By Andrew Bonar
'Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.' Galatians 1:18
For three years after his conversion Paul was out of sight in Arabia. The Lord sent him there, as He sent Moses to Midian, to be trained for after work. It was an education time. He would, no doubt, visit Sinai (see 4: 25), and on the top of that hill get new thoughts about the Law. He would visit Elijah's cave, and think of the 'still, small voice' that was to work greater things than fire, or wind, or earthquake. No doubt, too, he received there teaching in the Gospel and the ordinances, for (1 Cor. 11:23) 'I received from the Lord,' parelabon apo tou Kurion. We see plainly the Lord looking forward to evils that would arise in His Church as to the Supper, and, therefore, re-instituting that ordinance with careful simplicity. 'This do,' and no more --no appendage--no preface. Was it in Elijah's cave? and there did Paul hear Jesus say, 'as often as ye eat this bread . . . ye do shew the Lord's death, till He come.'
But we are hastening to Jerusalem after these three years. When it was noised abroad among the disciples, 'Paul has come!' how great would be the interest. He goes to the upper room and worships, perhaps preaches, and then goes home with Peter. 'To see Peter' (historesias Kephan, v. 18) is to make acquaintance and ascertain by inquiry. What an interesting sight it must have been--Paul listening to Peter, and Peter listening to Paul. We may learn from this incident
I. A disciples brotherly love to other disciples.--Paul goes to his own company. He does not care to visit Gamaliel, his old teacher, or any of his fellow-students. He seeks fellowship, and so goes to Peter, to talk over the past, and to learn more specially about the simple Gospel-message. They spent fifteen days together; on one of these James (not the Apostle) called; they heard each other preach; and Paul found, as he tells us in this epistle, that they entirely agreed in all their views of the truth--salvation without works or ceremonies-- salvation by the Son of God, and His one offering and sacrifice--and more than ever they resolved to preach 'none other name.' They go out to walk together. What would Paul's feelings be as they came to where Stephen was stoned! O to have heard him speak of God's sovereign grace! 'The grace of our God was exceeding abundant.' 'I, who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor and injurious.' 'That in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern,' etc. Peter would point out the spot where he 'went out and wept bitterly.' How much there was there to humble him--that God should so use him who said, 'I know not the Man.' Such visits and reviews are most helpful and humbling. There might be in the history of each of God's people a Book of Deuteronomy, going over again the wilderness journey.
