How does Galatians 1:1 connect with Acts 9 regarding Paul's conversion and mission? Galatians 1:1—Paul’s Opening Claim “Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead—” • Right out of the gate Paul insists his apostleship is divine, not human. • He grounds that authority in two facts: – Commissioned “by Jesus Christ.” – Backed by “God the Father, who raised Him from the dead,” highlighting resurrection power. Acts 9—The Story Behind the Claim • Saul the persecutor heads to Damascus (Acts 9:1–2). • The risen Jesus intercepts him: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” (v. 4). • Struck blind, Saul learns from Jesus Himself that he will be “a chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel” (v. 15). • Ananias lays hands on him; Saul receives sight and the Holy Spirit, is baptized, and immediately preaches Jesus as the Son of God (vv. 17–20). Parallels That Tie the Two Texts Together • Direct Commission – Galatians 1:1: “sent not from men nor by man.” – Acts 9:3–6: No human intermediary; the risen Christ speaks. • Authority Rooted in Resurrection – Galatians 1:1: “God the Father, who raised Him from the dead.” – Acts 9:5: The One who confronts Saul is alive, proving the resurrection Paul now proclaims (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:8). • Independence from Human Ordination – Galatians 1:16–17 (later in the chapter) emphasizes Paul did not consult apostles immediately. – Acts 9:19–22 shows Paul preaching in Damascus before any Jerusalem approval. • Mission to Gentiles – Galatians 1:16: “to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles.” – Acts 9:15: “He is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles.” Implications for Paul’s Mission • Divine Mandate Paul’s authority, message, and mission rest squarely on God’s initiative, not ecclesiastical hierarchy. • Gospel Authenticity Because the risen Christ spoke, the gospel Paul preaches is identical to the gospel of the original apostles (cf. Galatians 2:6–9). • Confidence in Proclamation Paul can confront false teachers (Galatians 1:6–9) because the same Lord who stopped him on the road commissioned him to guard the gospel’s purity. Why This Matters for Us Today • We can trust Paul’s letters as Scripture bearing Christ’s own authority (2 Peter 3:15–16). • The gospel’s power still transforms enemies into ambassadors (Acts 9:21; 1 Timothy 1:12–16). • God often bypasses human expectations to advance His purposes, reminding us to rely on His call rather than human applause. |
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