There are two passages in the Epistle to the Galatians that claim our attention. Galatians 1:18: “Then after three years I went’ up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.” Galatians 2:1: “Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem, by revelation, with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.”
It will be seen that in both passages the word “after” occurs, but after what is not stated. Doubtless the first is three years after Paul’s conversion; but when Paul was converted no one knows with certainty. The second may be fourteen years after the first visit, or it may be after his conversion. By comparing all the dates it is believed to have been fourteen years after his conversion.
It is clear that Acts 9:26, refers to Paul’s first visit to Jerusalem; for “he assayed to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him.” This would be the same as Galatians 1:18.
The next visit named in Galatians is evidently the same as in Acts 15. But this is the third visit named in the Acts; and it presents a little difficulty to suppose that Paul named his first and his third visits without noticing his second.
But it must be observed that Paul in Galatians is pressing the fact that he received his gospel direct from God, and not from the other apostles: “I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Gal. 1:12). And in his second visit (Acts 11:27-30; 12:25), “elders” only are named. The mission of Barnabas and Paul was to hand in the collection; and we read that “when they had fulfilled their ministry,” they left Jerusalem; so that they could leave immediately. Such a visit as this would not fall within the subject which Paul was enforcing in his Epistle to the Galatians, and would be passed by unnoticed.
It has, however, been objected, that this visit named in the Galatians cannot be the same as in Acts 15, because in Galatians it is said to have been a private meeting (Gal. 2:2), and in Acts 15:22 it was “the whole church”.
But the reader must again be reminded that Paul is insisting in the Galatians that he did not receive his gospel mission from the apostles; so that what the Church did is not before him. And there is really nothing contradictory in the two accounts. Paul doubtless did what any godly man in the same circumstances would have done, namely, he first sought an interview with the apostles and elders before it was brought before the Church generally, and this is really all the words imply: “I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation.” And afterward, without noticing the public meeting of the Church, he names the Apostles Peter, James, and John as giving him the right hand of fellowship (Gal. 2:9). All through it is evidently the apostles who were before his mind, and not the Church.
Paul’s fourth visit to Jerusalem is but slightly alluded to in Acts 18:21-22. He “bade them farewell, saying [I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem; but] I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.” Though the words above in brackets are of doubtful authority, being omitted by several editors, still the words “and gone up and saluted the church,” doubtless refer to Jerusalem.
Paul’s fifth visit is recorded in Acts 21, when he was arrested. (See the Chronological Tables.)