Galatians 1:18-24  :

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days. But of the other apostles I saw no one, except James, the Lord’s brother. Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I’m not lying. Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ, but they only heard: “He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in me.

As you can read here, the Bible is a book of history. There are some who try to pass the book off as just a book of religion. Clearly, Paul is giving details of days, years, people and places. The Bible holds a great deal of accurate history. It is one book that “becomes more true” each year to the scientists who doubt it as I have witnessed within my short lifetime.

Paul did eventually meet with Peter for 15 days but it doesn’t sound like that much information was shared at that visit. Paul was getting his information from the source (Jesus Christ). He explains that the people in Judea didn’t even recognize who he was at that time which is one evidence that he hadn’t spent much time in Jerusalem with the apostles.

Paul gives enough historic information here to allow a researcher to prove him wrong. I have not done this historic research for this study, but I am interested. Perhaps someday I will have even more time to devote to this.

There must have been those who were trying to discredit Paul’s connection to Jesus because he said: “behold, before God, I’m not lying.” I hear these same arguments today, that accuse Paul’s words as being somehow less important that Jesus’. I am so glad that God gave us these words today. Paul’s words are not to be discredited today either. He did get his message from Jesus and that message is as critical for us as it was for them.

You know you are doing something right when people glorify God because of you. When people glorify you, then they are getting the wrong picture of you. I am not a great person. It is Jesus who made me what I am today. There is no reason to glorify a forgiven and reconstructed sinner! The one who did the reconstruction is the one to be praised.