Galatians 1:14

Profited. Gr. prokopto, “to advance,” “to progress.” The word was used originally of a pioneer cutting his way through brushwood. Prior to conversion Paul had been considered a rising star of first magnitude in the sky of Judaism.

Equals. Literally, “contemporaries.” Paul had distinguished himself not only in theological lore but in his zeal for strict observance of the ritual requirements of the law. He no doubt refers to the young men of his own generation who studied in Jerusalem under Gamaliel or other prominent Jewish teachers. His early promotion to the Sanhedrin (Acts 11:2) testifies to the high esteem in which his elders held him.

The traditions. That is, the oral law as distinguished from the written law (see Matt. 15:2; Vol. V, p. 96). The oral law had gradually grown up to complement the written law of Moses, and was coming to be considered on an equality with God’s written law, if not above it. But Jesus declared that these traditions had the effect of making the law of God null and void (see on Mark 7:13). Some commentators suggest that Paul may have belonged to the extreme party of the Pharisees, who considered themselves zealots of the law. Before King Agrippa, Paul testified that he had lived according to the strictest party of Judaism (Acts 26:4, 5).