The apostle reverts to his own experience, of which the Galatians have been previously informed. He reminds them of his proficiency in the learning of the Jews, and his zeal for their religion. Even in early manhood he had achieved distinction as an able and zealous defender of the Jewish faith. But when Christ was revealed to him, he at once renounced all his prospective honors and advantages, and devoted his life to the preaching of the cross. He appeals to his brethren to decide whether in all this he could have been actuated by any worldly or selfish motive. He then shows them that after his conversion he had no opportunity to receive instruction from man. The doctrines which he preached had been revealed to him by the Lord Jesus Christ. After the vision at Damascus, Paul retired into Arabia, for communion with God. It was not until three years had elapsed that he went up to Jerusalem; and he then made a stay of but fifteen days, thence going out to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. He declares that he was “unknown by face unto the churches of Judea which were in Christ. But they had heard only, that he which persecuted us in times past, now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me.” {LP 190.4}

Apostlen vender tilbage til sin egen erfaring, som galaterne tidligere var blevet informeret med. Han minder dem om sit indblik i jødernes lærdomme, og hans iver for deres religion. Endog i den tidlige manddom, skilte han sig ud som en duelig og nidkær forsvarer af den jødiske tro. Men da Kristus blev åbenbaret for ham, fralagde han sig straks al sine ærefulde udsigter og fortrin, og helligede sit liv til at forkynde korset. Han appellerer til sine brødre om at beslutte sig, om de i alt dette vil drives af verdslige eller selviske motiver. Han viser dem at efter hans omvendelse, har han ikke mulighed for at blive undervist af mennesker. De læresætninger som han forkyndte er blevet åbenbaret ham af Herren Jesus Kristus. Efter synet i Damaskus, trak Paulus sig tilbage til Arabien, for at få samvær med Gud. Det var ikke før tre år at han tog til Jerusalem, og så gjorde han et ophold på kun femte dage, for at derefter gå ud og forkynde evangeliet til hedningene. Han erklærer at han var "Og jeg var personlig ukendt for de kristne menigheder i Judæa; kun hørte de sige: »Han, som før forfulgte os, forkynder nu den tro, han før søgte at udrydde.« Og de priste Gud for mig."