1. Alpharetta Bible Study
Acts 15/Galatians 2
August 6, 2015
Alpharetta Bible Study
Speaker: Allen Dvorak

2. Paul’s Visits to Jerusalem
Did The Events Recorded In Acts 15 Take Place Before Or After Those Recorded In Galatians 1 & 2?
Paul’s Visits to Jerusalem
and
Galatians 2

3. Luke’s purpose was not to provide a chronological summary.
“After this, Paul stayed many days longer…”
— Acts 18:18; ESV
Luke’s purpose was not to provide a chronological summary.
but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.
-- Acts 20:6; ESV

4. Some Chronological “Markers”
Herod Agrippa’s death - summer of A.D. 44
Gallio’s proconsulship - A.D
Romans governors
Felix - A.D
Festus - A.D
“To be sure, there was not one Empire-wide famine during the reign of Claudius (nor at any other time); there were, however, ‘frequent famines’, according to the historian Seutonius, and this is an adequate fulfillment of the prophecy. There was certainly famine in Judea c. AD 46…” (Marshall, p. 204).

5. Paul’s Life Summarized
His conversion and time in Damascus
Time in Arabia (Galatians 1:17)
Return to Damascus
1st Visit to Jerusalem (Acts 9:26-30)
Time in Syria and Cilicia (Galatians 1:21)
Time in Antioch (Acts 11:25-26)
2nd Visit to Jerusalem (Acts 11:30; 12:25)
First missionary journey (Acts 13:1 – 14:27)
3rd Visit to Jerusalem (Acts 15:2-30)
Second missionary journey (Acts 15:40 – 18:21)
4th Visit to Jerusalem (Acts 18:22)
Third missionary journey (Acts 18:23 – 21:15)
5th Visit to Jerusalem (Acts 21:17 – 23:30)
Imprisonment in Caesarea (Acts 23:32 – 26:32)
Journey to Rome (Acts 27:1 – 28:16)
Imprisonment in Rome (Acts 28:17-31)

6. Paul’s Life Summarized
His conversion
Time in Arabia
1st Visit to Jerusalem
Time in Syria and Cilicia
Time in Antioch
2nd Visit to Jerusalem
First missionary journey
3rd Visit to Jerusalem
Second missionary journey
4th Visit to Jerusalem
Third missionary journey
5th Visit to Jerusalem
Imprisonment in Caesarea
Journey to Rome
Imprisonment in Rome
A.D. 33
A.D. 45
A.D
A.D
A.D
A.D
A.D. 61
A.D

7. Paul’s Life Summarized
His conversion and time in Damascus
Time in Arabia (Galatians 1:17)
Return to Damascus
Time in Syria and Cilicia (Galatians 1:21)
Time in Antioch (Acts 11:25-26)
First missionary journey (Acts 13:1 – 14:27)
Second missionary journey (Acts 15:40 – 18:21)
Third missionary journey (Acts 18:23 – 21:15)
Imprisonment in Caesarea (Acts 23:32 – 26:32)
Journey to Rome (Acts 27:1 – 28:16)
Imprisonment in Rome (Acts 28:17-31)
1st Visit to Jerusalem (Acts 9:26-30)
2nd Visit to Jerusalem (Acts 11:30; 12:25)
3rd Visit to Jerusalem (Acts 15:2-30)
4th Visit to Jerusalem (Acts 18:22)
5th Visit to Jerusalem (Acts 21:17 – 23:30)

8. Two Visits in Galatians
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; 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. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days.
— Galatians 1:15–18
Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me.
-- Galatians 2:1; ESV

9. Paul’s Life Summarized
Paul’s Visits
to Jerusalem
Paul’s Life Summarized
His conversion and time in Damascus
Time in Arabia (Galatians 1:17)
Return to Damascus
Time in Syria and Cilicia (Galatians 1:21)
Time in Antioch (Acts 11:25-26)
First missionary journey (Acts 13:1 – 14:27)
Second missionary journey (Acts 15:40 – 18:21)
Third missionary journey (Acts 18:23 – 21:15)
Imprisonment in Caesarea (Acts 23:32 – 26:32)
Journey to Rome (Acts 27:1 – 28:16)
Imprisonment in Rome (Acts 28:17-31)
1st Visit to Jerusalem (Acts 9:26-30)
2nd Visit to Jerusalem (Acts 11:30; 12:25)
3rd Visit to Jerusalem (Acts 15:2-30)
4th Visit to Jerusalem (Acts 18:22)
5th Visit to Jerusalem (Acts 21:17 – 23:30)
Visit #1 (Acts 9:26-30)
Visit #2 (Acts 11:30; 12:25)
Visit #3 (Acts 15:2-30)
Visit #4 (Acts 18:22)
Visit #5 (Acts 21:17 – 23:30)
Galatians 2?
Galatians 2?

10. Preliminary Observations
What is the time referent in Galatians 1:18 & 2:1?
How did Paul reckon time?
Could Visit #2 & #3 be a “doublet”?
Could the visit of Galatians 2 be Paul’s visit #4?
Could the visit of Galatians 2 be a visit not mentioned in Acts?

11. This illustration is from the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible.
Two Reconstructions
Reconstruction 1
Reconstruction 2
Acts
Galatians
Acts
Galatians
9:26-30 =
1:18
9:26-30 =
1:18
Visit #2
11:30 =
2:1-10
11:30 =
Omitted
15:1-29 =
Omitted
Visit #3
15:1-29 =
2:1-10
Reconstruction #1 is the view that Galatians 2 is a reference to Paul’s Visit #2.
Reconstruction #2 is the view that Galatians 2 is a reference to Paul’s Visit #3.
This illustration is from the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible.

12. Reconstruction #1
Paul’s purpose in recounting his visits to Jerusalem
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s 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.
-- Galatians 1:11–12; ESV

13. Reconstruction #1 Paul’s purpose in recounting his visits to Jerusalem
Public versus private meetings
1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— (Galatians 2:1–4; ESV)

14. Reconstruction #1 Paul’s purpose in recounting his visits to Jerusalem
Public versus private meetings
5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.
-- Galatians 2:5–6; ESV

15. Reconstruction #1 Paul’s purpose in recounting his visits to Jerusalem
Public versus private meetings
Galatians 2:10 & the purpose of Visit #2
Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
-- Galatians 2:10; ESV
29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
-- Acts 11:29–30; ESV

16. Reconstruction #1 Paul’s purpose in recounting his visits to Jerusalem
Public versus private meetings
Galatians 2:10 & the purpose of Visit #2
No mention of the Acts 15 decision
Unlikely chronology between Acts 15 and Peter’s rebuke - interval too short
Galatians written shortly after the establishment of the Galatian churches
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
-- Galatians 1:6; ESV

17. Reconstruction #1 Paul’s purpose in recounting his visits to Jerusalem
Public versus private meetings
Galatians 2:10 & the purpose of Visit #2
No mention of the Acts 15 decision
Unlikely chronology between Acts 15 and Peter’s rebuke - interval too short
Galatians written shortly after the establishment of the Galatian churches
Motivation for the visit: revelation

18. Reconstruction #1
[Strong] Paul’s purpose in recounting his visits to Jerusalem
[Weak] Public versus private meetings
[——-] Galatians 2:10 & the purpose of Visit #2
[Very strong] No mention of the Acts 15 decision
[Weak] Unlikely chronology between Acts 15 and Peter’s rebuke - interval too short
[——-] Galatians written shortly after the establishment of the Galatian churches
[——-] Motivation for the visit: revelation

19. Reconstruction #2 Same purpose of visit in Galatians 2 and Acts 15
“The main purpose of Paul’s visit in Galatians 2:1–10 appears to be the same as that in Acts 15:1–29; both dealt with the issue of whether circumcision should be required of gentile converts (Gal. 2:3–5; Acts 15:1, 5). That similarity is obvious: but there is no such explicit similarity between Galatians 2 and Acts 11:30.”
— BEB
“I personally believe Galatians 2 relates to Acts 15 because in both cases Barnabas was present, the subject matter is the same, and Peter and James are both named.”
— Utley

20. Reconstruction #2 Same purpose of visit in Galatians 2 and Acts 15
Galatians similar in form to Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians
Barnabas was the leader at the time of the visit
Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me.
-- Galatians 2:1; ESV

21. Reconstruction #2 Same purpose of visit in Galatians 2 and Acts 15
Galatians similar in form to Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians
Barnabas was the leader at the time of the visit
Recognition of Paul’s apostolic authority came after Acts 11
“But if Galatians 2 recorded the events of Acts 11:30 and the first missionary journey had not yet occurred, the ‘pillar’ apostles could hardly have recognized Paul’s authority as apostle to the Gentiles.”
— BEB

22. Reconstruction #2
[Strong] Same purpose of visit in Galatians 2 and Acts 15
[———] Galatians similar in form to Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians (upgraded this one!)
[Weak] Barnabas was the leader at the time of the visit
[Weak] Recognition of Paul’s apostolic authority came after Acts 11

23. In Conclusion… Arguments that stand out…
Paul’s purpose in recounting his visits
No mention of the Acts 15 decision
Similar circumstances in Acts 15 & Galatians 2
The majority of sources I consulted favored Reconstructon #2 (Galatians 2 = Acts 15).
I favor Reconstruction #1 (Galatians 2 = Acts 11).