Galatians 1:15

God, who separated me. Textual evidence is divided (cf. p. 10) between this and the reading “the one who set me apart,” that is, for the gospel ministry. From birth Paul’s education and training, belief and practice, had been according to the traditions of Judaism (v. 14). There had been nothing in the background of his experience that predisposed him to reject the legal system; in fact, everything had tended strongly in the opposite direction. From a human point of view there was no satisfactory explanation of his change from belief in salvation by law to salvation by faith. The change could be attributed only to the direct interposition of God.

By his grace. Even before his birth it had been God’s purpose to use Paul as His representative to the Gentiles, subject of course to Paul’s own consent, and God foresaw that he would respond to the call when it came. Paul here declares that his appointment to apostleship was determined by God and not man. He had done nothing to deserve this high honor and therefore attributes it to an act of grace. His own plan for his life had been altogether different. The experience on the Damascus road had come to him as a great surprise, but he now recognized it as a special act of Providence bidding him to follow the plan God had for his life.