But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
All Commentaries on Galatians 1:15 Go To Galatians 1
John Chrysostom
AD 407
Here his object is to show, that it was by some secret providence that he was left for a time to himself. For if he was set apart from his mother's womb to be an Apostle and to be called to that ministry, yet was not actually called till that juncture, which summons he instantly obeyed, it is evident that God had some hidden reason for this delay. What this purpose was, you are perhaps eager to learn from me, and primarily, why he was not called with the twelve. But in order not to protract this discourse by digressing from that which is more pressing, I must entreat your love not to require all things from me, but to search for it by yourselves, and to beg of God to reveal it to you. Moreover I partly discussed this subject when I discoursed before you on the change of his name from Saul to Paul; which, if you have forgotten, you will fully gather from a perusal of that volume. At present let us pursue the thread of our discourse, and consider the proof he now adduces that no natural event had befallen him—that God Himself had providentially ordered the occurrence.
And called me through His grace.
God indeed says that He called him on account of his excellent capacity, as He said to Ananias, for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, Acts 9:15 that is to say, capable of service, and the accomplishment of great deeds. God gives this as the reason for his call. But he himself everywhere ascribes it to grace, and to God's inexpressible mercy, as in the words, Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, not that I was sufficient or even serviceable, but that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all His long-suffering, for an ensample of them which should hereafter believe in Him unto eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:16 Behold his overflowing humility; I obtained mercy, says he, that no one might despair, when the worst of men had shared His bounty. For this is the force of the words, that He might show forth all His long-suffering for an ensample of them which should hereafter believe in Him.
