Galatians 1:18-20

1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem ¹  to visit Cephas ²  and get information from him, ³  and I stayed with him fifteen days. 1:19 But I saw none of the other apostles ⁴  except James the Lord’s brother. 1:20 I assure you ⁵  that, before God, I am not lying about what I am writing to you! ⁶ 

[1:18]  ¹ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[1:18]  ² sn Cephas. This individual is generally identified with the Apostle Peter (L&N 93.211).

[1:18]  ³ tn Although often translated “to get acquainted with Cephas,” this could give the impression of merely a social call. L&N 34.52 has “to visit, with the purpose of obtaining information” for the meaning of ἱστορέω (Jistorew), particularly in this verse.

[1:19]  ⁴ tn Grk “But another of the apostles I did not see, except…” with “another” in emphatic position in the Greek text. Paul is determined to make the point that his contacts with the original twelve apostles and other leaders of the Jerusalem church were limited, thus asserting his independence from them.

[1:20]  ⁵ tn Grk “behold.”

[1:20]  ⁶ tn Grk “What things I am writing to you, behold, before God [that] I am not lying.”