Galatians 1:18

Galatians 1:18

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

a. NLT: Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days.

b. NIV: Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days.

c. YLT: Then, after three years I went up to Jerusalem to enquire about Peter, and remained with him fifteen days,

d. Amplified Bible Classic:  Then three years later, I did go up to Jerusalem to become [personally] acquainted with Cephas (Peter), and remained with him for fifteen days.

e. Worrell Translation: Then, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and continued with him fifteen days.

f. Wuest Translation: Then, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and remained with him 15 days.

1. “Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter…”

a. Then [Strong: 1899 epeita ep'-i-tah from 1909 and 1534; thereafter:--after that(-ward), then.]

b. after [Strong: 3326 meta met-ah' a primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between 575 or 1537 and 1519 or 4314; less intimate than 1722 and less close than 4862):--after(-ward), X that he again, against, among, X and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-)on, + our, X and setting, since, (un-)to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence.]

c. three [Strong: 5140 treis trice, or neuter tria tree'-ah a primary (plural) number; "three":--three.]

d. years [Strong: 2094 etos et'-os apparently a primary word; a year:--year.]

e. [I] went up [Strong: 424 anerchomai an-erkh'-om-ahee from 303 and 2064; to ascend:--go up.]

f. to [Strong: 1519 eis ice a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

g. Jerusalem [Strong: 2414 Hierosoluma hee-er-os-ol'-oo-mah of Hebrew origin (3389); Hierosolyma (i.e. Jerushalaim}, the capitol of Palestine:--Jerusalem.]

h. to see [Strong: 2477 historeo his-tor-eh'-o from a derivative of 1492; to be knowing (learned), i.e. (by implication) to visit for information (interview):--see.]

i. Peter [Strong: 4074 Petros pet'-ros apparently a primary word; a (piece of) rock (larger than 3037); as a name, Petrus, an apostle:--Peter, rock.]

1). After Paul came back from Arabia, probably receiving more of the revelation of the New Covenant he stayed in Damascus for three years. I do not believe that Paul was in Arabia three years. The way the text reads in all the translations I have looked at clearly says Paul went into Arabia (it does not say for how long), he returned from Arabia and was in Damascus for three years. In the passage of Acts that mentions Paul’s first few years of Christianity it does not mention his trek into Arabia.

a) Acts 9:19-28 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

9:21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

9:22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

9:23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

9:24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

9:25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

9:26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

9:28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

2). In Acts 9:23 Scripture uses the phrase “And after that many days were fulfilled”. The words “many days” are used in 1 Kings 2:38, 39 and the phrase means “3 years”.

a.). 1 Kings 2:38, 39 And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.

2:39 And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be in Gath.

2. “…and abode with him fifteen days.”

a. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. abode [Strong: 1961 epimeno ep-ee-men'-o from 1909 and 3306; to stay over, i.e. remain (figuratively, persevere):--abide (in), continue (in), tarry.]

c. with [Strong: 4314 pros pros a strengthened form of 4253; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.]

d. him [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

e. fifteen [Strong: 1178 dekapente dek-ap-en'-teh from 1176 and 4002; ten and five, i.e. fifteen:--fifteen.]

f. days [Strong: 2250 hemera hay-mer'-ah feminine (with 5610 implied) of a derivative of hemai (to sit; akin to the base of 1476) meaning tame, i.e. gentle; day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context):--age, + alway, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years.]

1). The text says Paul was in Jerusalem visiting Peter for fifteen days. This fifteen day visit is mentioned in Acts 9.

a).Acts 9:26-30 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 

9:28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 

9:29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. 

9:30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.