our verse by the following words. See also Galatians 2:1 note.

μετὰ τρία ἔτη. From his conversion. For this is the only important time that he has as yet mentioned. He was emphasizing the fact that so long a period elapsed between that and his visit to Jerusalem. He contrasts the end of the three years with their beginning, οὐδὲ� (Galatians 1:17).

ἀνῆλθον. See the note on ἀνέβην Galatians 2:1. The visit is that recorded in Acts 9:26.

ἱστορῆσαι[59]. In the Greek Bible only in 1Es 1:31 (33) bis, 40 (42) in the meaning of “relate.” Here it = “see,” differing from ἰδεῖν “only as it has for its object any remarkable person or thing. Thus ἱστορῆσαι πόλιν is to visit the curiosities of a place. Josephus (Ant. I. 11. 4, [§ 203]), speaking of Lot’s wife, says: εἱς στήλην ἁλῶν μετέβαλεν. ἱστόρησα δ ̓ αὐτήν· ἔτι γἁρ καὶ νῦν διαμένει” (Field, Notes on the translation of the N.T.). Cf. also Moulton and Milligan, Expositor, VII. 7, p. 474, 1909. Chrysostom writes: οὐκ εἶπεν “ἰδεῖν” Πἐτρον, ἀλλ ̓ “ἱστορῆσαι” Πέτρον, ὅπερ οἱ τὰς μεγάλας πόλεις καὶ λαμπρὰς καταμανθάνοντες λέγουσιν. οὕτω πολλῆς ἄξιον ἡγεῖτο σπουδῆς εἷναι καὶ τὸ μόνον ἰδεῖν τὸν ἄνδρα. The word, that is to say, suggests that St Paul’s visit to Jerusalem was prompted more by curiosity to see St Peter than by any other motive. Jülicher (Paulus und Jesus, p. 55) thinks that he went in order to learn the facts of our Lord’s life on earth. But this is to forget the abundant evidence that at least the main facts of that life were circulated orally among all believers almost or quite from the very first.

[59] Is affixed to a word it means that all the passages are mentioned where that word occurs in the New Testament.

Κηφᾶν. See notes on Textual Criticism, Galatians 2:9; Galatians 2:11; Galatians 2:14; elsewhere only in John 1:42; 1 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Corinthians 3:22; 1 Corinthians 9:5; 1 Corinthians 15:5. Contrast Πέτρος in Galatians 2:7-8 (Paul[60]). The Aramaic term is generally employed in this epistle and 1 Cor. because it was more often on the lips of the Jewish-Christian emissaries, and therefore St Paul reverts to it after mentioning the form that was in general use among Greek-speaking Christians.

[60] Is affixed to a word it means that all the passages are mentioned where that word occurs in the New Testament.

καὶ ἐπέμεινα πρὸς αὐτὸν, “I prolonged my stay with him,” Acts 10:48. The ἑπί “is not per se intensive, but appears to denote rest at a place,” Ell. on Colossians 1:23. For the construction see 1 Corinthians 16:7.

ἡμέρας δεκαπέντε. Not long enough for me to become his disciple.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Galatians 1:18

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