Gal 1:16-18 | RWP | e4.org | To reveal his Son in me ( αποκαλυψα τον υιον αυτου εν εμο ). By "in me" ( εν εμο ) Paul can mean to lay emphasis on his inward experience of grace or he may refer objectively to the vision of Christ on the way to Damascus, "in my case." Paul uses εν εμο in this sense (in my case) several times (verse ; ; ; ). Once ( ) εν εμο is almost equivalent to the dative (to me). On the whole Lightfoot seems correct here in taking it to mean "in my case," though the following words suit either idea. Certainly Paul could not preach Christ among the Gentiles without the rich inward experience and in the objective vision he was called to that task. I conferred not with flesh and blood ( ου προσανεθεμην σαρκ κα αιματ ). Second aorist middle indicative of προσανατιθημ , old verb, double compound ( προσ, ανα ), to lay upon oneself in addition, to betake oneself to another, to confer with, dative case as here. In N.T. only here and .

‏ Galatians 1:16-18

To reveal his Son in me ( αποκαλυψα τον υιον αυτου εν εμο ). By "in me" ( εν εμο ) Paul can mean to lay emphasis on his inward experience of grace or he may refer objectively to the vision of Christ on the way to Damascus, "in my case." Paul uses εν εμο in this sense (in my case) several times (verse 24; 2Co 13:3; Php 1:30; 1Ti 1:16). Once (1Co 14:11) εν εμο is almost equivalent to the dative (to me). On the whole Lightfoot seems correct here in taking it to mean "in my case," though the following words suit either idea. Certainly Paul could not preach Christ among the Gentiles without the rich inward experience and in the objective vision he was called to that task.

I conferred not with flesh and blood ( ου προσανεθεμην σαρκ κα αιματ ). Second aorist middle indicative of προσανατιθημ, old verb, double compound ( προσ, ανα ), to lay upon oneself in addition, to betake oneself to another, to confer with, dative case as here. In N.T. only here and 2:6.

Before me ( προ εμου ). The Jerusalem apostles were genuine apostles, but so is Paul. His call did not come from them nor did he receive confirmation by them.

Into Arabia ( εις Αραβιαν ). This visit to Arabia has to come between the two 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.

Then after three years ( επειτα μετα τρια ετη ). 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 ( ιστορησα Κηφαν ). First aorist infinitive of ιστορεω, old verb (from ιστωρ, 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.