[Gal 1:10-17 ESV] 10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Paul is convinced that being a man-pleaser and God's servant are not compatible ideas.
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel.
No man made message here, God is the gospel.
12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul met Jesus in dramatic fashion on the road to Damascus.
13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.
When he thought he was serving God by attacking those who believed in Jesus.
14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.
But he learned that traditions of the fathers were not what was important.
15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;
God had other plans for Paul's life and gave him a mission. He had God's approval and didn't need any man's permission.
17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
Although eventually he met with the other apostles, when God called him, he got started immediately.
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